Nagasaki Pilgrimage 6 days tour    The island had been an important port for trade with Korea and China since earlier times, with the rights to foreign trade held by the local Matsuura clan. William Adams was instrumental in establishing the British trading post and he is buried on the island.  The British stayed only ten years before leaving after bitter feuding with the Dutch, who were moved to Dejima in Nagasaki by the Japanese authorities in 1641.     Itinerary Depart Hotel Exploring Hirado    Hirado Castle     Nakae no Shima 　   Kasuga Village Transfer to Fukuoka Arrive at Hotel in Fukuoka     Where to visit   Hirado Castle Stands on a hill guarding Hirado Port and the Hirado Strait, which used to be part of an important trade route between Japan and the Asian mainland. The original fortress was built in 1599 by the local Matsura Lord; however, he destroyed the structure after fighting the Tokugawa on the losing side of the Battle of Sekigahara as a gesture of loyalty to the victor. The Matsura Clan continued ruling Hirado for the next two …

Day 6 Hirado…の続きを読む

                                                                                                 Nagasaki Pilgrimage 6 days tour    Hirado off the North West coast of Nagasaki-prefecture is a beautiful and historic location full of interesting museums, Christian churches, white sandy beaches and an imposing castle. Portuguese ships first landed in Hirado’s superb natural harbor in 1549 and St. Francis Xavier is known to have visited in 1550. In the 1580s, the Portuguese established a trading station, followed soon by the Dutch and the British.      Itinerary   Depart Kumamoto Transfer to Hirado Visit Tabira Church Lunch at Hirado, local delicacy sea food Exploring Hirado   Matsura Historical Museum   St Francis Xavier Memorial Church   Dutch Trading Post Stay at Hirado     Where to visit   Tabira Church The church was designed by Tetsukawa Yosuke, a famous architect of various churches in Nagasaki-prefecture, and built between December 1915 and October 1917. It is one of the latest brick churches in the prefecture of Nagasaki. Tetsukawa Yosuke has called this one of his best works.     Lunch at Hirado local delicacy sea food   Matsura Historical Museum The museum …

Day 5 Hirado…の続きを読む

                                                                                                  Nagasaki Pilgrimage 6 days tour     Amakusa, is located in a southern part of Kumamoto-city, and consists of Shimo-jima, Kami-jima and many other islands varied in size, which belong to Unzen-Amakusa  National Park along with Unzen.  Amakusa has the Christinan Pilgrimage sites where Christian faith continued even during the ban on Christianity, Sakitsu Village has been registered on UNESCO World Heritage / Hidden Christian Sites.      Itinerary   8:00 Depart Hotel  Visiting Hidden Christian sites in Amakusa   Oe Cathedral    Sakitsu Village    Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall Travel Amakusa Gokyo / Pearl line Transfer to Kumamoto Exploring Kumamoto    Sakurano-baba Josaien    Kumamoto Castle   Stay in Kumamoto     Where to visit   Oe Cathedral  The oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the ban on Christianity was lifted. The Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white structure was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his own money and contributions from local Christians living in the area.     Sakitsu Village  / UNESCO World Heritage A Gothic-looking church …

Day 4  Amakusa & Kumamoto …の続きを読む