Beppu is one of the most famous Onsen resort in Japan. Beppu Onsen resort is located on a slope from mount Tsurumi to facing Beppu Bay where onsen steam rising from any places. Boasting more than 2,800 hot spring sources and flowing rate of nearly 137,000 kiloliters per day, Beppu is considered a paradise of hot springs famous for high therapeutic effects. The most recommended experiences are go up to Mount Tsurumi and Hell tour. The town is divided into eight major hot spring areas collectively called  “Beppu Hatto”, which offer beautiful scenery and various type of water of different qualities.

Beppu…の続きを読む

  Karatsu Castle is called Dancing Crane Castle.  Karatsu Castle was built in 1608. This castle is located facing the sea and is situated in the northern part of Karatsu-city. It resembles the figure of a bird with its wings spread wide as there is a pine grove extending left to right and because its donjon is thought to look like the head of a crane. In spring, the 500 cherry trees and the Wisteria flowers in Karatsu, designated a product of nature by the city, are in full bloom.

Karatsu Castle…の続きを読む

  Shimabara Castle, is located in Shimabara and was built in 1625 by the feudal load Matsukura Shigemasa, who was regarded as a master of castle building. The castle, which took 7 years to complete, is also known as “Moritake Castle”. It was an almost rectangular flatland castle built in the Renkaku-style. Also, it was a superb example of a castle where three layered yagura turrets were placed at strategic points around the five-layered donjon which was influenced by the architectural style of the  Azuchi-Momoyama period. Through it was demolished in 1874 during Meiji Restoration, west turret called  “Nishi-no-yagura” was first restored in 1960 and the donjon was restored in 1964. In the castle, the Christianity Museum has been established. Many  Christian historical materials,  local collection, and ethnic collections are exhibited in the museum.

Shimabara Castle…の続きを読む

  One of the three great castles along with Nagoya Castle and Osaka Castle and one of the 100 best places in Japan to view cherry blossoms. The current castle was built in 1601 by Kiyomasa Kato, a great commander and took 7 years to complete. The 980,000-square-meter premises are dotted with many memorable view such as donjons, turrets, turret gates, castle  gates and long fences. Kumamoto Castle after the Earthquakes, the photos were taken on May 18, 2019. Suddenly, without any prediction, the series of Earthquakes including magnitude 7.0 main shock which struck in April 2016 beneath Kumamoto-city.  Then severe damages occurred Kumamoto prefecture including Kumamoto Castle. Kumamoto Castle sustained damage to its roof and exterior buildings and walls because  of the earthquakes and associated aftershocks.  Several of the castle’s shachihoko  ornaments were destroyed, and a large number of kawara tiles also fell from the roof. Now the restoration activities are being performed as fast as possible.

Kumamoto Castle…の続きを読む

  Kokura was the transportation hub from Honshu and all areas of Kyushu during Edo period from 17th to 19th century. The Castle town was constructed in the Kokura and Kokura Castle was build in 1602 and spent 7 years construction at the north side of Kokura facing to Kanmon strait and next to Murasaki river.​   The height of Castle tower is 6th tallest in Japan after Himeji Castle. The castle had a fivefold and six layered donjon and it was built in the architectural  style called “Kara-zukuri”.

Kokura Castle…の続きを読む

  Long ago Japan was divided into many small provinces. The lords of each province fought to take each other’s territory. Castles were built by the lords to show off their power and control their provinces. They were both residences and military bases. They were made of wood, but used various defensive devices for protection. For example, moats were built around some castles. In fact, moats around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, which used to be Edo Castle, are still preserved.   Additionally, many castles were built on plateaus or hills. The slopes were then steepened, making them difficult for enemies to climb. In some castles the grounds from the gate to main building were designed like a maze to confuse enemies. The main castle building is usually in the center and is called the Tensyukaku (Castle tower). They are tall and magnificent structure. The loads and their immediate servants lived in the Tensyukaku.

Japanese Castle…の続きを読む

  Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki is the place of Martyrdom of 26 Japanese Saints.  The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of Catholics who were executed by  crucifixion on February 5, 1597. The Twenty-six Christians, including six foreign missionaries and three young boys, were arrested in Kyoto and Osaka on the order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the National ruler, for preaching Christianity. They were marched 800 km through the snow to Nagasaki and crucified in front of large crowd on Nishizaka hill on Feb. 5, 1597.   Their martyrdom is especially significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan. In 1950, Pope Pius XII designated this place as an official pilgrimage site for Catholics.  Pope John Paul II visited here in 1981, and Saint Teresa of Calcutta commonly known as Mother Teresa visited in 1982.  Paulo Miki and 25 others were crucified for their belief in God on order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.  The martyrs including four Spaniards, one from Goa, India, one Mexican and 20 Japanese demonstrated their spiritual unity despite differences in races, ages and professions.     By putting them to death, Hideyoshi threatened people, saying “I hereby ban Christianity”.  Responded the martyrs’ chant “All people, bless God! ” Death and life, liberty and persecution and Dictators and the people confronted on Nishizaka Hill. The martyrs are immortal. In 1862, the 26 Japanese martyrs were canonized by Pope Pius IX.  In 1956, the place of their martyrdom was designated as a Historical Place by Nagasaki Prefecture. A monument dedicated to them was built on …

Nishizaka Hill…の続きを読む

  A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village in Amakusa. In 1934, a French priest Augustin Halbout MEP purchased the premises of the former village headman and built a wooden and concrete finished church, with Tetsukawa Yosuke’s design and construction. He placed the altar at the very site where fumie or a test to ensure non-allegiance to Christianity had been conducted.

Sakitsu Church, in Amakusa…の続きを読む

  The Church is a Pilgrimage site and is 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.

Oe Cathedral, in Amakusa…の続きを読む

  This is a place related to the Kori-kuzure incident in Omura in 1657 in which a large number of hidden Christians were arrested. As many as 608 Christians were arrested, making it a rare and major incident in the history of Christian oppression. 411 Christians were beheaded, and 131 of them were martyred at Hokohara martyrdom place.   As a result of this incident, the Omura domain began implementing even stricter policies prohibiting Christianity. The believers have erected the monument to commemorate the martyrdom at this location.

Hokohara martyrdom place in Omura…の続きを読む