26 Saints Pilgrimage route on January 30 in 1597

 

The route of this day was from Wajiro to Shikano-shima Island, the distance

was 18 km walk.

Started at Wajiro accommodation and walked through Gannosu to Saitozaki.

When the tide was low, they walked across to Shikano-shima Island, where

the boat port was located.

Stayed on the boat.

26 Saints Pilgrimage route on January 27 in 1597

 

There were 24 martyrs when they started Kyoto, but two more martyrs were added in

Shimonoseki, then became 26 martyrs in total.

 

The route of this day was from Karato in Shimonoseki to Kokura in Kitakyushu.

Rode on the boat at Karato, and transfer to Dairi in Kitakyushu

Karato

Kanmon Strait

Dairi

They landed at Dairi and walked 6 km along the coastline of Kanmon Strait to Kokura,

where was the place to stay.

It is said that they stayed around Kokura Castle.

Akizuki, in Asakura

 

Akizuki is a former Castle town located in northern part of Asakura.  It is a famous spot for

cherry blossom in spring and fall foliage in autumn.

 

You can enjoy the harmony of countryside landscape and former castle town scenery that

makes the atmosphere like a time of 400 years ago.

26 Saints Martyrs of Japan Pilgrimage tour

 

26 Saints are the first martyrs in Japan.

 

26 Christians arrested in Kyoto who were consisted of 20 Japanese, 4 Spaniards,

1 Mexican, and 1 Portuguese.

They walked from Kyoto to Nagasaki in January and February 1597.

How great were the physical and mental suffering of those 26 men who were

forced to march all the way from Kyoto to Nagasaki during these cold

winter days, and they all ascended to heaven at Nishizaka Hill on Februay 05.

 

This tour follows the pilgrimage routes of 26 saints from Fukuoka to Nishizaka.

And also visit the relating places of 26 Saints.

 

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The customized tour is planned as per the following conditions.

 

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Day 1   Hakata to Sonogi pilgrimage route, Nagasaki

 

Welcome to Fukuoka ! You will be greeted tour guide. The privete vehicle is used for the tour   Pilgrimage route : Hakata Port to Sonogi Port : total 120km Actually, 26 martyrs took 4 days for the following route  ・February 01 : Hakata port → Itoshima → Karatsu →Yamamoto ; 58km                                 stay in Yamamto ・February 02 : Yamamoto → Tokusue ; 5km                                 stay in Tokusue   ・February 03 : Tokusue → Takeo ; 31km                                 stay in Takeo ・February 04 : Takao → Ureshino → Sonogi Port : 26km                                 Sonogi Port to Tokitsu port by a boat, and stay on the boat   Drive to Nagasaki    Check in the Hotel Dinner at the Hotel Stay in Nagasaki

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Day 2   Tokitsu to Nishizaka Pilgrimage route, Nagasaki 

 

Breakfast at the Hotel Drive to Tokitsu Tokitsu Port   The place where 26 Martyrs arrived by the boat on the cold night of February 04,    and dawn on February 05, they got off the ship with a cold body and landed   at Togitsu Port Follow the Pilgrimage route by the use of privete vehicle   12km path to Nishizaka, the place of martyrdom. Passed through the mountain   pass, and through Michinoo, Akasako, and Urakami Visit Nishizaka Hill, 26 Saints Martyred on February 05, in 1597    Visit the 26 Martyrs Museum   Visit Saint Filippo de Jesus Church Visit Nakamachi Church Return to the Hotel Dinner at the Hotel Stay in Nagasaki

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Day 3   Nagasaki Pilgrimage sites  

 

After breakfast, check out the Hotel   Visit Oura Cathedral lunch at Dejima Warf Visit Urakami Cathedral Visit Peace Park    Atomic Bomb Museum   Ground Zero and remained Urakami Cathedral column    Peace Statue   Drive to Fukuoka Check in the Hotel in Fukuoka

Japan’s first Seminary

 

In 1579, Priest Alessandro Valignano of Jesus from Portugal came to Japan to inspect

the situatin of missionary work in Japan.

Valignano believed that training Japanese priests and monks was the key to the success

of missionary work in Japan.

And then, he made the Japan’s first Seminary in Shimabara peninsula in 1580, where was

the Hinoe Castle town of Arima Harunobu. 

 

Among the first students, included member of Tensho youth mission to Europe who were

Ito Mansho Ito, Chijiwa Miguel, Hara Martino and Nakaura Julian.

Note : Seminary is an educational institution established in Japan by the Society of Jesus

between 1580 and 1614 to train Jesuit priests and monks.

 

Hidden Christian site, Kasuga Village

 

Kasuga Village and Mount Yasugatake is a Christian Pilgrimage site and is registered on

the World Heritage as Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region.

 

This idyllic, remote village was refuge to a small community of Hidden Christians who

practiced here for centuries, far from the prying eyes of the government. After the ban on

Christianity was lifted, the local villagers decided to continue practicing their own unique

brand of the religion rather than rejoin the Catholic Church. As a result, churches were not

erected in the village, and the religion remains outwardly invisible.

Hidden Christians

 

Oppression against Christians began with the Tokugawa shogunate’s ban

on Christianity. The missionaries were expelled to oversea countries, and

those who remained secretly in Japan were also captured and martyred.

Konishi Mansho who was the last Priest during the ban on Christianity,

was also martyred in 1644.

In the absence of priests, believers pretended to be Shinto or Buddhist

ostensibly in order to protect their faith.

The Christian organizations were created in each village to continue the

Christian faith and the faith was passed down from parents to children and

from children to grandchildren.

 

Hidden Christian

Even after lifted ban on Christianity, people who continue to practice their

faith in the same way as before are called “Hidden Christians”.

Hidden Christians in Nagasaki have been passed down since the ban on

Christianity in Hirado, Ikitsuki, the Goto Islands, Sotome, and around Nagasaki.

 

Kurose no Tsuji, martyrdom site of Gaspar Nishi Genka

 

The site where Christian Gaspar Nishi Genka was martyred in 1609, located on

Kurose Hill overlooking Nakae no shima between Hirado and Ikitsuki.

The tomb facing the sea is called Gaspar-sama and is a revered place for Ikitsuki’s

Hidden Christians.

The cross-shaped “Kurose no Tsuji Martyrdom Monument” was erected by Catholics

in 1991, and Mass is held every year around November 14th.

 

Gaspar Nishi Genka was the first martyr of Ikitsuki and the father of Thomas Rokuzaemon

Nishi who was one of the 16 Saint of Nagasaki, dedicated in Nakamachi Church in Nagasaki.

 

Saint Filippo de Jesus Church ( Japan 26 Saints Memorial Church )

 

This is a church with Gaudi-style twin tower designed by Kenjiro Imai,

built next to the Nishizaka Martyrdom site

 

When there was a plan to build a memorial hall for the 26 Japanese Saints

next to Nishizaka Martyrdon site, a large donation was made from Mexico,

and the Church was built in 1962.

This church is dedicated to Mexican Filippo de Jesus, who is one of the 26 Saints.

Filippo de Jesus was a Franciscan Catholic missionary who became one of the

26 Martyrs of Japan, the first Mexican Saint.

 

Oyster Barbecue Hut in Itoshima

 

Itoshima oyster growing up in the rich nature of mountain and sea Itoshima oyster features

mellow and sweet taste.  There are many Oyster Barbecue Huts at five fishing harbours.

The huts only open during the season, from end of October to March or April.

 

The huts are simple in construction; just big vinyl tents filled with a few dozen tables, each with

their own grill. You can get oysters, sazae (sea snails), prawns, fish and other seafood, fresh as

fresh can be, by the crate. The hut provides the grill, tongs, cotton gloves, and other tools for you

try your hand at grilling your own seafood.

Cooking them right can be tricky, but learning is part of the fun. For oysters, try putting the flat side

down first, flip after awhile, and wait for them to open from the heat.  Take them off the grill—gloves

on of course—and open them the rest of the way with the provided knife. Add a touch of shoyu

(soy sauce), ponzu (a tangy citrus-based sauce), lemon juice, or mayonnaise if you like and they’re

ready to eat. If you’re unsure how to cook things, just look around at what the other tables are doing

or wave over the helpful kakigoya staff.