The 26 Martyrs Museum
The 26 Martyrs Museum is dedicated to the 26 Christians who were executed here on
February 5, 1597. They included both foreign missionaries and Japanese laymen. Missionary
activities were prohibited at the time, and Japan’s ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi staged the execution
as a warning. The monument is located in a small park on a hill not far from Nagasaki Station
and offers nice views over the city.
A straight red line runs from the Monument across the park’s plaza in the direction of the Oura
Cathedral on the opposite side of the city. Oura Cathedral is also dedicated to the 26 martyrs.
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The museum behind the monument is devoted to the memory of the martyrs and to Christianity in
Japan in general. Its interior is reminiscent of a church with stained-glass windows, making for
atmospheric viewing of the exhibits. On display are artifacts related to Christianity in Japan,
including old documents, statues and jewelry.
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General information
| Address | 7-8 Nishizaka-cho, Nagasaki-city |
| Access | 5 minuts walk from JR Nagasaki Station |
Sotome Pilgrimage sites
Sotome is located between Nagasaki-city and Saikai-city, and face to East China Sea.
During the ban on Christianity from 17 century to end of the 19 century, Sotome was
home to communities of “Hidden Christians”, many of whom emigrated there from
other parts of Nagasaki as the remote region allowed them to practice their religion
in secret.
French missionary Father Marc Marie de Rotz played a large role in reestablishing the
religion in the area. He established Shitsu Church on a hill overlooking the sea.
On an elevation commanding a view over the Sea of Goto, Father Marc Marie de Rotz
established a church at his own expense 1882. The building was extended and renovated
again and again. A statue of Mary that he ordered from France is standing in the bell tower.
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I want to save people in the Sotome from poor life. Former Shitsu Aid Centeris indispensable in
talking about the history and culture of the region.
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The setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome is blessed with a unique history and
culture of Christianity. In particular, the area in which the Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
stands is known as the site of a Christian village, one of Endo’s most notable work, Silence.
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The Church is located in Kurosaki district, where was place of the setting for Endo Shusaku’s
novel Silence. In 1897, the foundations were laid down according to Father de Rotz’s design.
Construction followed and in 1920 the church was completed. The followers built it brick by
brick with their own hands. The modest design serves to bring out the beauty of the bricks.
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General information
| Address | Shitsu, Nagasaki-city |
| Access | 50 minutes by a vehicle from JR Nagasaki Station |
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Tram in Nagasaki
The Nagasaki Electric Tramway provides a convenient and affordable way to travel around
the main attractions of Nagasaki-city.
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No matter how far you travel, the adult fare for a single journey is always 130 yen.
A one-day pass offering unlimited rides for 500 yen is also available for purchase at major
information centers, hotels, and through a smartphone app (but not on board the trams).
Announcements and signs both on trams and at the stops are available in English, making
it easy to find which tram you need to take and where to get off.
Tram Route
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Nagasaki Wharf
Elegant international & domestic tourist harbour. Made up of around 20 unique shops and
restaurants lined up at the water front, offering various choices such Japanese, Western,
and Italian cuisine, to beauty salons, outdoor shops and more.
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It is quite the popular spot for people who want to relax while viewing the sea beyond as they
dine outdoors.
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Nagasaki Harbour
Located in the center of East Asia and is surrounded by the beautiful green mountains.
The city has flourished due to foreign trade through the port. Now the port is home to Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, which has one of Japan’s largest shipbuilding facilities.
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Not only ships but also many industrial goods such as wind and thermal generators are
manufactured and exported from Nagasaki. Recently, the port was changed by the appearance of
a beautiful park and Venus Bridge or the long cable-stay bridge. The port facilities will be further
improved as a major gateway with a long tradition of international exchange and together with a
geographically advantageous location.
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General information
| Address | 1-1 Dejima-machi, Nagasaki-city |
| Access |
a short walk from Dejima Tram Station a short walk from Tsuki-machi Tram Station 15 minutes walk from JR Nagasaki Station |
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Peace Statue
World Peace from Nagasaki. The Peace Statue was completed in 1955, ten years after the
atomic bombing. The 9.7 meter high statue sitting on a 4 meter tall pedestal, made by renown
sculptor Kitamura Seibo who born in Minami-Shimabara-city, Nagasaki-prefecture in 1884.
The bronze Peace Statue has one left arm extending horizontally and other right arm pointing
to the sky. The left arm stretching to the horizon symbolizes world peace, and the other right
pointing skyward indicates the threat of atomic destruction (the harm of nuclear power).
The closed eyes show the prayer for the peaceful repose of the victims of the Atomic Bomb.
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Visiting from all over Japan and the World |
Wishing for eternal world peace from Nagasaki |
Kitamura Seibo, the Statue was completed at the age of 71 |
Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the statue on August 9 every year and
the Mayor of Nagasaki makes the “Nagasaki peace declaration” for the whole world.
Commitment to World Peace from all over the World
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General information
| Address | Heiwakoen, Matsuyama-machi, Nagasaki-city |
| Access | 5 minutes walk from Heiwa-koen-shita Tram Station |
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China town
China town at shinchi is one of the big three china town in Japan. There are about
50 Chinese restaurants and many Chinese sundries shops in there.
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An annual festival in Nagasaki held on Chinese new year. The festival has been started to
celebrate a new year by Chinese who lived in Nagasaki, and it became the Nagasaki’s festival
since 1994. More than 10 thousand lanterns are decorated at China town during the festival.
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General information
Access : a short walk from Shinchi-chukagai Tram Station
Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan
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.
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Nishizaka hill, the site of Martyrdom in 1597 |
The martyrs said that ” All people, bless God ! ” |
The 26 Japanese martyrs have been canonized in 1862 |
The museum behind the monument is devoted to the memory of the martyrs and to Christianity in
Japan in general. Its interior is reminiscent of a church with stained-glass windows, making for
atmospheric viewing of the exhibits. On display are artifacts related to Christianity in Japan,
including old documents, statues and jewelry.
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General information
| Address | 7-8 Nishizaka-cho, Nagasaki-city |
| Access | 5 minutes walk from JR Nagasaki Station |
Megane-bashi bridge
The oldest stone arch bridge in Japan. Meganebashi or Spectacles Bridge, over the Nakashima
River was built in Nagasaki in 1634 by the Chinese monk Mokusunyoujo who is a second
generation of Chinese monks living at Kofukuji Temple. It is said to be the oldest stone arch
bridge in Japan and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property.
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Megane Bridge is also part of the first group of bridges built over Nakashima River. Megane Bridge is
made of stone and is a double arch bridge. It received the nickname “Spectacles Bridge” because its
two arches and their reflection in the water create the image of a pair of spectacles.
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General information
| Address | Uonomachi, Nagasaki-city |
| Access |
3 minutes walk from Meganebashi Tram station |
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Former Shitsu Aid Center
I want to save people in the Sotome from poor life. Former Shitsu Aid Centeris indispensable
in talking about the history and culture of the region. In 1879, Father Marc Marie de Rotz,
a French missionary who has been assigned to the Sotome, has a variety of farming,
fishing, medical, and educational programs to save local residents from plight. I did an activity.
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Former Shitsu Aid Center is a delivery facility for women, in 1883. It was founded with the
cooperation of members of the Church of St. Joseph, which was founded and trained by the
Father himself. In 2003 in 12, some of these facilities were designated as nationally
designated important cultural properties as the remains of valuable birth and welfare facilities
in the early Meiji period.
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Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
The peaceful Sotome, the setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome area of Nagasaki
city has an abundance of natural beauty in its sea, mountains and rivers. It also is blessed with
a unique history and culture of Christianity. In particular, the area in which the Endo Shusaku
Literary Museum stands is known as the site of a Christian village, one of Endo’s most notable
work, Silence.
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From the literary museum, there is a magnificent view. In a sweep of eye one can see sun as
it majestically sets over the sea of Goto, along with the Silence Literary Monument in Shitsu
Bunka Mura. Endo Shusaku and the Sotome area are linked through Silence ; this bond has
been built up starting from when Endo was writing the novel, and continues into the present day
with the construction of literary museum.
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Following Endo Shusaku’s death, this Literary Museum was established thanks to kindness of
his family, and was filled with Endo’s persona belongings, mementoes, manuscripts, and his
extensive collection of books. The Museum exhibits trace the footsteps of Endo Shusaku as
one of Japan’s greatest writers of literature. In addition, it has facilities for collecting, preserving,
and exhibiting materials related to Endo’s public perusal and research, and operating as an
information center.
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Note : Silence
Silence is a 1966 novel of theological fiction by author Endo Shusaku, published in English by
Peter Owen Publishers. It is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan, who
endures persecution in the time of Hidden Christians that followed the defeat of the Shimabara
Rebellion. The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called “Endo’s supreme
achievement and “one of the twentieth century’s finest novels Written partly in the form of a letter
by its central character, the theme of a silent God who accompanies a believer in adversity was
greatly influenced by the Catholic Endō’s experience of religious discrimination in Japan, racism
in France, and a debilitating bout with tuberculosis.