KYUSHU Amakusa Churches
Sakitsu Kyokai (Sakitsu Church)
Japanese Name: 﨑津教会
Facing the calm waters of Yokaku Bay, Sakitsu Church was established in 1569 by a Portuguese missionary Luís de Almeida who spread the message of Christianity throughout this region.
Religious persecutions and ”fumie” practices heavily took place under the Kinkyorei in 1638 – a decree banning Christianity in Japan. ”Fumie” was loyalty testing enforced by the Edo authorities for suspecting Christians to perform by trampling on tablets bearing Christian images. The believers would keep their faith for over 250 years as underground Christians in this region.
The current church building reconstructed by Father Halbout, a French missionary in 1934 is built as a Gothic architectural style with a high steeple on the exterior, but with a tatami floor on the interior.
Operating Hours
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Schedule of Mass
Every Sunday (Master of the Main Day Mass) at 7:30 a.m.
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 6:30 a.m.
Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Chief Priest: Takayoshi Watanabe
Please note that there are no masses in English.
Special Notes
Visitors are asked to protect the ritual manners of the church and is asked to admire the place with modesty.
The following are visiting guidelines for those who want to visit the Sakitsu Church:
■ The entrance of a general car into the church is prohibited.
■ Photography in the church is prohibited.
■ Smoking is prohibited on the premises of the church.
■ Inside the church is a ban on foot.
■ Admission of pets in the church is prohibited.
■ Do not touch the things in the church without permission.
■ Please watch quietly in the church.
■ In the church please turn off the mobile phone or put it in silent mode.
■ Please refrain from entering during ceremonies such as massage, wedding, funeral etc.
■ Please do not ring church bells on your own.
■ Please wear modest and proper church attire.
Access
○ By Airplane:
1. Fukuoka International Airport → Amakusa Airport
2. Kumamoto Airport ⇒ Amakusa Airport
○ By Train and Ship:
Fukuoka Airport → Hakata Station → Kumamoto Station → Triangle Station → Triangle Port → Maejima Minato → Hondo Port
○ By Train and Bus:
Fukuoka Airport → Hakata Station → Kumamoto Station → Matsushima → Hondo
○ By Bus:
Fukuoka Airport · Kumamoto Airport → Transportation Center ⇒ Matsushima ⇒ Hondo
○ By Car:
1. Three hours from Kumamoto City (via National Route 266)
2. Two and a half hours from Kyushu Expressway Matsuhashi IC
3. An hour away from Amakusa Airport
○ By Foot:
One minute from Inaki Church Entrance Bus Stop
Address: 863-1204 Amakusa City, Kawaura Town, Kumamoto Prefecture
Contact Details
Phone Number: 0969-78-6000
Website
https://www.t-island.jp/en/area/western-area.html
Oe Catholic Church
Japanese Name: 大江教会
This is a Romanesque style church which was built in Amakusa for the first time after the period of persecution for Christianity was over. There is a statue of the Virgin Mary of Lourdes in the site and you can feel a long history of Christianity in Amakusa.
Operating Hours
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Entry to the church is not allowed during ceremonies and church events.
Schedule of Mass
Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.
Winter: 6:30 p.m.
Chief Priest: Takayoshi Watanabe
Special Notes
Please note that there are no masses in English.
Visitors are asked to protect the ritual manners of the church and is asked to admire the place with modesty.
The following are visiting guidelines for those who want to visit the Sakitsu Church:
■ The entrance of a general car into the church is prohibited.
■ Photography in the church is prohibited.
■ Smoking is prohibited on the premises of the church.
■ Inside the church is a ban on foot.
■ Admission of pets in the church is prohibited.
■ Do not touch the things in the church without permission.
■ Please watch quietly in the church.
■ In the church please turn off the mobile phone or put it in silent mode.
■ Please refrain from entering during ceremonies such as massage, wedding, funeral etc.
■ Please do not ring church bells on your own.
■ Please wear modest and proper church attire.
Access
○ By Airplane:
1. Kumamoto Airport ⇒ Amakusa Airport
2. Fukuoka International Airport → Amakusa Airport
a. Amakusa Airline (AMX 102) FUK 9:05 departure AXJ 9:40 arrival (required 35 minutes)
b. Amakusa Airline (AMX 106) FUK 4:50 shots AXJ 5:25 (required 35 minutes)
c. Amakusa Airline (AMX 108) FUK 7:05 departure AXJ 7:40 arrival (required 35 minutes)
○ By Train and Ship:
Fukuoka Airport → Hakata Station → Kumamoto Station → Triangle Station → Triangle Port → Maejima Minato → Hondo Port
○ By Train and Bus:
Fukuoka Airport → Hakata Station → Kumamoto Station → Matsushima → Hondo
○ By Bus:
Fukuoka Airport · Kumamoto Airport → Transportation Center ⇒ Matsushima ⇒ Hondo
○ By Car:
1. Three hours from Kumamoto City (via National Route 266)
2. Two and a half hours from Kyushu Expressway Matsuhashi IC
3. One hour away from Amakusa Airport
○ By Foot:
Five from ‘Oe Risudo entrance’ bus stop
Address: 1782 Amakusamachi Oe, Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Contact Details
Phone Number: 0969-22-2243
(Amakusa Treasure Island Tourism Association)
Website
https://www.t-island.jp/en/history-culture/churches.html
