Kyushu Goto Churches
Kashiragashima Church
Japanese Name: 頭ケ島天主堂
All households except one were believed to be Christians in Kashiragashima Island. During the persecution of Goto-kuzure, all followers escaped away from the island and returned only after the persecution ended. The household heads escaped first, while the remaining women and children were detained.
The Kashiragashima Church was built with stones by the followers, who quarried and stacked the stones over the course of nine years. The church became a World Heritage Site in 2018.
Tour Application / Contact Information
Before visiting Kashiragashima Church, it is necessary to send your application to Nagasaki Church Information Centre beforehand. Please submit your application from the website.
Contact: Click here
Please refrain from directly contacting or sending inquiries to the church.
Mass Application
For inquiries regarding the use of Kashiragashima Church, please contact Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre: ch-info@kyoukaigun.jp
Special Notices
■ It is necessary to send your application to visit the Nagasaki Church Information Center beforehand.
■ As places of prayer, many of Nagasaki’s churches are open, under normal circumstances. However, for management reasons, some may be closed.
■ When a Mass is being held, the main door at the front of the church is used. However, before entering the church, please kindly remove your shoes and place them in the shoe rack provided. Please also remove your hats. Once inside, visitors are politely requested to remain quiet and respect the church’s spiritual atmosphere at all times.
■ Photography inside the church is prohibited.
■ There are no visitor toilets inside the church area. Please bear this in mind before arriving.
Contact: Click here
Access
Address: 638-1 Kashiragashima, Tomosumigo, Shinkamigoto Town, Minamimatsu-ura District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Web: http://kyoukaigun.jp/en/visit/kashiragashima.php
Website
http://www.visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/243
Imochiura Church and Lourdes
Japanese Name: カトリック井持浦教会
The Imochiura Church is the oldest Lourdes in Japan. Fr. Peroud, who is responsible for pastoral care in the Goto Islands, caught word that the French Lourdes had been replicated in the Vatican. He reached out to the parishioners of the Goto Islands in 1891 to gather stones across the land and created the first Lourdes of Japan in 1899.
Operating Hours
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mass Application
For inquiries regarding the use of Imochiura Church, please contact Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre: ch-info@kyoukaigun.jp
Fees
Free, but there is a box inside the church for voluntary donations.
Special Notices
■ As places of prayer, many of Nagasaki’s churches are open under normal circumstances. However, for management reasons, some may be closed.
■ When a Mass is being held, the main door at the front of the church is used. However, before entering the church, please kindly remove your shoes and place them in the shoe rack provided. Please also remove your hats. Once inside, visitors are politely requested to remain quiet and respect the church’s spiritual atmosphere at all times.
■ Photography inside the church is prohibited.
■ There are no visitor toilets inside the church area. Please bear this in mind before arriving.
■ Please bear in mind that there will be times when you may not be able to walk around the church freely, especially when a Mass or other religious ceremony is being held.
■ Please take note that there may be occasions when the church is closed. When inside the church, please remain quiet and act with consideration for those who worship here.
Contact: Click here
Access
Address: 1243 Tamanoura, Tamanoura Town, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Website
https://visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/528
Memorial Church and Monument to Martyrdom at the Site of Royanosako Jail
Japanese Name: カトリック牢屋の窄殉教記念聖堂
While the ban on Christianity was not lifted despite the opening of Japan at the beginning of the Meiji Era, the 1865 “Discovery of Christians,” among the hidden Christians of Urakami at Oura Cathedral, acted as a catalyst for Christians in the Goto Islands to begin revealing their faith. In order to eradicate the organization, the Meiji government began its persecution.
At the Royanosako Jail of Hisakajima Island, around 200 Christians were imprisoned in a jail of only 20 square meters that faced the quiet bay. When this tragedy was reported to Europe by Bishop Petitjean, Japan received criticism from numerous countries, and the Meiji government eventually approved of Christianity.
The names of the 42 who lost their lives under this persecution are engraved in the gravestones at the site. Many of them were young children or elderly people. All followed their teachings steadfastly and accepted death without resistance.
Mass Application
For inquiries regarding the use of the church, please contact Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre: ch-info@kyoukaigun.jp
Fees
Free, but there is a box inside the church for voluntary donations.
Special Notices
■ As places of prayer, many of Nagasaki’s churches are open under normal circumstances. However, for management reasons, some may be closed.
■ When a Mass is being held, the main door at the front of the church is used. However, before entering the church, please kindly remove your shoes and place them in the shoe rack provided. Please also remove your hats. Once inside, visitors are politely requested to remain quiet and respect the church’s spiritual atmosphere at all times.
■ Photography inside the church is prohibited.
■ There are no visitor toilets inside the church area. Please bear this in mind before arriving.
Access
Address: Obiraki, Hisaka Town, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Website
https://visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/567
Former Gorin Church
Japanese Name: 旧五輪教会堂
When it was decided that the Hamawaki Church, originally built in 1881, would be rebuilt in 1931, it was moved and reconstructed in the Gorin district. Immediately before this former church was to be dismantled, the Buddhists on the island helped reaffirm its value, and the church became preserved as a cultural property. This district is in an extremely secluded area of Hisakajima Island and still cannot be reached by car. The Church is also a 2016 World Heritage site candidate.
Tour Application / Contact Information
It is necessary to apply for visits at the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre beforehand. Please submit your application from the website.
Contact: : Click Here
Please refrain from directly contacting or sending inquiries to the church.
Operating Hours
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Special Notices
■ As places of prayer, many of Nagasaki’s churches are open under normal circumstances. However, for management reasons, some may be closed.
■ When a Mass is being held, the main door at the front of the church is used. However, before entering the church, please kindly remove your shoes and place them in the shoe rack provided. Please also remove your hats. Once inside, visitors are politely requested to remain quiet and respect the church’s spiritual atmosphere at all times.
■ Photography inside the church is prohibited.
■ There are no visitor toilets inside the church area. Please bear this in mind before arriving.
Access
Address: 993-11, Warabi Town, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Web: http://kyoukaigun.jp/en/visit/gorin.php
Website
http://visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/569
Egami Church
Japanese Name: カトリック江上教会 (江上天主堂)
Designed by Yosuke Tetsukawa, the father of church architecture in Japan, the current structure of the Egami Church was built in 1918 after more than 50 Christian households cooperated to gather funds by fishing with dragnets.The efforts of the followers are crystallized in the hand-drawn wooden pillars and flower paintings on the window panes.
The church became a World Heritage Site in 2018.
Tour Application / Contact Information
It is necessary to apply for visits at the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre beforehand. Please submit your application from the website.
Contact: : Click Here
Please refrain from directly contacting or sending inquiries to the church.
Mass Application
For inquiries regarding the use of Egami Church, please contact Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre beforehand: ch-info@kyoukaigun.jp.
Operating Hours
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Days Closed
Mondays (Accommodations are possible if Monday is a holiday. The following business day will be closed.)
Accommodations are not available on the third Sunday of the month from 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. due to mass.
Tours of the exterior possible.
Special Notices
■ As places of prayer, many of Nagasaki’s churches are open under normal circumstances. However, for management reasons, some may be closed.
■ The main door at the front of the church is principally for use when a Mass is being held. Before entering the church, remove shoes and place them in the shoe rack provided. Also remove hats. Once inside, visitors are politely requested to remain quiet and respect the church’s spiritual atmosphere at all times.
■ Photography inside the church is normally prohibited.
■ There are no visitor toilets at the church. Please bear this in mind before arriving.
Access
Address: 1131-2 Ogushi, Narumachi Town, Goto City, Nagasaki Prefecture
Web: http://kyoukaigun.jp/en/visit/egami.php
Website
http://visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/570
Aosagaura Church
Japanese Name: カトリック青砂ヶ浦教会
The original church was said to have been built in 1878. From 1899, Aosagaura became the central church of Kamigoto. The current church was designed and constructed by Yosuke Tetsukawa in 1910, with parishioners coming together and making great efforts to carry the bricks uphill.
Now in its third generation, Aosagaura Church is designated as an important cultural property by the Japanese Government in 2001 and reached the 100th anniversary of its dedication in 2010.
Mass Application
For inquiries regarding the use of Egami Church, please contact Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region Information Centre beforehand: ch-info@kyoukaigun.jp.
Operating Hours
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Fees
Free, but there is a box inside the church for voluntary donations.
Special Notices
■ As places of prayer, many of Nagasaki’s churches are, under normal circumstances, open. However, for management reasons, some may be closed.
■ The main door at the front of the church is principally for use when a Mass is being held. Before entering the church, remove one’s shoes and place them in the shoe rack provided. Remove hats, as well. Once inside, visitors are politely requested to remain quiet and respect the church’s spiritual atmosphere at all times.
■ Photography inside the church is normally prohibited.
■ There are no visitor toilets at the church. Please bear this in mind before arriving.
■ At times when a Mass or other religious ceremony is being held, you may not be able to walk around the church freely.
■ Please note that there may sometimes be occasions when the church is closed. When inside the church, please remain quiet and act with consideration for those who worship here.
Access
Address: 1241 Namago, Shinkamigoto Town, Minamimatsu-ura District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Website
https://visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/571
Nokubi and Funamori Settlement Sites on Nozaki Island (Former Nokubi Church)
Japanese Name: 旧野首教会
The parishioners of 17 households saved 300 million yen in today’s currency through efforts such as fishing, and in 1908, the Nokubi Church was designed and constructed by Yosuke Tetsukawa. However, the population gradually declined, and the last parishioner left the island in 1971.
Nokubi Church, which stands on an uninhabited island, was subsequently repaired by Ojika Town. The closed Ojika Elementary and Junior High School Nozaki Branch located nearby became the “Nozaki Island Nature-learning Village,” a simple lodging facility and rest area. It accepts large numbers of tourists, children’s camps, and school field trips throughout the year and is used for outdoor and nature education.
Tour Application
It is necessary to apply for visits at Ojika Island Tourism beforehand. Please submit your application from the website: http://ojikajima.jp/
Access
Address: Nokubi, Nozakigo, Ojika Town, Kitamatsuura District, Nagasaki Prefecture
Web: http://kyoukaigun.jp/en/visit/nokubi.php
Website
https://www.visit-nagasaki.com/spots/detail/536
