Custom group pilgrimages to the Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region and the martyrdom sites of Kyushu, arranged for parishes, dioceses and pilgrimage operators. Practical information first; a proposal on request.
Francis Xavier landed in Kagoshima in 1549 and preached in Hirado the following year. Nagasaki became a Christian port; in 1597 twenty-six Christians were crucified on Nishizaka Hill. After the ban of 1614 and the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637–38, the Church in Japan disappeared from view. Communities on the Sotome coast and the islands kept the faith in secret for seven generations, without priests, until in 1865 a group from Urakami revealed themselves at the newly built Oura Cathedral.
The twelve sites inscribed by UNESCO in 2018 as Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region trace that story: the beginning of the ban, the continuation of the faith, migration to the islands, and the return to the Church. Most are villages and landscapes rather than monuments; several are small, living parish churches with visiting rules that shape the itinerary.
We describe the sites' history and practicalities. Spiritual direction remains with your group's chaplain.
At a glance
Mass and priests
Groups bring their own chaplain; we arrange venues and times with the parishes. No fixed arrangement for supplying a priest.
Church visits
Seven UNESCO churches by prior notice; online deadline two days before; applications from six months ahead. We apply for you.
Physical demands
City and Sotome days: 2–5 km walking with steps. Island days: ferries, uneven paths. Nozaki Island: fit walkers only.
Group size
Up to 40 on one coach; small churches visited in timed slots, groups split where needed.
Duration
3–5 days for Nagasaki and Sotome; 5–7 days with the Goto Islands, Hirado or Amakusa.
Season
March–May and October–November are most comfortable. Typhoon risk July–October affects ferries; winter seas can be rough.
Pricing
Quoted per group on request. No packaged tours are sold on this site.
Generic church interior for illustration; photography inside the heritage churches is not permitted.
Most pilgrim groups travel with their own priest or spiritual director. We arrange where and when Mass can be celebrated each day, in consultation with the local parishes, and set this out in the proposal day by day.
Status of this section. The venues below reflect churches commonly used by visiting groups. Specific arrangements with each parish and the Archdiocese of Nagasaki have not yet been confirmed for this site and will be verified before publication.
Bringing your own priest
Welcome and, for most groups, the norm. We ask for the priest's name and diocese at the proposal stage so that the parishes can be informed. The Archdiocese of Nagasaki normally asks visiting clergy for a celebret or letter of good standing.
If your group has no priest
We can enquire with the Archdiocese or local religious communities about a priest for particular dates, but we cannot guarantee one. Groups for whom daily Mass is essential should plan to bring a chaplain.
Daily Mass in practice
In Nagasaki city, Mass can usually be arranged every day at a parish church. On island days the venue depends on ferry times and parish schedules and may be a small church, a chapel or a hotel meeting room. We tell you in advance which days are confirmed.
Church
Mass for visiting groups
Notes
Urakami Cathedral
Mass for visiting groups by arrangement with the parish
Large cathedral; suitable for full groups.
Oura Church (adjacent to Oura Cathedral)
By arrangement with the parish
Oura Cathedral itself is a museum-church; Mass is not normally celebrated inside.
St Philip's Church, Nishizaka (Twenty-Six Martyrs)
By arrangement
Small church at the martyrdom site.
Nakamachi Church
By arrangement with the parish
Central location; often used by pilgrim groups.
Shitsu Church (Sotome)
By arrangement; subject to parish schedule
UNESCO component; interior visits also require prior notice.
Island churches (Kuroshima, Kashiragashima, Egami, Goto parishes)
Case by case
Small capacities; some churches are used only occasionally. We advise which is realistic for your dates.
Interior visits and Mass are two separate permissions. A church that can be visited may not be available for Mass on a given day, and vice versa. Visitors are asked not to enter churches for sightseeing while Mass or another service is in progress.
Church visits by prior notice
Interior visits to seven of the UNESCO churches are by prior notice, coordinated by the Nagasaki Churches Information Centre (Hidden Christian Sites Information Centre) in Dejima, Nagasaki. This protects parish life: the churches are in use, and the smaller ones hold only a few dozen people. We submit and manage these applications for every group.
Churches requiring prior notice: Sakitsu, Shitsu, Ono, Kuroshima, Kashiragashima, Former Gorin (Hisaka) and Egami. Former Nokubi Church on Nozaki Island is applied for separately through Ojika Island Tourism.
Oura Cathedral does not require prior notice (admission charged).
Deadline: online applications close two days before the visit. Late requests can sometimes be handled by telephone but are not guaranteed. Applications can be lodged up to six months ahead.
Numbers: each church has a visitor limit per time slot. Groups above the limit are split into consecutive slots; we build this into the day.
Refusals: visits may be declined because of Mass, funerals, other services or visitor pressure, sometimes at short notice. The proposal marks which visits are confirmed and which are provisional.
Conduct: no photography inside churches, hats off, no entry to the sanctuary, no food or drink, and no entry during services. In villages, visitors keep to public paths and respect residents' privacy.
The twelve components
Official English names follow the World Heritage inscription (Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region, 2018). Listed in inscription order, which follows the story from the ban to the return.
Minamishimabara, Shimabara Peninsula · Beginning of the ban (1637–38)
The site of the Shimabara–Amakusa Rebellion (1637–38), in which some 37,000 people, largely Christian peasants, held out for months before the castle fell. The rebellion led the shogunate to close the country to Portuguese ships and to tighten the ban on Christianity, which is why the hidden period begins here.
For pilgrims. A memorial site rather than a church. The open hilltop over the Ariake Sea is a natural place for a moment of silence at the start of a pilgrimage.
Access. Coach to the car park; then walking on grass paths and gentle slopes, around 1 km in total. Little shade.
02No prior notice
Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado (Kasuga Village and Mt. Yasumandake)
Hirado Island · Continuity of hidden faith
A village of terraced rice fields where hidden Christians kept their faith without a church, venerating Mt. Yasumandake — a mountain already sacred in Shinto and Buddhist tradition — and household objects handed down through generations. The tradition survived here into the present day without rejoining the Catholic Church.
For pilgrims. Shows how the faith was preserved in daily life and landscape. The small visitor house (Katarina) in the village is run by local residents.
Access. Coach access to the village. Walking on farm lanes. Mt. Yasumandake summit is reached by a short but steep footpath from the upper road (allow 20–30 minutes each way) — optional.
03No prior notice
Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado (Nakaenoshima Island)
Off Hirado Island · Continuity of hidden faith
A small uninhabited island where Christians were executed in the 1620s. Hidden Christians of the Hirado area revered it as a holy place and drew water there for baptism.
For pilgrims. Viewed from the shore or from a chartered boat; there is no landing. Best experienced together with Kasuga Village.
Access. No landing. Coastal viewpoint by coach, or boat charter subject to weather.
04Prior notice
Sakitsu Village in Amakusa
Amakusa, Kumamoto Prefecture · Hidden faith in a fishing village
A fishing village where hidden Christians used everyday objects — shells, fishing gear — as objects of devotion. The Gothic church built in 1934 stands on the site of the village headman's house where the annual religious inspections (e-fumi) had been held.
For pilgrims. Sakitsu Church has a tatami-floored interior. The village is walkable and the church is an active parish church.
Access. Flat, short walks within the village. Around 2.5 hours by coach from Nagasaki via the Shimabara–Amakusa ferry, or from Kumamoto.
05Prior notice
Shitsu Village in Sotome
Sotome, Nagasaki City · Hidden faith on the coast
A steep coastal village where hidden Christians continued their faith under lay leaders. After the ban was lifted, the French missionary Fr. Marc-Marie de Rotz built Shitsu Church (1882) and workshops that gave the village its livelihood.
For pilgrims. Shitsu Church is an active parish. The De Rotz Memorial Hall and the former aid centre are within walking distance.
Access. Coach to the village; steps and slopes between the church, memorial hall and lookout. Around 45 minutes from central Nagasaki.
06Prior notice
Ono Village in Sotome
Sotome, Nagasaki City · Hidden faith on the coast
A small settlement where hidden Christians outwardly belonged to the local Shinto shrine while keeping their own faith. Ono Church (1893), built by Fr. de Rotz from local stone, is one of the smallest churches in the group.
For pilgrims. A quiet stop, often combined with Shitsu. The interior is normally viewed only with prior notice; the exterior and the setting are the point.
Access. Coach to the road below; a short uphill walk of steps to the church. Limited coach parking.
07Prior notice
Villages on Kuroshima Island
Off Sasebo · Migration to the islands
Hidden Christians from Sotome migrated to this island in the late 18th century to farm land that had been a pasture. After 1873 almost all islanders returned to the Catholic Church; the brick Kuroshima Church (1902) was built by the villagers themselves.
For pilgrims. A living Catholic island community. Kuroshima Church is the parish church.
Access. Ferry from Ainoura (Sasebo), approx. 50 minutes. The church is about 1 km from the port; a local bus or walking. Ferry sailings are limited — timings fix the day.
08Prior notice · Ojika Island Tourism
Remains of Villages on Nozaki Island
Ojika, Goto Islands · Migration to the islands
An island once shared by a Shinto shrine community and hidden Christian settlers. The island is now uninhabited; the Former Nokubi Church (1908) stands above the abandoned village.
For pilgrims. The most demanding site in the group and one of the most memorable for its silence. Visits are limited and must be arranged in advance through Ojika Island Tourism.
Access. Boat from Ojika (approx. 30 minutes), then a walk of around 20 minutes on an unpaved path with a climb. No shops, no shade; toilets near the pier only.
09Prior notice
Villages on Kashiragashima Island
Shin-Kamigoto, Goto Islands · Migration to the islands
A small island where hidden Christians settled under the pretext of a leper hospital. Kashiragashima Church (1919) was built of local sandstone by the villagers over a decade, designed by the church architect Yosuke Tetsukawa.
For pilgrims. A small church with a capacity of only a few dozen. Visits are timed, and larger groups may be split.
Access. Connected to Nakadori Island by bridge. During busy periods private vehicles are restricted and visitors transfer to a shuttle at the Ariake car park. Short walk from the drop-off.
10Prior notice
Villages on Hisaka Island
Goto Islands · Migration to the islands
An island where hidden Christian migrants settled on marginal land among existing villages. In 1868 the islanders were imprisoned and tortured in the "Goto Kuzure" persecution. The Former Gorin Church (1881, moved 1931) is a wooden church on the shore.
For pilgrims. The Former Gorin Church is reached on foot along the coast or by small boat. Time on the island is dictated by the ferry.
Access. Ferry from Fukue (approx. 20–35 minutes), then car; the last stretch to the church is a coastal footpath of around 10–15 minutes. Alternatively a chartered boat to the church landing.
11Prior notice
Egami Village on Naru Island (Egami Church and its Surroundings)
Naru Island, Goto Islands · End of the hidden period
A village founded by four hidden Christian families. Egami Church (1918), a white wooden church by Tetsukawa, is considered the finest of the wooden churches and marks the end of the story — the community had returned to the Catholic Church and built openly.
For pilgrims. Interior visits are by prior notice and limited in number. The church is small; groups view it in turn.
Access. Ferry from Fukue or Nagasaki to Naru, then car. Short walk on level ground from the road.
12No prior notice
Oura Cathedral
Minami-Yamate, Nagasaki City · The "discovery of the faithful" (1865)
Built in 1864 for the foreign community and dedicated to the Twenty-Six Martyrs, it is the oldest surviving church in Japan and a National Treasure. In March 1865 hidden Christians from Urakami approached Fr. Petitjean here and revealed their faith — the event known as the discovery of the faithful.
For pilgrims. For most groups the first or last stop. Oura Cathedral itself is a museum-church; Mass for visiting groups is arranged at neighbouring churches (see Mass and priests).
Access. In central Nagasaki. A steep paved slope and a flight of stone steps from the street to the cathedral. No prior notice required; admission charged.
Other sites on most pilgrimages
Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument and Museum (Nishizaka Hill)Site of the crucifixion of St Paul Miki and companions on 5 February 1597. Monument, museum and St Philip's Church. Central Nagasaki, near the station; gentle slope.
Urakami CathedralParish cathedral of the Archdiocese of Nagasaki, rebuilt after the 1945 atomic bombing. Relics of the bombed cathedral are displayed. Close to the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum.
Nakamachi ChurchParish church in central Nagasaki dedicated to the Japanese martyrs; frequently used by visiting groups.
Unzen Hot Springs (Unzen Jigoku)Site of the martyrdom of Christians in the hot springs in 1627–32. Boardwalks through the steaming valley; strong sulphur smell.
Hirado: St Francis Xavier Memorial Church and Tabira ChurchXavier preached in Hirado in 1550. Tabira Church (1918) is a brick church by Tetsukawa on the mainland side; prior notice required.
Goto: Dozaki Church, Imochiura Lourdes, Mizunoura ChurchOn Fukue Island. Dozaki is now a museum; Imochiura has a Lourdes grotto and is often used for Mass.
Physical demands
Figures are indicative, drawn from published access information for each site, and are confirmed for the specific routing in every proposal. Most pilgrims who can walk two kilometres a day with some steps manage the city and Sotome programmes comfortably; island programmes add ferries and uneven paths.
Site
Walking
Terrain and steps
Sea crossing
Level
Oura Cathedral
0.5 km
Steep slope + approx. 30 stone steps
—
Moderate
Nishizaka / Urakami
1–2 km
Gentle slopes; some steps at Nishizaka
—
Easy
Shitsu and Ono Villages
1–2 km
Steps between church, museum and lookout; Ono is a short uphill
—
Moderate
Remains of Hara Castle
1 km
Grass paths, gentle rise; no shade
—
Moderate
Kasuga Village / Mt. Yasumandake
1–3 km
Farm lanes; summit path steep (optional)
—
Moderate
Sakitsu Village
1 km
Level village lanes
Shimabara–Amakusa car ferry (coach boards)
Easy
Kuroshima Island
2 km
Level to gentle
Approx. 50 min, walk-on ferry
Moderate
Kashiragashima Island
0.5–1 km
Short walk from shuttle; some steps
Jetfoil / ferry to Kamigoto (1.5–2.5 h)
Moderate
Hisaka Island (Former Gorin Church)
1–2 km
Narrow coastal footpath, uneven
Ferry approx. 20–35 min, or small boat
Demanding
Naru Island (Egami Church)
0.5 km
Level
Ferry from Fukue or Nagasaki
Moderate
Nozaki Island
3 km
Unpaved path with climb; no facilities
Town boat approx. 30 min from Ojika
Strenuous
Stone steps are common: Oura, Shitsu, Ono.Coastal footpaths on Hisaka and Nozaki are unpaved.
Walking
Typical city day: 3–5 km spread over the day, with coach transfers between sites. Sotome day: 2–3 km with steps. Island day: 2–4 km, more on Nozaki.
Ferries and jetfoils
Boarding is by gangway; jetfoils have steps and a narrow entrance. Seas can be rough in winter and during typhoon season (July–October); island days carry an alternative plan.
Mobility
Wheelchair users and people who tire easily can be routed to accessible sites while the main group continues. Tell us early and we plan for it.
Group size and logistics
Maximum group
40 people on one large coach. Larger groups run as two coaches with staggered site visits (subject to confirmation).
Minimum group
10 people; smaller parties are quoted as private arrangements.
Church capacity
Kashiragashima, Egami, Former Gorin and Ono hold only a few dozen visitors at a time. Groups above the slot limit are split into consecutive slots (typically 20–30 minutes apart).
Coaches
Large coach (45–49 seats), medium (27–28) and minibus. Roads to Ono Church, Kashiragashima and parts of the Goto Islands limit vehicle size; island transfers may use local minibuses.
Ferries and jetfoils
Walk-on for passengers; luggage handled separately. Jetfoil seats are reserved and sailings can sell out on holidays — a reason to confirm early.
Hotels
Nagasaki city has ample capacity. Islands: small hotels and inns; 40-person groups may be split across properties or use a single larger hotel on Fukue or Nakadori.
Meals
Group meals booked in advance; vegetarian, gluten-free and allergy requirements handled with notice. Fish-based cuisine is the norm on the islands.
Emergency contact
Coordinator reachable by phone and messaging throughout the programme (hours and after-hours arrangement to be defined).
Sample itineraries
Illustrative programmes we adapt to each group's dates, size and pace. No prices are listed; every programme is quoted for the group as a whole.
Sample itinerary · 4 days
Nagasaki and Sotome
The core Nagasaki pilgrimage: martyrdom sites in the city, Oura Cathedral, Urakami and the Sotome coast. Suitable for most groups, including those with limited mobility.
Activity level
Light to moderate
Base
Nagasaki city hotel (3 nights)
Price
Quoted per group on request
Day 1
Arrival — Nagasaki
Meet at Fukuoka or Nagasaki Airport; coach to Nagasaki (approx. 2 h from Fukuoka). Afternoon at Nishizaka Hill: Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument and Museum. Mass at St Philip's Church or Nakamachi Church. Welcome dinner.
Day 2
Oura and Urakami
Morning: Oura Cathedral and the Christian Museum; Glover Garden (optional). Afternoon: Urakami Cathedral, Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum. Mass at Urakami Cathedral.
Day 3
Sotome coast
Coach to Sotome (approx. 45 min). Shitsu Village: Shitsu Church, De Rotz Memorial Hall, former aid centre. Ono Village: Ono Church (exterior; interior by prior notice). Endo Shusaku Literary Museum. Return to Nagasaki. Free evening.
Day 4
Shimabara — departure
Coach across the Shimabara Peninsula: Remains of Hara Castle; Unzen Hot Springs martyrdom site. Lunch in Shimabara. Transfer to Nagasaki Airport for departure, or continue to Fukuoka.
Sample itinerary · 5 days
Nagasaki, Kamigoto and the Islands
Adds the island churches of the Goto archipelago. Involves sea crossings and small churches with limited capacity; the island days are built around ferry timetables and weather.
Activity level
Moderate
Base
Nagasaki (2 nights), Kamigoto (2 nights)
Price
Quoted per group on request
Day 1
Arrival — Nagasaki
Meet at the airport; coach to Nagasaki. Nishizaka Hill: Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument and Museum. Mass in central Nagasaki.
Day 2
Oura, Urakami and Sotome
Oura Cathedral in the morning; Urakami Cathedral and Peace Park; afternoon at Shitsu Village in Sotome. Return to Nagasaki.
Day 3
To Kamigoto
Jetfoil or ferry to Nakadori Island (from Nagasaki or Sasebo; 1.5–2.5 h). Kashiragashima Island: Kashiragashima Church (prior notice; visit in timed groups). Aosagaura Church. Overnight on Nakadori.
Day 4
Naru Island
Ferry to Naru Island: Egami Village and Egami Church (prior notice; small interior). Return to Nakadori. Mass at a Kamigoto parish church. Alternative: day trip to Nozaki Island via Ojika for fit groups.
Day 5
Return — departure
Jetfoil to Nagasaki or Sasebo. Transfer to Nagasaki or Fukuoka Airport. Groups continuing in Kyushu can add Hirado (Kasuga Village) or Amakusa (Sakitsu).
What we do and do not do
What we do
Plan and quote a complete pilgrimage or group programme for your dates
Book coaches, ferries, hotels, meals and guides across Kyushu
Submit church visit applications and manage timed visits and group splits
Coordinate Mass venues and times with local parishes
Provide an English-speaking contact before and during the trip
Work with your appointed operator on flights, insurance and sales
What we do not do
Sell fixed-date, fixed-price tours through this website
Guarantee interior access to any church — parishes and the Information Centre decide
Guarantee the availability of a priest — please plan to bring your chaplain
Offer religious guidance or liturgical services ourselves
Book international flights on your behalf (arranged via your operator)
Pilgrimage FAQ
Can we bring our own priest or spiritual director?
Yes. Most groups travel with their own chaplain. We arrange Mass venues and times with the local parishes and pass on the requirements the Archdiocese of Nagasaki asks of visiting clergy (a letter of good standing from the home diocese is normally requested).
Can you provide a priest if we do not have one?
We can ask the Archdiocese or a local religious community whether a priest is available for specific dates, but we cannot guarantee it and there is no fixed arrangement. Groups who need daily Mass should plan to bring a priest.
Can we celebrate Mass every day?
Usually yes for the city days. On island days the venue may be a small church or a hotel meeting room, depending on ferry times and parish schedules. We set this out day by day in the proposal.
Can we visit the inside of every church?
Not always. Seven UNESCO churches require prior notice, interiors may be closed for Mass, funerals or maintenance, and small churches limit numbers. We submit applications for you and tell you in advance where an interior visit is confirmed.
Is the itinerary suitable for older pilgrims?
City and Sotome programmes are manageable for most people who can walk 1–2 km a day with some steps. Island programmes involve ferries and uneven paths; Nozaki Island is only for fit walkers. See the physical demands table, and tell us about mobility needs when you enquire.
What is the maximum group size?
We handle groups of up to 40 on one coach. Island churches may require splitting a group into two visit slots; ferries and small hotels can also cap numbers on particular days.
Is Nagasaki accessible for wheelchair users?
Partly. Urakami Cathedral, Nishizaka and the Peace Park are accessible; Oura Cathedral and the Sotome churches involve steps and slopes. We advise site by site.
What about English-language liturgy and guiding at the sites?
Guides interpret the history of each site; they do not lead prayer. Where your group wishes to hold a short prayer or hymn at a site, we confirm with the parish or site manager beforehand whether this is permitted.
Request a proposal
Tell us your dates, group size, whether you travel with a priest, and what matters most. We reply within 2 business days.
