Amakusa / UNESCO Hidden Christian sites 2 days tour
Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region
has been registered on UNESCO World Heritage in 2018, Japanese Christianity has a long
history of continuing faith while coexisting with Japanese traditional religion Shinto and General
society.
Japan’s unique practice of the Christian faith continued even during the ban on Christianity.
Hidden Christian Site in Nagasaki, Shimabara and Amakusa Regions bear unique testimony
to the tradition of people and their communities who secretly transmitted their faith in
Christianity while surviving in the midst of the conventional society and its religions during
the time of prohibition.
Amakusa is the birthplace of Amakusa Shiro who was the leader of Shimabara Rebellion occurred
in Shimabara in 1637.
And there are two World Heritage sites in Amakusa ; Oe Cathedral and Sakitsu Village.
The tour introduces how Christians have been continued their faith since Christianity was
propagated to Japan, by visiting Hidden Christian sites in Amakusa in Kumamoto-prefecture.
Location of Amakusa
Tour conditions
The tour is the private tour exclusively for your group.
・Minimum number : 2 person
・Maxum number : 30 person
・Tour date : please specify the date
・Accommodations is selected as per your required grade, room conditions and budget
and the location is considered sightseeing, dinner and nightlife as well.
・English speaking tour attendant escorts your journey to produce a pleasant trip.
・Chartered vehicle is utilized as per number of person.
Day 1
Itinerary
8:00 Depart Fukuoka-city
Transfer to Amakusa via Kumamoto ( 3 hours )
Travel Amakusa Gokyo / Pearl line
Visit Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall
Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites : Oe Cathedral , Sakitsu Village
Stay at Amakusa
Where to explore
Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa five bridges, is a general term for five bridges which connects
from Misumi at the Udo peninsula to the Oyano island, the Nagaura island, Ikejima, Maejima,
and Amakusa Kamishima, was built in 1966. The area on the National road route 266 called
as the Pearl Line.
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First Bridge
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Second Bridge
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Fourth Bridge
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The theme Museum shows History of Christianity in Amakusa and Shimabara Rebellion in
Harajo Castle Ruins which was a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians
under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637.
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The oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the
ban on Christianity was lifted. The and Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white
structure was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his
own money and contributions from local Christians living in the area.
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Sakitsu Village / UNESCO World Heritage
A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village. In 1934, a French priest
Augustin Halbout MEP purchased the premises of the former village headman and built a
wooden and concrete finished church, with Tetsukawa Yosuke’s design and construction.
He placed the altar at the very site where fumie or a test to ensure non-allegiance to
Christianity had been conducted.
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Day 2
Itinerary
Leave Hotel in Amakusa
Exploring Amakusa
Tomioka Castle Ruins , Matushima area
Transfer to Fukuoka-city
17:00 Arrive at Fukuoka-city
Where to explore
Tomioka Castle was built in 1602, one year after Terasawa Shimanokami hirotaka came to
Amakusa. Although Amakusa ruled by proxy for Terasawa from Tomioka Castle, he revelled
with his army in the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. After the rebellion, Yamasaki Kainokami
Ieharu ruled from the castle, and which was restored and enlarged to its present form.
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Connecting the islands of Amakusa with the inland of Kumamoto via the Uto Peninsula are
Amakusa Gokyo or Amakusa Five Bridge. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Amakusa
from the sea on a cruise.
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Exploring featured sites
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Sengan moutain Observatory
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Ariage Octopus Street
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Oppai Stone or breast stone
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Your equiry can be sent by selecting the Enquiry Form link below.
You can also contact us by e-mail at info@japan-kyushu-tourist.com
And we would love to chat about your travel plans on the phone as well,
please ring our office a call in English. +81-93-521-8897
Tour results
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