Church Spots in Nagasaki Area

  • Urakami Cathedral
    rating-image
    4.0
    404 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Nagasakishi Motomachi 1-79
    This Cathedral of the Catholic Church is located to the north of Nagasaki City. Its story began in the Edo period, with the ban on Christianity and the persecution of believers who lived in Urakami. The cathedral was built during the Meiji and Taisho periods. It was, however, later destroyed by the atomic bomb, leaving only a single wall standing, and the present building is a reconstruction of the original cathedral, built in 1959. It is located 5 minutes' walk from the Heiwa Koen (Peace Park) tram stop.

    This was my first time to Nagasaki. This cathedral in positioned on a hill, so you can get a bit of a view of the surrounding area. Not many places like this in Asia.

  • Tabira Catholic Church
    rating-image
    4.5
    128 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Tabirachoukotedamen 19
    This church is located in Kotedamen, Tabira-cho, Hirado City. A church built by believers who moved from Kuroshima and overseas after 1886 and whose temporary building was a private house, the permanent building was completed in 1918 from the donation of accumulated money from worshippers. The last brick church designed by Yosuke Tetsukawa, who helped design many churches in Nagasaki, it has been designated a nationally important cultural property. You must contact them in advance for tours.

    事前予約が必要との事で、ネットで予約して行ったのですが、コロナ禍だったからか、誰のチェックも無く、ただただ勝手に外から見学して来ました。コロナ前は内部も見る事が出来たようですが、中は見られず残念でした。でも、予約は何だったのか?未だに分かりません。

  • Shitsu Church
    rating-image
    4.5
    66 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Nagasakishi Nishishitsumachi 2633
    "This church is included in the ""Shitsu Village of Sotome"" collection of cultural assets included under the ""Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region"" World Heritage listing. The church was completed in 1879 and was constructed by father Marc Marie de Rotz, who visited Shitsu in 1879, and local believers. The church is notable for its white plaster walls and its low roof, a design choice made due to the area's strong winds. Visitors interested in viewing the church must make contact in advance."

    There is a good castella shop on the approach to this church. Other than that, not all too much to see here. To the learned visiter of course there is a lot more to it as this church represents the...

  • Aosagaura Church
    rating-image
    4.5
    56 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Minamimatsuragunshinkamigotouchou Namagou 1241
    This cathedral is located in Namago, Shinkamigoto Town, Minami-matsuura County. The first church building was built around 1878, and the current third generation building was built in 1910. Designed by Yosuke Tetsukawa, known for helping with the construction of many churches in Nagasaki, believers are said to have made and carried the bricks from the coast. It has been designated a nationally important cultural property.

    赤いレンガでできた天主堂です。五島で多くの教会を建てられた鉄川与助さんによる竣工です。このレンガを運んだのは女性とのことで、大変だったと思います。形の整った天主堂だと感じました。レンガの色と上に設置されている十字架の調和がとれているように感じます。この日は12時の鐘と、12時3分の鐘の音を聞けました。

  • Catholic Kurosaki Church
    rating-image
    4.0
    44 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Nagasakishi Kamikurosakimachi 26
    "This church is located in Kamikurosaki-machi, Nagasaki City. Its construction began under the guidance of Father de Rotz in 1897 and was completed in 1920. It is a brick church made by the hands of believers. The land of Kurosaki is known as the stage for the novel ""Silence"" written by Shusaku Endo."

    This is a relatively newer and larger red brick Romanesque church located just above the national road as you drive towards central Nagasaki City from the Ohno and Shitsu area which are components of...

  • Site of the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan (Oura Cathedral)
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Nagasakishi Minamiyamatemachi 5-3
    Japan’s oldest extant Christian structure, built in 1864. The church was built in dedication of 26 Japanese Christians who were executed in 1597 and faces Nishizaka, the area in Nagasaki where they were martyred. The location is also famous as the place where Hidden Christians professed their faith in 1865 while the religion was still banned in Japan. The church was designated a National Treasure in 1953. A five-minute walk from the O-Uratenshudoshita stop on the tramway.
  • St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Kagamigawachou 269
    After the prohibition n Christianity was lifted, Christians came to live in Hirado. This church was built in 1931. In 1971, a statue of Saint Francis Xavier was erected in honor of the church’s 40th anniversary. Thereafter, the church came to be known as St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church. Now called Hirado Xavier Memorial Church, the emerald walls of the building create a beautiful sight.
  • Egami Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Gotoushi Narumachiokushi 1131-2
    "A church located in Okushi, Naru-machi, Goto City. The church is included in the ""Egami Village on Naru Island UNESCO World Heritage listing, a part of the overarching ""Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region"" site. The church began operating in 1881; the current building was constructed in 1918 through the donation of funds gathered through dragnet fishing conducted by parishioners. Visitors who wish to view the church must make contact in advance."
  • Ono Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Nagasakishi Shimoonomachi 2619
    "A church located in Shimoono-machi, Nagasaki City. The church is a part of the ""Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region"" World Heritage listing. The church was built by father Marc Marie de Rotz and 26 families in Ono Village believed to be descendants of the Koteda family, who fled Hirado Domain after being pressured to apostatize. The simple stone church resembles a family home. Visitors who wish to view the church must make contact in advance."
  • Former Gorin Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Gotoushi Warabichou 993-11
    "A church located on Hisaka Island in the Goto Islands in Warabi-cho, Goto City. The church is included in the ""Villages on Hisaka Island"" cultural property group, a part of the ""Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region"" World Heritage listing. The church was originally the Hamawaki Church, built in 1881, and was moved to this site in 1931. The church was almost demolished due to deterioration, but was saved thanks to the advice of a local Buddhist and today the structure is being preserved for future generations. Note that the area where the church is located cannot be reached directly by car. Visitors interested in viewing the church must make contact in advance."
  • Himosashi Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Himosashichou 1039
    This church is located in Himosashi-cho, Hirado City. A Catholic cathedral second in size only to the Urakami Cathedral in Motoo-machi, Nagasaki City, it was designed by Yosuke Tetsukawa and completed in 1929. Beautiful stained glass fills the Romanesque-style building.
  • Hoki Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Houkichou 1170
    This church located in Hoki-cho, Hirado City was built in 1898. Built by carpenters for temple and shrine construction on Ukujima Island who had been baptized, it has various architectural features such as a structure combining wooden tile roofing with brick. It is a prefecturally-designated tangible cultural property for its valuable construction that shows the history of faith in the area and the history of church architecture that moved from wood to brick.
  • Former Tainoura Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Minamimatsuragunshinkamigotouchou Tainouragou 326
    This church is located in Tainourago, Shinkamigoto Town, Minamimatsuura County. Originally built in 1880 by Father Bourelle, it was rebuilt in 1903. During the war, the navy seized the building, and it was added to after the war, using bricks from the former Urakami Cathedral that was bombed. A new church was built in 1979.
  • Kusuhara Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Gotoushi Kishikumachikusuhara
    A church located in Kusuhara, Kishiku-machi, Goto City. The church was designed by Yosuke Tetsukawa, known for his work on numerous churches in Nagasaki, and was completed in 1912. The brick church is designed in the Gothic style and is the second oldest church in lower Goto, the oldest being Dozaki Church.
  • Mizunoura Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Pref. Gotoushi Kishikumachikishiku 1644
    In the late Edo period, the Christians, who left the Omura Domain to live in hiding, ended up in places like Mizunoura and Himeshima. The history of Mizunoura Church began with five of these men and their wives and children. It was the one of the earliest Catholic churches to be built on the Goto islands, and the white wooden chapel is the largest, and most impressive.
  • Imochiura Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Goto-shi Tamanouramachi Tamanoura 1243
  • Kashiragashima Tenshudo
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Minamimatsuura-gun Shinkamigoto Cho Tomosumigo Kashiragashima 638
  • Dozaki Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Goto-shi Okuuracho Dozaki 2019
  • Catholic Magome Church
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Nagasaki-shi Iojimamachi 2-617
    The church is located in 2-chome, Ioujima-cho, Nagasaki City, and was originally a small cathedral built by local believers in 1871 (the 4th year of Meiji) during the time of the prohibition of the church, and after the brick church built in 1890 (the 23rd year of Meiji) was damaged by typhoons, the present church was completed in 1931 (the 6th year of Showa). The Gothic-style church has become a symbol of the island and is registered as a national tangible cultural property.
  • Catholic Miuracho Church
    rating-image
    4.0
    95 Reviews
    Travel / Tourism
    Nagasaki Sasebo-shi Miuracho 4-25

    There are many christians in Nagasaki, and so many churches. This church, standing in a rising ground not far from JR Sasebo station, is quite remarkable thanks to its Western architecture. As I...

Nagasaki Areas

around-area-map

This hidden corner of the country is rural Japan at its best, where underground activity is to thank for active volcanoes and bubbling natural hot springs along the Shimabara Peninsula as well as the crystal clear waters of the Goto Islands off the west coast. Less well known than Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, Nagasaki commemorates its own past at the Nagasaki Peace Park, which sits alongside the charming Meganebashi stone bridge and a mix of religious buildings with beautiful architecture, such as the Zen Buddhist Sofukuji Temple, the Confucian Shrine, and the Oura Christian Church.

Nagasaki Photo Album

Browse Interests