+81 92 235 5870 *Japanese only
[ Office hours ] Mon – Fri 9:00 – 17:00 / Sat 9:00 – 12:00
*closed on Sundays and holidays
The ancient ship route connecting Hakata and Goto Islands is dotted with beautiful islands and valuable historical sites associated with Christianity. Currently, various measures are being taken to promote the inclusion of the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region” in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage listing.
The Former Nokubi Church is a brick structure that stands on a small hill on Nozaki Island (Ojika-cho, Kitamatsuura-gun) in the northern Goto Islands. This is the first brick-built church (English bond) designed and constructed by Yosuke Tetsukawa.
Egami Church is located in the Egami settlement on Naru Island, which is in the middle of the Goto Islands. This cream- and light blue-colored wooden church was built in 1918, featuring rib-vault ceilings and Romanesque windows.
The church is in the Shirahama settlement on the island of Kashiragashima, which is in the northern section of the Goto Islands. This is the only stone-built church in Nagasaki Prefecture and was designed and constructed by Yosuke Tetsukawa under the guidance of Father Osaki. The church’s non-colonnaded interior is lovely, with the floral motif of Goto camellia and the use of blue as a base color.
The Former Gorin Church is located in the eastern part of Hisaka Island of the Goto Islands. It is on a narrow strip of flat land by a fishing port backed by rugged mountains. While the church has a rustic Japanese-style exterior, it features three aisles and Gothic, wooden rib-vault ceilings inside. It was created in 1931 by moving the building of the former Hamawaki Church built in 1881 to the current location.
