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Oura Catholic Church

The place where hidden Christians confessed to their beliefs. The oldest Japanese wooden brick church.

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The Oura Catholic Church was built for foreigners staying in Japan. Its actual name is “26 Martyrs Church”, and was built in honor of 26 apostles who reached martyrdom in the year 1597. The church faces West Hill, which is where they were executed.

The church was designed by a French priest, Furet, and Father Petitjean. It was constructed by Hidenoshin Koyama in 1864. The church is designed with a gothic architectural style, with bricks, painted with plaster.

When Christianity was banned in March 1865, Christians who were hidden in Urakami visited the church to confess to Father Petitjean. The heart-moving event of a congregation that secretly maintained their faith for approximately 250 years is considered one of the miracles in the history of Christianity around the world.

On August 9th, 1945, the church was damaged by the atomic bomb, and after 5 years of reconstruction, it was rebuilt in 1953, marking itself as a national treasure. In 2018, it became a “Hidden Christian Site in Nagasaki Region”.

The oldest gothic church in Japan built of wood and brick is a must-visit if you ever find yourself in Nagasaki.

Highlights

  • The school and pavilion next to the church is the “Christian Museum”.
  • The statue of the Virgin Mary can be found on a small altar next to the podium.
  • The Virgin Mary statue at the entrance was given by the French to commemorate the discovery of the apostles.
  • The ceiling is designed in an arch-like structure with wooden pillars.
  • Father Petitjean is buried under the church, the pavilion also has a grave.

Photos

  • The white church stands in front of the blue sky.

    The white church stands in front of the blue sky.

  • Virgin Mary statue

    Virgin Mary statue

  • Statue of Petitjean
©Nagasaki Prefecture Convention and Tourism Association

    Statue of Petitjean ©Nagasaki Prefecture Convention and Tourism Association

  • Memorial plaque commemorating the discovery of apostles
©Nagasaki Prefecture Convention and Tourism Association

    Memorial plaque commemorating the discovery of apostles ©Nagasaki Prefecture Convention and Tourism Association

  • A view of Nagasaki from Oura Church

    A view of Nagasaki from Oura Church

Reviews

1
  • 夏婉欣

    最古老天主教堂~哥德式建築搭配超唯美彩繪玻璃哦真的是美呆了

Details

Name in Japanese
大浦天主堂
Postal Code
850-0931
Address
5-3 Minamiyamatemachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki
Telephone
095-823-2628
Closed
Open every day
Business Hours
8:30am-5:30pm
November 1st-End of February 8:30am-5:00pm
Admission
Adults - 1000 yen, Middle School and High School students - 400 yen, Elementary School students - 300 yen (includes museum admission)
Access
5 min walk from Ground Train Oura Church station
Credit Cards
Not accepted
Official Website
Official Website (Japanese)