Mystic and Religious Tour in Japan

Departure to Nagasaki, Japan,

Arrival in Nagasaki and a city tour of the “Little Rome of Japan.”

Visit the Museum of the Twenty-Six Martyrs, saints of Japan, including St. Paul Miki, who preached forgiveness while hanging on his cross. Visit St. Philip’s Church and the Lourdes Grotto, built by St. Maximillian Kolbe in the 1930s. Visit St. Kolbe Memorial Museum, Oura Cathedral, and St. Maximilian’s first residence in Nagasaki.

Departure to Hirado to visit St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church and Tabira Church, parts of which were built by seashells, crushed, and turned into stone by the parishioner’s own hands. Visit Mt. Inasa to contemplate 360-degree views of the thriving port city of Nagasaki and the Sea of Japan.

Visit the Unzen Hot Springs martyrdom site, where 33 Christians stood firm against persecution and preferred torture in the boiling ‘Hells’ of the hot springs rather than giving up their faith. Visit the Shimabara Catholic Church, the site of the Shimabara Rebellion, and Hara Castle, where, in 1637, local Christian farmers were fed up with the maladministration and persecution they were experiencing and gathered in revolt, fighting bravely against the Shogunate army.

Take a Ferry to Goto Island. Visit the Dozaki Catholic Church, the first church built on the islands after the ban on Christianity was lifted. Continue the journey by boat to The Christian’s Cave on Wakamatsu Island, once used by Christians as a hiding spot to evade persecution. Visit Imochiura Church, Memorial Church, and the Monument to Martyrdom at the Site of Ryoyonasako Jail, once a Christian persecution site.

Visit Nyoko-do and the Dr. Takashi Memorial Museum. Dr. Takashi was a Catholic Radiologist, author, and survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing. His subsequent life of prayer, service, and courage in adversity earned him the affectionate title “Saint of Urakami.” Visit the Urakami Cathedral, the Nagasaki Hypocenter Park, and the Atomic Bomb Museum. Depart to Hiroshima by train.

Visit the Assumption of Mary Cathedral, also called the Memorial Cathedral of World Peace. From there, visit the Peace Memorial Park to commemorate the direct and indirect victims of the atomic bomb. Visit the A-Bomb Museum and the A-Bomb Dome, a building exactly below the detonation site of the nuclear bomb. Remarkably, the building wasn’t destroyed and stands today as a visual reminder of what happened. Visit the Hiroshima Castle, which now serves as a museum of Hiroshima’s history before World War II—departing to Kyoto.

Visit the Kawaramachi Church, commemorating the 52 Kyoto Martyrs, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Miyako. Continue to Arashiyama Bamboo Grove’s ‘Bamboo Alley’, where the bamboo stands 165 feet tall and is visually endless. Visit the Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the early 17 Century.

Start your day with a visit to Kinkaku-ji (The Golden Pavilion). This iconic temple features stunning architecture surrounded by a peaceful garden. Afterward, head to Ryoan-ji Temple to experience its famous Zen rock garden and explore the Arashiyama district. Visit the Bamboo Grove for a serene walk among towering bamboo stalks, the Tenryu-ji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district.

Visit Fushimi Inari Taisha, famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates lining the paths up the mountain. Visit the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its wooden stage with panoramic city views. Explore the Higashiyama District, a historic area with narrow lanes lined with traditional shops and cafes. Visit the Nishiki Market, also known as “Kyoto’s Kitchen,” where you can find a variety of local delicacies and souvenirs.

Departure to Akita. Visit the Chapel of Our Lady of Akita at the Seitai Hoshikai Catholic Convent to contemplate the miraculous statue there. The statue was created as ‘Our Lady of all Nations’ from 1975 until the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows in 1981; the statue shed tears- sometimes for days at a time and sometimes for various intervals. Visit Kakunodate, the Samurai District, and the Aoyagi Samurai Manor.

Departure to Tokyo. Visit the Takanawa Catholic Church, which commemorates the Great Martyrdom of Tokyo. Then, visit the Tsukiji Outer Market and Senso-ji Temple, stroll along the nearby Sumida River, and visit Akihabara, Tokyo’s famous electronics and otaku culture district. Explore the countless shops selling electronics, manga, anime goods, and themed cafes. Visit the Yushima Seido Shrine or the Ueno area, with attractions like the Ueno Park, Tokyo National Museum, or Ueno Zoo.

Start your day with a visit to the iconic Meiji Shrine near Harajuku. Explore the trendy neighborhood of Harajuku and its unique shops along Takeshita Street. Head to the upscale district of Omotesando and visit the Nezu Museum and the Omotesando Hills shopping complex for a taste of modern Tokyo fashion. Spend your afternoon exploring Shinjuku, visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, explore the bustling streets of Kabukicho, and the Omoide Yokocho alley near Shinjuku Station, known for its nostalgic atmosphere and tiny eateries serving yakitori and other local delicacies.

Return flight home.