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character ‘Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region’ are widely distributed across several remote islands and peninsulas in the Nagasaki region. Japan lies at the far eastern edge of the area within Asia in which Christianity was introduced during the Age of Exploration, and the Nagasaki region experienced the most extensive Catholic mission in the country at that time.

  1. 1Remains of Hara Castle

    The site of the main battlefield during the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion, after which the remaining Christians had to go into hiding and find ways out to continue their religious faith by themselves.


  2. 2Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado (Kasuga Village and Mt. Yasumandake)

    Hidden Christians concealed their faith in this village by venerating the mountain that had been worshiped since before the introduction of Christianity to Japan and the island on which their ancestors had been martyred.

  3. 09_中江ノ島_日暮雄一撮影

    3Kasuga Village and Sacred Places in Hirado (Nakaenoshima Island)

    Hidden Christians concealed their faith in this village by venerating the mountain that had been worshiped since before the introduction of Christianity to Japan and the island on which their ancestors had been martyred.


  4. 4Sakitsu Village in Amakusa

    In Sakitsu, Hidden Christians were able to continue practising their faith over time by substituting everyday items used in daily life and work for Christian devotional objects.

  5. 01_外海の出津集落

    5Shitsu Village in Sotome

    At this village, Hidden Christians were able to practise their faith by secretly revering sacred icons.

  6. 01_外海の大野集落

    6Ono Village in Sotome

    In Ono Village, Hidden Christians practised their religious faith by venerating their own deities secretly enshrined in Shinto shrines.

  7. 01_黒島の集落

    7Villages on Kuroshima Island

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities after they settled in former clan pasturelands on Kuroshima Island in need of redevelopment.

  8. 01_野崎島の集落跡

    8Remains of Villages on Nozaki Island

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities after they migrated to Nozaki Island, which was regarded as sacred by Shinto believers.

  9. 01_頭ヶ島の集落

    9Villages on Kashiragashima Island

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities after they migrated to Kashiragashima Island, which once had been used for sick people.

  10. 01_久賀島の集落

    10Villages on Hisaka Island

    Hidden Christians maintained their religious communities in these villages after migrating to undeveloped land on the island in accordance with a migration policy established by feudal lords.

  11. 01_奈留島の江上集落

    11Egami Village on Naru Island(Egami Church and its Surroundings)

    Egami Church bears witness to the history of Hidden Christian migrants to Naru Island and visually marks the end of their hiding.


  12. 12Oura Cathedral

    The site of the ‘Discovery of Hidden Christians’, an encounter with returned Catholic missionaries that triggered the end of Hidden Christians’ hiding.

UNESCO