Francis Xavier arrived in Kagoshima in 1549 and began to introduce the teachings of Christianity. European missionaries were very successful in Kyushu and Christianity flourished in Nagasaki, where the port was open for trade with the Portuguese.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who seized power in 1582, was initially lenient toward Christianity. In 1587, he became wary of the expanding Christian influence and ordered the expulsion of the Catholic priests from Japan, but allowed the missionaries to stay in Nagasaki to maintain good trade relations. This changed in 1596, when a Spanish ship sailing from the Phillipines to Mexico came ashore during a typhoon. Spanish crewmembers boasted they would be colonizing Japan, which angered Hideyoshi. On February 5, 1597 a group of 26 priests and Japanese followers were executed by crucifixion in Nagaski.
After Hideyoshi died, the Tokugawa Shogunate continued to enforce the ban on Christianity in Japan. Foreigners were relegated to the island of Dejima to stop the spread of Christianity. The Japanese Christians were forced underground in order to practice their faith. Eventually in the middle of the 19th century, Japan began to open up and Christianity became more accepted. In 1868, the 26 martyrs were canonized. That's the short story.
Oura Cathedral
To get to this beautiful old Catholic Church, you must walk up many steps. Photographs are not allowed to be taken inside. The 600 yen admission fee to enter the church was a little expensive, I thought.
Next to the Cathedral is the former divinity school. Inside is a musuem of Christian historical items, but no photos allowed inside.
Monument and Museum of 26 Martyrs
The monument and museum are very close to the Nagasaki JR Station. You have to walk uphill to get to the museum and the entry fee is 500 yen. The museum is dedicated to showing the history of Christianity in Japan, starting with the arrival of Francis Xavier. Inside the museum is a large exhibit area on the first floor and a smaller area upstairs. There are collections of sacred items from the hidden Christians, old maps and manuscripts, and many old items related to Francis Xavier.
Photos were not allowed inside the museum, but outside was okay. The Pope visited in February 1981.
Hashima is the official name for this abandoned island, but it is called Gunkanjima, which means Battleship Island because it looks like a battleship. The 16 acre island, known for undersea coal mines, was established in 1887. At its peak, it was the most densely populated area in the world, with 5259 inhabitants in 1959.
Coal was first discovered on the island in 1810 and Mitusbishi bought the island in 1890 and began extracting the coal. The company build apartment buildings, schools, a hospital, town hall, and a community center. The island was continuously inhabited from 1887 to 1974. The island was closed and abandoned in 1974. Some buildings have collapsed due to the typhoons and weather. The island was approved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2015.
I was undecided about taking the half day tour because it was a little pricey (4500 yen), but I am glad I did. When I bought my ticket, I was told the tour was only in Japanese and I said I was okay with that, knowing I wouldn't know what was going on, but at least I could see it. There are concrete pathways that you have to stay on while visiting the island. You aren't allowed to wander around where ever you want because it would be too dangerous.
As the boat took us out, the captain or someone talked over the loud speaker and pointed out the sights. I didn't get everything that was said, but I could understand bridge, Catholic Church, on the left or on the right, years, etc.
Just before we landed, one of the boat employees tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for me to follow him. I found out I would have my very own tour guide - in English. There was a group of about 100 with a Chinese speaking tour guide and another Japanese language group of about 150 (the guides had loud speakers) and me with my own guide! I felt like a VIP.
After the on island tour, we all got back on the boat and it went around the island to give us a good look at what we had just seen. I'm really glad I took the tour - it was very interesting to imagine how the people lived. There was a swimming pool and schools. Residents brought back dirt from Nagasaki to make roof top vegetable gardens. There were pubic baths in each apartment building.
If you go to Nagasaki, I highly recommend the tour!
Here is a YouTube program about this island that I found -
