Oura Catholic Church

Oura Church (大浦天主堂, Ōura Tenshudō) is a striking white Gothic landmark and the oldest standing church in Japan. Built in 1864 by French missionaries, it was dedicated to the 26 martyrs who were crucified on Nishizaka Hill in 1597 under the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. As a designated National Treasure and a key component of the UNESCO World Heritage “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region,” the church serves as a solemn monument to a faith that survived centuries of brutal suppression. Its official name is “The Church of the 26 Martyrs,” and its orientation is deeply symbolic, with a bronze plaque on the grounds positioned to face the distant execution site across the city.

The church is globally renowned for an event Pope Pius IX called the “Miracle of the Orient.” In March 1865, shortly after the church’s completion, a group of locals from Urakami approached Father Bernard Petitjean. Despite two and a half centuries of isolation and the threat of death, they revealed themselves as Kakure Kirishitan (Hidden Christians), whispering, “Our heart is the same as yours.” This encounter proved that the Christian faith had endured in secret for over 250 years. To commemorate this historic “Discovery of the Believers,” a white marble statue of the Virgin Mary, imported from France, was erected at the entrance. Today, the church remains a pilgrimage site, blending European architectural elegance with a uniquely resilient chapter of Japanese history.

Visitor Information
Address	5-3 Minamiyamatemachi, Nagasaki, 850-0931 (Google Maps)
Opening Hours	8:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry 15 minutes before closing)
Price	Adults: ¥1,000 / Junior High & High School: ¥400 / Elementary: ¥300
Website	Visit Website

Access
Station / Stop	Line / Bus	Access Details
Oura Tenshudo	Streetcar Line 5 (Green)	A 5-minute walk up the hill through the shopping street.
Glover-en-iri-guchi	Nagasaki Bus	A 5-minute walk to the church entrance.