十Christian Japan
Kashiragashima Village
Goto Islands

Kashiragashima Village

Atlas / Goto Islands

Short answer

The only stone church in the Goto Islands, built by the islanders themselves.

RegionGoto Islands
PeriodHidden Christians
TypeHidden Christian village
UNESCOYes, World Heritage
Getting thereBy arrangement
Suggested time1 h + travel

Visiting

  • Visits are by arrangement; check the official information center before you go.

On these routes

The Goto Islands: churches at the edge of the sea

The story

Kashiragashima, once almost uninhabited, became a refuge for Hidden Christians. Its sandstone church, designed by Tetsukawa Yosuke, was completed in 1919 after about ten years of labour by the community. It is a UNESCO component.

Sources & further reading
Nearby

Also in Goto Islands