十Christian Japan
Kuroshima Village & Church
Goto Islands

Kuroshima Village & Church

Atlas / Goto Islands

Short answer

An island resettled by Hidden Christians, crowned by a Romanesque church of local brick and stone.

RegionGoto Islands
PeriodHidden Christians
TypeHidden Christian village
UNESCOYes, World Heritage
Getting thereFerry from Ainoura
Suggested timeHalf day

Visiting

  • Ferry from Ainoura port in Sasebo, about 50 minutes.

On these routes

Hirado, Ikitsuki & Kuroshima

The story

Hidden Christians migrated to Kuroshima in the late 18th century, settling a former pasture. After the ban was lifted they built a church under Fr. Joseph Marmand, completed in 1902. Kuroshima is a UNESCO component.

Sources
Nearby

Also in Goto Islands