Itineraries / 10-Day Journey
Essential Catholic Japan
A rewarding first pilgrimage for parishes and faith groups seeking Japan’s most important Catholic heritage without an extended time away.
Pilgrimage moments
Pilgrims visit churches and pray together at places that tell Japan’s Catholic story.
The journey at a glance
From Tokyo and Mount Fuji to Nagasaki, then onward to Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.
Customizable parish journey
Tokyo and Mount Fuji lead into the martyrs, Hidden Christians and peace witness of Nagasaki before a cultural conclusion in Kyoto, Nara and Osaka.
Meet your guide and private driver at the airport. After hotel check-in, gather for a welcome Mass at a Tokyo Catholic church, followed by a welcome dinner and pilgrimage orientation.
Begin with Mass, then visit St. Mary’s Cathedral. Continue to the Imperial Palace area and discover Tokyo’s living culture in Asakusa, including Sensō-ji’s historic neighborhood and Nakamise shopping street.
Travel to Fujiyoshida for Mass at the local Catholic church. Continue toward Mount Fuji to visit the Our Lady of Mount Fuji shrine and Rosary Path, with time for prayer and reflection amid the mountain landscape.
Fly to Nagasaki, the spiritual heart of Catholic Japan. Celebrate Mass at St. Philip’s Church and visit the Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument and Museum, honoring the witnesses crucified in 1597.
Celebrate Mass at Hongōchi Church and explore the Seibo no Kishi monastery, Kolbe museum, Lourdes grotto and rosary walk. Later visit Ōura Cathedral and the former seminary, central to the rediscovery of Japan’s Hidden Christians.
Visit the Unzen Hells, where Christians were tortured for their faith. Continue to Shimabara Catholic Church for Mass, then walk among the ruins of Hara Castle, the final battlefield of the Shimabara Rebellion.
Celebrate Mass and visit Urakami Cathedral, the Atomic Bomb Museum, Peace Park and Hypocenter. The afternoon offers time for personal prayer and reflection on reconciliation, suffering and peace.
Travel by flight or rail to the Kansai region. Visit Osaka Castle or the riverside martyrdom monument, celebrate Mass at Tamatsukuri Catholic Church when scheduling permits, then continue to Kyoto.
Celebrate Mass at a Kyoto or Nara church. Experience Kiyomizu-dera and the historic Gion district, then visit Nara Park and Tōdai-ji for an introduction to the culture in which Japan’s early Christians lived.
Celebrate a closing Mass as flight timing permits. Transfer privately to Kansai International Airport or extend your stay in Kyoto, Osaka or Tokyo.
