Beautiful historical Catholic Church devoted to Francisco Xavier. Gorgeous building exterior and beautiful interior. A must visit for Catholic believers and tourism.
Must place to visit as the historical site in Hirado. Fact that this Buddhist temple assisted in hiding Christians during their persecution in the Edo and early Meiji era is less known.
St. Francis Xavier was a Spanish Jesuit missionary who introduced Christianity to Japan. He visited Hirado in 1550 and achieved remarkable success, converting more people in 20 days than he had in a year elsewhere. Japan's first church was built in Hirado in 1551 following his visit. The church was renamed in his honor in 1971 when his statue was erected on the grounds.
Yes, admission to St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church is free. There is a donation box inside for voluntary contributions. Visitors should be aware that the church may be closed during Sunday morning mass services and photography inside is typically not permitted.
From Nagasaki Station, you can take a train to Sasebo and then transfer to Tabira, which takes approximately 90 minutes total. Alternatively, express buses from Nagasaki Station take about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Once in Hirado, the church is accessible on foot from the town center. From Fukuoka, take JR trains to Hirado-guchi Station in Tabira
The church features Gothic Revival architecture with distinctive emerald green walls, a large central steeple topped with a cross, pointed arches, flying buttresses, and smaller decorative spires. Its unique green exterior and hillside location overlooking Hirado harbor have made it one of the most photographed churches in Kyushu. The setting among bamboo groves and Buddhist temples creates the famous "view of a Christian church and Japanese temple."
