Ōura Cathedral

Top choice in Nagasaki


This hilltop church, Japan's oldest (1864), is dedicated to the 26 Christians who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. The former seminary and bishop's residence have recently been renovated to house a museum exhibiting items relating to the history of Christianity in Japan, with a special focus on hidden Christians and the suffering they endured under shogunal rule. The church and other Nagasaki Christian sites were named to Unesco's World Heritage list in 2018.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Nagasaki attractions

1. Glover Garden

0.04 MILES

Some two dozen former homes of the city's Meiji-period European residents and other important buildings have been reassembled in this beautifully…

2. Glover House

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A Unesco World Heritage site and Japan's oldest wooden Western-style building, this house, and the garden around it, are named for Thomas Glover (1838…

3. Walker House

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Walker House in Glover Garden is filled with artefacts donated by the Glover and Walker families. Look for both Japanese and Western design touches.

4. Madame Butterfly Statue

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Inside Glover Garden, this statue memorialises Japanese opera singer Tamaki Miura, who performed as Cio-Cio-san in Puccini's famous opera Madame Butterfly…

6. Ringer House

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A historic house in the hillside Glover Garden, this important cultural property has been in its original location since the 1860s. The first owner was a…

7. Mitsubishi No 2 Dock Building

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This former dock house has been moved to the top of Glover Garden and offers great views, especially from the 2nd floor. Inside are displays about the…

8. Gunkanjima Digital Museum

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For days when Gunkanjima is inaccessible (or even when it's not), you can tour the island from afar via high-tech video presentations and virtual-reality…