Monument to the Unzen Hell Martyrdom Site

Unzen Jigoku, or “Unzen Hell”, is a landscape of stark natural beauty that belies a somber chapter in the history of the Shimabara Peninsula. Between 1627 and 1631, the region’s boiling geothermal springs were utilized as a site of extreme duress for Christians during the height of the Tokugawa Shogunate’s prohibitions. Historical records detail the suffering of individuals who refused to renounce their religious identity, most notably Paulo Uchibori and fifteen of his companions.

Today, the site is marked by a dignified stone monument that serves as a focal point for historical reflection. The martyrs of Unzen are formally recognized among the 188 Blessed Martyrs of Japan, a distinction that elevates the site from a local historical point of interest to a location of global cultural and religious significance. The monument stands in quiet contrast to the surrounding volcanic activity, where rising steam and sulfuric vents create an atmosphere of both intensity and reverence.

For the heritage traveler, a visit to the martyrdom site offers a profound sense of place, grounding the visitor in the authentic struggle for religious freedom that defined the early Edo period. The site preserves a narrative of unwavering conviction, set against the backdrop of one of Japan’s most unique geological environments.