Aokata Church

Aokata Catholic Church serves as the primary religious hub for the Aokata district, which evolved into the administrative and commercial center of the Kamigoto region during the mid-20th century. Between the 1960s and 1970s, a significant demographic shift occurred as parishioners from smaller, outlying islands and remote coastal villages relocated to Aokata for better access to employment and services. To accommodate this rapidly expanding congregation, a substantial cathedral was first constructed in 1975.

As the community continued to flourish into the new millennium, the facility was completely rebuilt in 2000. Unlike the historic brick and wood churches of the Meiji era, the current Aokata Church features a bold, contemporary design that reflects the vitality of a living, modern faith. Its spacious interior and updated facilities allow it to function as a central gathering point for large-scale diocesan events and community celebrations, bridging the gap between the islands’ storied past and their active present.