Silent Faith Journey Across Sacred Heritage of Japan

Walk in the footsteps of the Hidden Christians and reflect on the Marian miracle of Akita.

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Peace be with you!

My name is Shoan. As a Catholic, my life has been defined by a deep passion for the social sciences – specifically the rich tapestry of history and culture -complemented by a career dedicated to the highest standards of VIP travel and business.

For a long time, I hesitated to launch this faith-based series, grappling with the weight of such a mission. However, through heartfelt prayer, I felt God’s quiet guidance. He replaced my doubt with a clear vision: to craft Faith Tours that are more than mere journeys, they are profound spiritual encounters.

I invite you to join me on this sacred journey through the history of the Hidden Christians. Let us discover the strength of the remnant together.

Our Story & Mission

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A fully registered Japanese Travel Agency, specializing in high-End religious heritage travel

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What Sets a Hanetabi Pilgrimage Apart?

As a boutique specialist dedicated to the Nagasaki legacy, Hanetabi Tours serves as your intellectual and spiritual partner, bridging the gap between modern Japan and the heroic age of the Japanese martyrs.

Scholarly Catholic Insight

We offer the theological and cultural "soul" of the Japanese Church. Our narratives provide deep context on the Jesuit missions, the Mendicant influence, and the unique liturgical evolution of the Kakure Kirishitan.

Bespoke Stewardship & VIP Care

Understanding the discerning needs of the international pilgrim, from ensuring quiet moments for reflection to managing every nuance of your comfort, our service is defined by discretion, privacy, and uncompromising attention to detail.

Exclusive Access to the “Islands of Prayer”

The geography of the Gotō Archipelago is as challenging as it is beautiful. Hanetabi Tours provides seamless, private maritime and land transport to remote island shrines often inaccessible to the public.

The “Contemplative Path” Philosophy

In an era of high-volume tourism, we advocate for the Slow Pilgrimage by prioritizing a deliberate, prayerful pace over crowded itineraries. This ensures your journey is defined by spiritual connection and interior peace, not travel fatigue.

Curated Living The “In the Know” Experience

A pilgrimage is sustained by fellowship and rest. Every boutique ryokan, luxury hotel, and local culinary experience is hand-selected and personally vetted by our team. You will dine on the finest regional harvests and sleep in sanctuaries of comfort, truly “in the know” of the Kyushu region’s most refined hidden gems.

nagasaki & amakusa

A Journey Through the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Hidden Christians

Goto Islands

Amakusa

Hirado

Nagasaki

  • Year of Inscription: 2018
  • Category: Cultural Heritage
  • Location: Nagasaki Prefecture and the Amakusa region of Kumamoto Prefecture
  • Number of Component Sites: 12

This World Heritage property is a group of sites that illustrate the history and cultural landscape of the “Hidden Christians,” who secretly preserved their faith during the period of Christianity’s prohibition from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Walk this sacred path with Hanetabi Tours and encounter a UNESCO-recognized legacy of courage, devotion, and resurrection.

Sacramental Baptism in the Hidden Christian Community. From: Hidden Christian Research Association

Faith and Fortitude in an Age of Silence

For over 2 centuries, the “Hidden Christians” (Kakure Kirishitan) maintained a secret spiritual life under the constant threat of death. In the absence of clergy, they transformed their devotion into a mystical code, the “Orasho”, a beautiful tapestry of Latin, Portuguese, and Japanese prayer, preserved in the very villages where the faith was whispered in the dark to evade the Shogun’s inquisitors.

Nagasaki, Renaissance of the Rome of the East

Long before the shadows of prohibition, Nagasaki stood as a beacon of global enlightenment. Under the patronage of the Christian Daimyo, a unique synthesis of Western science and Japanese aesthetics flourished.

Our journeys trace the legacy of the “Seminario”, Japan’s first Western-style academy, where the elite of the Sengoku era mastered Latin, Gregorian chant, and the art of the printing press, creating a cultural bridge that remains unparalleled in history.

The Tenshō Embassy, Japan’s first formal encounter with the Holy See. Augsburg Gazette (Germany), August 3, 1585: Chronicle of the delegation’s departure from Milan. From: Kyoto University Library

The Sacred Battle Standard of Amakusa Shirō (Jinjuki). The original silk, marked by blood and arrows during the siege of Hara Castle. From: Amakusa Christian Museum

The Shimabara Rebellion

Japan holds the somber distinction of being the only Asian nation to see a full-scale war fought for the right to follow Christ. In the Shimabara Rebellion, a Christian army of 37,000 stood against a Shogunate force of 120,000. It was a monumental conflict of conscience, the final heroic stand for religious liberty in the East.

Signature Pilgrimage Highlights

The Martyr’s Path (The Blue Route)

A Story of Enduring Faith in the Heart of Nagasaki.

An immersive exploration into the dawn of persecution. This route honors the poignant story of the Kakure Kirishitan, visiting the sacred sites where faith was maintained in the deep shadows of oppression for 2.5 centuries.

The Xavier Legacy (The Yellow Route)

Tracing Apostolic Footsteps from Xavier to Cathedral Spires

Trace the initial fervor of the Jesuit missions. Experience the sublime dialogue between refined Japanese architecture and Western spiritual traditions in intimate, “hidden gem” churches that remain off the beaten path.

The Martyr’s Path (The Blue Route)

A Story of Enduring Faith in the Heart of Nagasaki

An immersive exploration into the dawn of persecution. This route honors the poignant story of the Kakure Kirishitan, visiting the sacred sites where faith was maintained in the deep shadows of oppression for 2.5 centuries.

The Islands of Prayer (The Green Route)

The Gotō Archipelago, a Sanctuary in the Sea.

Remote, rugged, and profoundly spiritual. Often called the “Islands of Prayer”, this cross-shaped archipelago offers the ultimate retreat for reflection. Here, white-sand vistas meet the serene silhouettes of brick chapels, offering a pilgrimage experience of deep personal peace.

Select the image to experience a closer view.

Hokkaido＆ Akita

A Renaissance of Faith and the Miracles of the North

Akita Seitai Hoshikai Catholic Convent

Trappistine Monastery

Motomachi Church

Trappist Monastery

While the south of Japan whispers stories of hidden survival, the North speaks of a bold Catholic Renaissance. Under the vast skies of Hokkaido and the sacred silence of Akita, the late 19th-century Meiji Restoration invited a new wave of European monasticism to Japan’s rugged frontier.

Hanetabi Tours invites discerning travelers to explore this “New Era“, where French architectural elegance meets Japanese precision, and where modern miracles continue to draw the faithful from around the globe.

Signature Pilgrimage Highlights

A Legacy of Cistercian Silence (The Orange Route)

Akita Seitai Hoshikai Convent, home of “Our Lady of Akita”

Between 1975 and 1981, a wooden statue of Our Lady of Akita was witnessed weeping 101 times, a miracle investigated and recognized for its “supernatural character” by the local ordinary and respected globally.

Hanetabi Tours provide a meditative, private environment for our pilgrims to pray before the miraculous statue and walk the “Garden of Mary,” ensuring a journey that is as spiritually restorative as it is historically significant.

Akita Catholic Church & Martyrs’ Monument

With its earliest baptism recorded in 1884 and its current sanctuary consecrated in 1963, Akita Catholic Church stands at the heart of the region’s Christian heritage. Adjacent, a monument honours the Akita Christian Martyrs, a site of annual devotion and reflection every July 18th.

This is pilgrimage grounded in history, sacrifice, and continuity of faith.

The Weeping Virgin of Akita and a Modern Pilgrimage (The Red Route)

The Trappistine Monastery (Hakodate)

Founded in 1898 by eight French nuns, this brick-walled sanctuary remains a beacon of prayer. We offer our guests a curated look into the lives of the sisters, set against manicured gardens that rival the great estates of Europe.

The Trappist Monastery (Tobetsu)

Approach via the iconic “Roman Road,” a majestic poplar-lined avenue leading to the 1896 monastery. Here, the Cistercian tradition of Ora et Labora (Prayer and Work) is preserved; we arrange for guests to sample their world-renowned artisanal dairy products, still crafted by the monks today.

Architectural Splendor of the North (The Pink Route)

Motomachi Catholic Church

A symbol of Hakodate’s international heritage, featuring a stunning altar gifted by Pope Benedict XV.

Tomioka Cathedral

Perched on the hills of Otaru, its soaring spires and vibrant stained glass reflect the flourishing confidence of a newly liberated faith.

Select the image to experience a closer view.

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