Hirado Sacred Sites and Villages (Nakaenoshima Island)
| A sacred destination long cherished by hidden Christian communities. |
| Nakaenoshima is an uninhabited island measuring roughly 400 meters long and 50 meters wide, situated about 2 kilometers off the northwest coast of Hirado Island. Historical records from the Hirado Domain note that Christians were executed here during the early years of the prohibition on Christianity. Over time, the island became an important sacred site for the “Omizutori” ritual, in which hidden Christians from Ikitsuki collected holy water. Documents also indicate that believers from Hirado western coast once performed the same ritual, suggesting that Nakaenoshima served as a shared holy site for both Ikitsuki and Hirado communities during the era of religious suppression. Today, the island is recognized as one of the component parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region and the Amakusa Region,” preserving the memory of the faith that quietly endured here. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
