Oura Catholic Church: Nagasaki City

The Oura Catholic Church in Nagasaki was established in 1865 and this church is officially known as "Oura Catholic Church, The Church of 26 Martyrs."  It was built by French priests as a dedication to the 26 saints martyred on Nishizaka Hill.

For this reason, the church faces Nishizaka Hill as a sign of respect to those that dies on this day.  The church was constructed in the Gothic style and is Japan's oldest existing wooden church.  It was designated a National Treasure in 1933.

French stained glass was installed in the interior some 100 years ago, but most of this was seriously damaged in the atomic bomb blast.  It has since been restored with some pieces of other stained glass from that period.  Oura Catholic Cathedral will always be famous worldwide as the church that discovered the "hidden followers" who had survived the religious persecution in the 16th Century.  It was the Oura Catholic Church that lured these hidden Christians back into society and to continue their faith without fear and reprisal.

I recommend viewing this church from the outside and from within as it will provide you with a feeling and of the dedication of those that apposed the Christianity ban all those years ago.  A well received site from all visitors.

Oura Catholic Church is situated very close to the Nagasaki Port Terminal, it is only about a 300 to 400 meter walk although there is a rather steep incline on the the hill area on which it is perched.  The other advantage is that is is very close to the famous Glover Gardens and as such 2 major attractions in Nagasaki can be achieved without too much walking and time wasting.  A double whammy that won't leave you disappointed!

Check out the Oura Catholic Church on the map below:

 

PS:  The latest news is that on the 29th of June 2018, the Oura Catholic Church has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.


Click on the photos below to enlarge:

The Church

On the cross

Imposing figures

Maria Statue

Powerful view

In Memorandum

Lots of images inside

The inside view of the Church

Please click on the video`s below to see more about the Oura Catholic Church Nagasaki:

Yutoku Inari Shrine: Kashima, Saga Prefecture

In 1687, the Yutoku Inari Shrine was built upon the request of Lord Nabeshima, who ruled the domain of the region. At the shrine, the deity Inari Okami, worshiped by the Emperor, is enshrined. This deity is the guardian of food, clothing, and shelter, 3 major areas of concern and a necessity among Japanese people.

The Yutoku Inari Shrine is one of the three most famous shrines dedicated to Inari. People visit the shrine every year to pray for good business, good fortune for their families, a large catch and or harvest, traffic safety and other matters. The shrine is a major tourist attraction, approximately 3 million people visit the shrine annually, and in Kyushu it is the second largest number after Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, located in Fukuoka Prefecture.

The red Torii gates near the main shrine lead all the way up to the top of the mountain situated directly behind the main building.  You can see a spectacular view from the top and of course the flowers of the four seasons are highly visible. Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, and Momiji (Japanese maple) turn red in autumn. The other most famous flowers such as azalea and cosmos also bloom at various times of the year. It is highly probable that visits throughout the year will probably have a flower in bloom at the time.

On this fine spring day, I was able to see the magical and exquisite Cherry Blossoms. Of course this made it a special experience indeed, but the view from the scenic point as well as the general atmosphere around the main buildings and its surrounds is quite spectacular and well received.  It really is a special place to explore and as a result id one of the most instagrammable places in Kyushu. A visit will create a lasting impression.

Please see the Yutoku Inari Shrine on a map below:

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Maps always help

The main entrance

Cleansing station

A carp pond is another feature

Prayer station

Stairs are always present

Cherry Blossoms in bloom

One of the entrance protectors

Spectacular backdrop

Please click on the videos below to learn more about the Yutoku Inari Shrine.

Suginoya Sake Brewery: Itoshima- Fukuoka Prefecture

Suginoya Brewery is one of the most popular stops on our Itoshima Peninsular Day Tours out of Fukuoka. Why is this?  Well, it all about the tradition of the Sake Brewing process, exploring the old but esthetically pleasing building as well as the tasting experience that gets everyone fully involved in the process.

The Brewery is over 140 years old and it shows but in a traditional and authentic way.  No one wants to go to a brand new building that lacks character and history, it is for this reason that a huge majority of our customers have rated this attraction as their favorite one on the day.

On this rather cold and cloudy winters day, I took a wander around the facilities and enjoyed all of the scenes and experiences that were on offer.  You can take your time and inspect all the materials and equipment that is used, otherwise you can just jump to the tasting side with friendly and informative staff ready to answer you questions.

But really the proof of the product is in the taste and you have many an opportunity to taste their Japanese sake, a wide selection of beers and of course everyone`s favorite Umeshu (Japanese Plum Wine).  Just be careful, because for many people this is seen as a rather weak drink but Suginoya Brewery produces a Umeshu at 20%, which is the strongest but most delicious variety that I have ever tasted.  A recommendation by moi, for all to enjoy.

Please look below to see the Suginoya Brewery on a map:

 

Please click of the photos below to enlarge:

A real Sake Factory

Old traditional machinery

Space to roam

Another happy customer

Today's choices

Special tasting rooms

Lots to observe

Stout Beer anyone?

Gift packs

Please click on the videos below to see more about the Suginoya Brewery.

This video above shows highlights of both the Suginoya Brewery and the Ichiran Ramen Factory.

Check out more about the Suginoya Brewery on this above videos.

Karatsu Castle, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu

One of the most amazing locations in all of Kyushu is without a doubt the Karatsu Castle.  It is located on an island overlooking the Karatsu Bay with the Black Pine Forests of Niji no Matsubara in close proximity.  Everything about this place screams Japanese!  The history, the culture the architecture and of course its purpose, to crush any uprising and discontent in the ranks of its people and rival factions.

The original castle was built in 1608 by Terazawa Hirotaka, the first lord of the Karatsu Domain. The present castle keep tower was newly built in 1966 and you can overlook the Niji No Matsubara Pine Grove and the Karatsu Bay as well as the downtown area of Karatsu City from the top floor.

The castle tower reopened after renovation in July, 2017. The history and culture of Karatsu City is exhibited with AR (Augmented Reality) equipment in the new exhibition room.  This room showcases Samurai arms and armor including swords as well as the regions famous ceramic wares which are well known throughout Japan.  In fact, I spent as much time checking out all the displays, even more than the actual view from the tower, which is a rarity for me.

Karatsu Castle is also well known as a viewing spot for cherry blossoms and wisteria during Spring.  In the photos provided, my visit with my son was in summer, so i will attempt to return again next year in spring to check out the flowers and colors of this time of year.

Karatsu Castle is located approx. an hours drive away from Fukuoka and is an amazing place to visit on a Day Tour or as package 2 or 3 day tour of Kyushu Island.  I am sure you won`t be disappointed even if you are here for just an hour because your time here will satisfy all your sightseeing needs.

Please check out Karatsu Castle below:

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Photo Opportunity

Warning, there are stairs.

English phamplet

Children's Art

Plenty of Exhibits

Katana

So beautiful.

360 degree views

How it was constructed

Kunchi Festival

Roof tiles

Please check out these video below to see more information about Karatsu Castle: