# Oura Church

> Japan's oldest standing Christian church, designated a National Treasure and part of the UNESCO Hidden Christian Sites.

- Prefecture: Nagasaki
- Type: Historic site
- Address: Nagasaki, Japan
- Admission: 1000 yen
- Official site: https://nagasaki-oura-church.jp/

Oura Church, officially the Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan, is the oldest surviving Christian church in Japan, built by French missionaries in 1864. The Gothic-style church was constructed to commemorate the twenty-six Christians martyred in Nagasaki in 1597. It gained world attention in 1865 when a group of hidden Christians from Urakami secretly revealed their faith to the French priest here, an event known as the Discovery of the Hidden Christians. The church is a National Treasure and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region. Adjacent to Glover Garden, it anchors the historic Minamiyamate district.

## FAQ

### How do I get to Oura Church?

Take the Nagasaki tram to Oura Tenshudo stop (about 14 minutes from Nagasaki Station, 140 yen flat fare), then walk 5 minutes uphill; the church is partway up the hill toward Glover Garden. Most visitors combine the church with Glover Garden (just above) and Dejima (15 minutes by tram) into a half-day historic Nagasaki tour.

### What's the entry fee and what's included?

Adult admission is 1,000 yen, junior-high and elementary 400 yen. The fee includes the National Treasure church interior (no photos inside), the adjacent Christian Museum (with multilingual displays on the 1865 Discovery of the Hidden Christians and the persecution era), and the small church gardens. Open daily 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission 5:30 PM). No religious services are held; it's now operated as a museum-monument.

### What's the historical significance of Oura Church?

Built in 1864 by French missionaries to commemorate the 26 Christians martyred in Nagasaki in 1597, Oura Church became the site of one of the most remarkable events in religious history: in March 1865, a group of villagers from Urakami secretly approached priest Bernard Petitjean and revealed they had practiced Christianity in hiding for over 250 years (since the 1600s ban). This 'Discovery of the Hidden Christians' (Shinto Hakken) is considered a miracle in Catholic history. The church is a National Treasure and part of the UNESCO World Heritage 'Hidden Christian Sites' inscribed in 2018.

### Can I attend a service at Oura Church?

No regular services are held at Oura Church itself; it now functions as a museum-monument. For Catholic services in Nagasaki, attend Urakami Cathedral (15 minutes by tram), the largest Catholic church in East Asia, where Sunday mass and other services are held. Photography during service is restricted at Urakami. The Hidden Christian Sites visitor center on the way up to Oura Church has additional context for those interested in the religious history.

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Source: Oura Church — Japan Voyage