Oura Church (‘å‰Y“VŽå“°, Ōura Tenshudō) is a Catholic church in Nagasaki. Built towards the end of the Edo Period in 1864 by a French missionary for the growing community of foreign merchants in the city, it is considered the oldest standing Christian church in Japan.
Oura Church is dedicated to the memory of the 26 Christians who were executed in the city in 1597. Today, the working church stands as an attractive example of contemporary European architecture, drawing many visitors. The church was the first Western-style building in Japan to be designated as a national treasure. The steep admission fee includes entrance to a museum about the history of Christianity in Japan.
Located in attractive old buildings to the right of the church is the Christian Museum. Included in the admission fee, the museum contains various exhibitions pertaining to the history of Oura Church and Christianity in the region and across Japan, with various artifacts and old documents on display. Explanations are predominantly in Japanese.
Access
Oura Church is a five minute walk from the Ouratenshudo tram station on tram line number 5. It stands just next to the entrance of Glover Garden.
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Hours and Fees
Hours
Closed
Admission
English
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Links and Resources
Japanese
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