Amakusa Christian Museum

What travelers say:

This museum is such a treasure and yet is little known internationally. Although the museum is only on the 2nd level, it is a rich documentation of the largest rebellion in Japan known as the Amakusa-Shimabara rebellion 1637-1638 when Christianity was suppressed and thousands of Christians were killed in the fierce battle lasting 123 days. Subsequently and miraculously, Christianity survived through “hidden Christians” who hung on to their faith tenaciously and lived out their religious practices clandestinely without the presence of priests or religious sisters/brothers. For foreign visitors, you will get to watch a short but informative video on the ground floor in English on what happened facilitated by the staff before you tour the museum. You will have to use google translate to understand the descriptions as they are almost completely in Japanese only. Do purchase a copy of the only book in English and Japanese complete with good photographs to better understand the history of the “hidden Christians”.