Upon your arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for check-in, followed by Mass. Then, enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow pilgrims before your overnight in Kyoto.

After breakfast, we will visit the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier, commonly referred to as the Kawaramachi Church. Next, we will visit Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, originally completed by the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1626. After Lunch, we will visit Fushimi Inari-taisha, one of the largest Shinto shrines noted for its torii (gates) and one of the best examples of historic Japanese architecture. The Shinto faith is the context in which Japan’s Hidden Christians lived during the time Christianity was outlawed. Dinner and overnight in Kyoto.

After breakfast, we will depart for the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, one of the most photographed sites in the country. After lunch, we will go on a tour of the city. Then, we will visit St. Joseph Catholic Church, one of the oldest in Kyoto. Next, we will experience a traditional Japanese Tea ceremony. We will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Early this morning we will travel by bullet train to the city of Hiroshima, most famous for being struck by an atomic bomb during World War II. On arrival into Hiroshima we will visit the Hiroshima World Peace Memorial Cathedral, also known as the St. Mary’s Cathedral, completed in 1954, the cathedral stands as a symbol of hope, reconciliation, and peace. Afterward, we will tour the city before checking into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we will travel by bullet train to the second city struck by an atomic bomb, Nagasaki. Upon arrival, we will visit the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, also called the Urakami Cathedral, followed by the Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan. After lunch, we will visit the Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum and Monument, which tells the story of the Saints who were killed on Nishizaka Hill for practicing their faith. We will also visit St. Philip’s Church near the monument. After dinner, we will travel to Mt. Inasa to take in a beautiful panoramic view of Nagasaki, then return to the hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, we will take a day trip to the Unzen Onsen, an area of hot springs which was designated the first national park in Japan, and where many Christians were martyred. After lunch we will tour the Hara Castle Ruins and see the world’s largest wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Minamishimabara. Tonight we will have a traditional tempura dinner. Tempura was actually brought to Japan by Catholic missionaries from Portugal. They would eat a traditional Portuguese dish of fried green beans “ad tempora quadragesima” (during the time of Lent). Eventually, seafood and other vegetables were added, and the dish became known as “tempura.” Return to your hotel for overnight.

After breakfast, we will visit Hongouchi Monastery, founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe. The monastery includes a museum dedicated to St. Maximilian as well as a replica Lourdes grotto that St. Maximilian had constructed. After lunch, we will visit the Nuclear Bomb Museum and take a walking tour of the city. We will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will head to the Nagasaki airport for our flight to Akita. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel. In the afternoon, we will take a city tour and visit the Kanto festival center. We will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will travel to the site of the Marian Apparition, Our Lady of Akita. The apparition occurred in 1973 at a Convent of the Handmaids of the Holy Eucharist. You will have an opportunity to tour the grounds and gardens as well as the Chapel where the apparitions appeared. After lunch, we will visit the Kakunodate Samurai District, one of the best-preserved examples of samurai architecture in the country, and famous for its weeping cherry trees. We will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will travel by bullet train to the capital city of Tokyo. Our first stop will be the Imperial Palace, the current residence of the Emperor of Japan and the Imperial Household. After lunch, we’ll visit St. Mary’s Cathedral, one of the more architecturally modern Cathedrals in the world, which replaced the original structure destroyed in World War II. We will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we’ll take a trip to Mount Fuji, the iconic symbol of Tokyo and the nation of Japan which is still an active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After lunch, we’ll visit the Old Cathedral of St. Joseph, a fitting place to end our pilgrimage in prayer before our farewell dinner and final overnight.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.