Why pilgrims come
A sacred place worth the journey.
Nishizaka Hill preserves the place where St. Paul Miki and twenty-five companions were crucified on 5 February 1597. The shrine and museum interpret the martyrs and the long history of Christianity in Japan.
The pilgrim’s guide
What makes this visit meaningful
Pray on Nishizaka Hill, the execution ground of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, then enter the museum for the deeper story of persecution, mission and fidelity.
The martyrdom ground
The shrine stands at the place of crucifixion, making it one of Japan’s most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
St. Paul Miki and companions
The group included Jesuits, Franciscans and lay Catholics whose witness belongs to the universal calendar of the Church.
Museum of Christian witness
Objects and interpretation trace the Catholic mission, persecution and the centuries in which Christian communities survived in secret.
Feasts & celebrations
Continue nearby