Why pilgrims come
What makes this Catholic place significant
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.
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 sacred connection
People and objects remembered here
These relationships are part of the destination record, with feast days and catalog qualifications shown where available.
martyrdom site
Feast: February 6What to notice
Look closely at the place and its story
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, anniversaries & celebrations
How to read this page
Sources, tradition, and what is verified
No verification date is listed, so current visitor details should be confirmed directly.
This page records the site’s tradition as “Catholic.” That wording describes the nature of the claim and keeps devotional tradition distinct from independently verified history.
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