Visit the major Catholic pilgrimage spots of HIRADO & IKITSUKI Island including 2 of 12 Hidden Christian Sites in Nagasaki region World heritage in HIRADO. Tour time will be flexible from 7 to 9 hours depending on the number of spots you visit. Customers can choose the spots to visit. Some spots need admission fees. Two World Heritage sites are included on the tour.
At your hotel or somewhere in Sasebo city
Meet-up at your hotel or somewhere in SASEBO. Drive to the first spot.
Observe inside (need to book) and outside of the church, possibly cannot observe inside because of religious events.
The church was built in 1918.
Connect the mainland with HIRADO island, drive through, if you want, can walk on the bridge side walk.
The main castle of the HIRADO domain. Only walk around free area.
Observe inside and outside of the church, possibly cannot observe inside because of the religious ivents.
Exhibits the collections of Matsura clan who ruled the northern area of Nagasaki since the 13th century. Admission fee
Firstly built in 1887, present church was built in 1924. Observe inside and outside of the church, possibly cannot observe inside because of the condition.
A small uninhabited island of martyrdom on the sea, sacrid island for the hidden christians, only observe from HIRADO island
Beautiful terraced pad field made by hidden Christians, walk around to observe
connect HIRADO with IKITSUKI, drive through, can't walk on the bridge.
A monument that memorized Gaspal NISHI who was the first martyrized Christian in IKITSUKI island in 1609.
Built in 1912 by Yosuke Tetsukawa. Observe inside and outside of the church, possibly cannot observe inside because of the condition.
Firstly built in 1885, the present one was built in 1929 by Yosuke Tetsukawa. Observe inside and outside of the church, possibly cannot observe inside because of the condition.
Built in 1898. Observe inside and outside of the church, possibly cannot observe inside because of the condition.
Drive back to SASEBO, dismiss, tour ends.
At your hotel or somewhere in Sasebo city, in the case of the remote area from Sasebo, you will be charged extra fee in cash.
This tour is specialized for Chathoric Pilgrimage, so the most of spots are related to Christianity.
Model Itinerary
★Standard course(6h): Start from SASEBO city. Drive to HIRADO island. Visit TABIRA Church, then drive through the Hirado big bridge, or walk on the bridge enjoying great view. Then you visit , Xavier Memorial Church, then Lunch time, drive to IKITSUKI island, on the way observe NAKAENO-SHIMA island(World Heritage Site) which is the sacred place for hidden Christians. Drive through IKITSUKI OHASHI bridge to IKITSUKI island. Go back to HIRADO island, visit HIMOSA and HOKI Church. Drive back to SASEBO, dismiss, tour ends.
★Full course(Max:9h): Basically, follow the standard route, add optional spots, so takes longer tour time 9 hours max.
If you visit MATSURA museum and observe the inside of HIRADO castle, you will understand the history of Matura clan who ruled HIRADO domain since 13th century.
To observe Dutch trading house and many churches, they makes you understood the international relationship and Christianity architecture of HIRADO.
The tour itinerary mentioned above can be changed depend on the guest's side requests, so tour time may be longer or shorter between 6h to9h.
〇guiding fee (5,000JPY×8hours+Meet-up fee: 3,500=43,500 JPY)
〇guiding fee (6,000JPY×8hours+Meet-up fee: 3,500=51,500 JPY)
〇Meet-up fee: 3,500 JPY in Sasebo (guide's transportation back and forth to the meet place)
〇Car-related Fee (Private car, Rental car and Taxi fees)
〇Public transportation (if used)
〇Admission at each pay facility
※Parking fee and toll-road are included in the car-related fee above
My guiding rate is 5,000 JPY hourly (up to 4 pax), and 6,000 JPY hourly (5 to 8 pax), and a Meet-up fee (Guide's transportation fee back and forth to the meeting spot) is 5,000 JPY (in Nagasaki city).
For example, an 8-hour tour for 4 pax costs 40,000 JPY plus 5,000 JPY; 45,000 JPY is the tour price. You pay for this when you book the tour.
Please remember you will pay for the admission of pay facilities and meals on-site.
Up to 4 customers are accommodated in my private car (Toyota Prius), but more than 4 guests need to rent a suitable size rental car (5 to 8 pax) or hire a jumbo taxi (8 pax max) during the tour. The rental car and taxi costs vary depending on the conditions, so my published tour price doesn't include car costs. If you use my private car, you will only pay 3,000 JPY (including the parking, toll road and fuel).
After the negotiation of the tour, I will fix the car-related price and add this price to the published tour price so that you realize the total tour price before you book it.
You only pay the admission of pay facilities and meals on-site.
My coverage areas are all over Nagasaki, Saga, and Fukuoka Prefectures, including the remote islands of Nagasaki. But I live in near Omura city in Nagasaki Pref., so far places from my house cost more Meet-up fee (Guide's transportation back and forth to the meeting place).
Additionally, I work in Nagasaki and Okinawa, in two prefectures for about half a month each place. So if you intend to travel to Okinawa, visit my Okinawa account page, and check my schedule calendar of Okinawa.
On Sunday morning, almost of the church have MASS, so might not be able to observe inside.
Meet-up time can be changed by coordination after the booking.
Admission fees for pay facilities and lunch are not included in the tour price, so you need to pay on-site.
We might not be able to observe inside of the churches because of the church condition(Sunday MASS, special event, etc...).
Up to 4 guests can accommodate my private car (5 pax car) , but if you are more than 4 guests, we have to use a rental car (5-8 pax) or a Jumbo Taxi (8 pax) for transportation. I inform you estimated rental car or taxi cost in the proposal tour itinerary before your booking.
4 or less guests can move by my car(4 adults Max, no charge for vehicle operation (including fuel and insurance) you pay only parking and toll road fee, if used), but 5 and more guests have to use a rental car and pay for all cost. It costs 5,000 to 10,000JPNYen in total for one day normally, but will be different cost depends on the type of a car. I inform you estimated rental car cost in the proposal tour plan before your booking.
It is possible within my covering area, but you need to pay more meet-up fee depends on my transportation fee to meet you, and also waste your time, so I don't recommend you meet-up in remote area. Transportation fee includes fuel fee, toll road fee and etc...
We spent a wonderful day with “Hero” in Sasebo. He was an excellent driver and shared with us his in depth knowledge on the places we visited. We highly recommend Hero to anyone when you have the chance!
Hi Lorretta, Thank you very much for the great comments to my guidance, I am so glad to hear that. I hope to see you somewhere some day again. Take care and have a great tour. Hero
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Hero. He was a wealth of information and made our day fun and interesting. Highly recommend.
Thank you very much for great evaluation to me, I really appreciate it. I hope to guide you someday in Okinawa, too! Hero
Today my family of older teen girls, wife and myself had such a terrific day with Hero!! If you are lucky enough to book him you MUST do so! We went to all the best places, he drove us in his clean and air conditioned car, we went to an awesome lunch spot, and he was so flexible with our plans. He also is so incredibly knowledgeable of Japan’s history and literary knows everything there is to know about Nagasaki. You should book him quickly if there is still an opportunity!
Hi Kris, Thank you very much for the great evaluation of me. I appreciate it. I hope to see you someday in Nagasaki or Okinawa again. Best regards, Hero
We spent a wonderful day exploring Nagasaki with Hero! He was enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. We saw so many more sights in one day than we could ever have done on our own. Highly recommend Hero as a guide!
Thank you very much for the great review!! I appreciate it. Please enjoy your rest of trip in Beppu and wonderful time in Okinawa with your son. Hero