- Silence: A Literary Tour of Hidden Christian Sites in Sotome
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Nagasaki City
Silence is a novel by Endo Shusaku and has been adapted into film by Academy Award Winning Director Martin Scorsese. Explore today's peaceful and scenic town of Sotome and uncover its painful yet moving history of Christian Heritage in Nagasaki.
Starting Point: Nagasaki City
Rent a Car in the city area for the day!
Local buses bound for Sotome are available but for the best experience (especially for well-hidden sites), we recommend renting a car.
Visitors can also consider taking the tour bus (itinerary differs).
Drive (50 minutes)
- Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
- Nagasaki City The Endo Shusaku Literary Museum chronicles celebrated Japanese author Endo’s life and study and holds a collection of over 30,000 articles - largely Christian-related - including original written manuscripts and books relating to his writings. Th... VIEW MORE
Learn about the author of Silence
*please check page for rates
Drive (4 minutes)
Kurosaki Church
One of the sites Endo visited to gather material for his novel. The surrounding district was home to many hidden Christians who dwelled here during the ban on Christianity. Under the direction of Fr. de Rotz, the foundation of Kurosaki Church was laid in 1897, and its building plans were drawn in 1899 before the church was completed in 1920.
Drive (11 minutes)
- Karematsu Shrine
- Nagasaki City Karematsu Shrine is dedicated to Jiwan, Bastian’s religious leader. He passed away from hunger and cold while hiding in a valley and observing religious practices. The local people buried him and worshipped his tomb as a sacred place. Each Novembe... VIEW MORE
Hidden Christians gathered at this site to conduct orasho.
Drive (15 minutes)
LUNCHTIME
Vaux sur aure （ヴォスロール）
Restaurant run by followers of Father de Rotz. Food here is also prepared with great love and care in de Rotz style. Reservations recommended!
Side trip: Silence monument
Vaux sur aure is a walking distance away from this monument. Enjoy a view of the village that inspired Tomogi Village.
Drive (25 minutes)
Bastian’s Hut
A Japanese priest, baptized as Bastian, was said to have stayed in the Sotome area, secretly conducting religious activities for the hidden Christians after all other priests had been deported and exiled. To evade his pursuers, he was believed to have moved from place to place, living in secluded huts. The current site which features a rebuilt hut is said to have been one of the places Bastian had stayed in. In the novel, Rodrigues laid low in a charcoal hut likely modeled after this relic.
Drive (25 minutes)
- Shitsu Church and Former Shitsu Aid Center Buildings and Fr. de Rotz Memorial Museum
- Nagasaki City Shitsu Church When he encountered the hidden Christians, Fr. Petitjean realized that there were many other Christians hiding in the Sotome region. He appointed Fr. de Rotz as parish priest of the Shitsu and Kurosaki districts. On a hill commandin... VIEW MORE
Tour the Shitsu Culture Village and learn about Father de Rotz, a French priest who devoted his life to the people of Sotome
To tour the Church premises, please make reservations beforehand, and observe church etiquette. Thank you!
*please check page for rates
Drive (5 minutes)
Sunset at Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
Watch the sun set on the horizon or in the distant Goto Islands across the Goto-nada sea
Please check the day’s sun set time and plan accordingly.
*sun set spot varies with time of year
Drive (50 minutes)
*if you are driving from Nagasaki City on a weekday, traffic conditions might delay your driving time.
