Day 1: 29 May - Depart for JAPAN/ Tokyo

Departs to Japan. Overnight flight with service on board.

Day 2: 30 May - Arrival in Japan /Nagasaki

We arrive in Japan/Tokyo. Then, we board our flight to Nagasaki, Japan. A Christian attendant will accompany you on this pilgrimage. Upon arrival, we transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Nagasaki.

Day 3: 31 May - Pilgrimage to St. Maximillian Kolbe’s Sites

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel to the Monastery of the Knights of Our Lady, opened by St. Maximillian Kolbe. Upon arrival, we visit St. Maximillian Kolbe Memorial Hall, following the visit, we participate in the Lourdes celebration. We will celebrate Holy Mass at Hongouchi Catholic Church, which houses the relics of St. Maximillian Kolbe. Afterward, we will recite the Rosary at the Lourdes Grotto within the Monastery (Japan’s only Vatican-accredited Lourdes-grotto). We will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

Our pilgrimage continues to the hill of Nishizaka, the site of martyrdom, and we visit the Memorial Hall of the Twenty Six Martyrs Museum of Japan, to view Christian materials where Curator Miyata will guide us. We also visit the monument to the twenty-six saints ( outside visit ) and St. Philip’s Church. Before returning to the hotel, we visit Oura Tenshudo which is the World Heritage Site, where St. Maximillian Kolbe conducted his missionary work.

Return to our hotel in Nagasaki. Dinner at local restaurant with transfer.

Day 4: 1 June - Hidden Christian Sites

After breakfast, we depart for the hidden Christian village of Sotome. We visit Karematsu Shrine ( outside visit ), a site dedicated to the priest who preserved the faith during persecution. Shitsu Cultural Village which is the World Heritage Site, (Shitsu Church, Father de Rotz Memorial Hall, the Former Shitsu Aid Center) and Endo Shusaku Literary Museum. We will celebrate Holy Mass at Shitsu Catholic Church.

We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we will visit the Hypocenter Park (outside visit) where the atomic bomb was dropped - Atomic Bomb Museum - Peace Park (outside visit) - Nagai Takashi Museum – Nagasaki Bishop’s Palace and Urakami Tenshudo (cathedral) which houses Our Lady of the Atomic Bomb. Arrive at the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant on foot. Overnight in Nagasaki

Day 5: 2 June - Shimabara and Unzen

After breakfast, we depart for Shimabara. We celebrate Holy Mass at Shimabara Catholic Church. We then visit Arima Christian Heritage Museum and the ruins of Hara Castle, where 37,000 Christians were martyred (outside visit). We will enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Then, we visit Unzen Hell, where Christians faced torture and martyrdom (outside visit). We return to the hotel for the dinner and overnight.

Day 6: 3 June - Hirado and Karatsu

After breakfast, we depart for Hirado. We visit the Statue of Francis Xavier at Hirado Xavier Church, where we will celebrate Holy Mass. We enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Afterward, we visit Shima no Yakata ( Ikitsuki Island Museum ) where you can learn about the life of hidden Christians, with a specialized guide. We transfer to Karatsu for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: 4 June - Kyoto Exploration

After breakfast, we depart for Fukuoka / Hakata Station. From Hakata station we take the Shinkansen train to Kyoto. Upon arrival, we transfer to the Kawaramachi area where you can enjoy lunch at your leisure, as it is home to Nishiki Market, a historic shopping street. We celebrate Holy Mass at Kawaramachi Catholic Church. We will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant before arriving at the hotel. Overnight in Kyoto.

Day 8: 5 June - Kyoto City Pilgrimage

After breakfast, we begin our Kyoto City Pilgrimage from the hotel. Transfer to Daisen-in, a Sub-temple within Daitoku-ji and visit the dry landscape garden and the tea room, where Sen no Rikyu served tea. Afterward, we enjoy a short walk around Daitoku-ji (outside visit).

We celebrate Holy Mass at Nishijin Catholic Church, Bishop of Kyoto Diocese. We enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Afterward, we transfer to Osaka-Itami Airport for a domestic flight from Osaka to Akita. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant. Return to the hotel in Akita for overnight.

Day 9: 6 June - Akita Pilgrimage

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a departure for Eucharistic Adoration, visiting Our Lady of Akita at the Handmaids of the Holy Eucharist (one of the world’s 10 major Marian pilgrimage sites) praying the Rosary before the statue of Mary that shed 101 tears. We participate in the Way of the Cross in the garden and celebrate Holy Mass in a Japanese-style Cathedral. We enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we transfer to Akita Airport for a domestic flight to Haneda Airport. Upon arrival, we transfer to local restaurant for dinner. After dinner, we arrive at the hotel in Tokyo for overnight.

Day 10: 7 June – Tokyo Exploration

After breakfast, we transfer to Asakusa to celebrate Holy Mass at Asakusa Catholic Church which is one of the six churches consecrated in Tokyo during the Meiji period. Afterward, we enjoy free time exploring Asakusa, a district with the traditional atmosphere of Tokyo’s old downtown. We enjoy lunch at local restaurant. Afterward, we will visit Sekiguchi Church, the Cathedral of the Tokyo Archdiocese. Then, we proceed to the Fudatsuji (outside visit), the site of the Great Genna Martyrdom, and finally visit Takanawa Church, which exhibits the circumstances of the martyrdom. Free time in Ginza area. Arrive at the hotel. Dinner at hotel or local restaurant. Overnight in Tokyo.

Day 11: 8 June – Departure to USA

We enjoy breakfast at the hotel and have free time until departure. We transfer to Haneda (or Narita) Airport for our flight back to the USA with a new appreciation for St. Maximillian Kolbe and Our Lady of Akita.