Orders

Urakami Cathedral

Name: Urakami Cathedral
Address: 1-79 Motoomachi, Nagasaki, 852-8112, Japan
Rating: 4.3

4.3 (200)・Tourist Attraction・Church・Place Of Worship・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki is a powerful symbol of faith and resilience. Originally built in the late 19th century by local Christians who had practiced their faith in secret for centuries, this cathedral was once the largest church in East Asia. Its grand design and beautiful stained glass reflected the joy of Christians finally able to worship openly.

Tragically, in 1945, the cathedral was almost entirely destroyed by the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki. The explosion happened just 500 meters away, reducing this magnificent structure to ruins and taking many lives. However, the spirit of the community was not broken.

In the years following World War II, Urakami Cathedral was rebuilt on the same site. The new structure, completed in 1959, retains elements of the original, including some of the surviving statues and a remnant of the original wall. Today, it stands not just as a place of worship but as a testament to the endurance of the human spirit and the power of hope and renewal.

Hours:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Closed:

No closing days

Available:

All year

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Fee:

Free

Hours

Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Phone

+81 95-844-1777

Website

uracathe.sakura.ne.jp

The area

Address

1-79 Motoomachi, Nagasaki, 852-8112, Japan

Top ways to experience Urakami Cathedral

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What other travelers are saying about Urakami Cathedral

Destroyed after the bombing of Nagasaki, only a few decades after its completion of being built. This church is a testament to the faith of the Catholics of Nagasaki and their resilience. It has now been rebuilt and has a nice gift shop with lots of memorabilia from the time of the bombing. The church itself has a gorgeous blue light shining in from the stained glass windows.

M Z

Jan 28, 2025

A beautiful cathedral located in Nagasaki just a walk from the Peace Park. It survived the atomic bombing and stands tall and wonderfully strong.

Anthony Plaxen

Mar 3, 2025

This is a Catholic cathedral. Not much to do or see here, but it does have a large role in the history of the religion in the country. The current building was rebuilt in the same place as where the original one stood.

ARBN

Mar 10, 2025

Historical church in Nagasaki with rich history beautiful art work around the property

mack smith

Apr 2, 2025

Visited for Christmas Eve mass. What a wonderful experience, we felt most welcome. The cathedral was destroyed by the Atomic Bomb and has been rebuilt. It is legacy to the power of the human spirit. Worth a visit.