Goto Islands
An archipelago of 140 islands where 30,000 "hidden Christians" (kakure kirishitan) secretly maintained their faith for 250 years under the death penalty. The UNESCO-listed churches, set in fishing villages against a backdrop of spectacularly clear emerald sea, represent one of the world's most extraordinary stories of religious perseverance.
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The Goto Islands have the highest concentration of hidden Christian (kakure kirishitan) churches in Japan — over 50 on Fukue Island alone. Rent a car on arrival as public transport is sparse. Snorkeling and diving in the surrounding waters is exceptional. The overnight ferry from Nagasaki saves accommodation costs and is itself an experience.
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