Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions)
1597 St. Paul Miki and Companions Feast, February 6
A shrine associated with St. Paul Miki and Companions.
Visit this holy place
How would you like to make this pilgrimage?
Plan your own visit How long to stay, how to get there, what to see, and what to bring. Travel guideWhat happened here
The Story
On Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki, Japan, a long bronze relief bears the images of twenty-six men and boys who were crucified there on February 5, 1597 - St. Paul Miki and his companions, the protomartyrs of Japan. The twenty-six included three Japanese Jesuits, among them Paul Miki, a gifted native preacher; six foreign Franciscan missionaries; and seventeen Japanese laymen, including catechists, physicians, and boys as young as twelve. Arrested in Kyoto and Osaka by order of the ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, they were marched hundreds of miles overland in winter to Nagasaki, the heart of Christian Japan, so that their deaths might terrify the faithful. Bound to crosses and pierced with lances, they died singing and preaching; according to the traditional account, Paul Miki proclaimed from his cross that he forgave his executioners and desired that all Japan might come to know Christ. Far from extinguishing the faith, the martyrdom seeded it. Through two and a half centuries of persecution, hidden Christians in the Nagasaki region secretly preserved baptism and prayer until missionaries returned in the nineteenth century. The twenty-six were beatified in 1627 and canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862, the first canonized martyrs of Japan; their feast is kept on the General Roman Calendar on February 6. In 1962, for the centenary of the canonization, the monument with its granite-and-bronze memorial by sculptor Yasutake Funakoshi and an adjoining museum were erected on the martyrdom site, with the strikingly modern St. Philip's Church nearby. Pope St. John Paul II prayed here during his 1981 visit to Japan, and the hill remains the spiritual heart of Japanese Catholicism, a place where pilgrims contemplate the cost and the fruitfulness of fidelity to Christ.
How to read this account
Church Recognition
The Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan were beatified in 1627 and canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862, and their feast - St. Paul Miki and Companions - is celebrated on the General Roman Calendar on February 6; the Nishizaka site is an established Catholic pilgrimage destination honored by a visit of Pope St. John Paul II in 1981.
Catholic Teaching
Martyrdom is the supreme witness to the truth of the faith (CCC 2473), and the story of Japan's hidden Christians shows how the blood of martyrs became the seed of the Church, sustaining baptismal faith even without clergy for centuries.
Go Deeper
The Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum in Nagasaki documents the martyrdom and the hidden-Christian centuries; see also the Office of Readings for February 6 (a contemporary account of St. Paul Miki's death), the Catechism on martyrdom (CCC 2473), and Shusaku Endo's writings on Christian Nagasaki for historical context.
Useful before you go
Plan Your Visit
The Pilgrim’s Quick Card
- Ideal stay
- Half Day Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer
- Best months
- Apr-May & Oct-Nov Pleasant weather outside summer humidity and winter cold
- Nearest airport
- Nagasaki (NGS) Usually reached via Tokyo or Osaka
- Language & currency
- Japanese · Japanese yen (JPY) English availability varies; major shrines often assist
- Feast day
- February 6
- Accessibility
- Good Main shrine areas are generally manageable; verify locally
Plan the trip
How Long Should I Stay?
Half Day is a practical amount of time for Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions). Allow 2-4 hours for the tomb, church, and prayer.
- Minimum: Half Day for the principal shrine or church and personal prayer.
- Recommended: Half Day so you can include Mass, the main devotional focus, and time to explore without rushing.
- Extended stay: Add a second day for a slower pace and nearby sacred sites.
Pilgrim Tip: Leave at least one unscheduled block for quiet prayer; pilgrimage sites often become most meaningful after the checklist is finished.
Best Time to Visit
Best Overall
Apr-May & Oct-Nov
Pleasant weather outside summer humidity and winter cold.
Peak Periods
Major feast days, school holidays, summer weekends, and organized diocesan pilgrimages can bring larger crowds. Book lodging and transportation earlier if your dates overlap a major celebration.
For a Quieter Pilgrimage
Choose a weekday outside the busiest holiday period and arrive early in the day.
Feast Day
February 6 can be a particularly meaningful time to visit, but expect larger crowds and special schedules.
Pilgrim Tip: Always check the shrine calendar before booking; the most spiritually rich dates are often also the busiest.
Getting There From the United States
Best Gateway: Nagasaki (NGS)
For most pilgrims traveling from the United States, Nagasaki (NGS) is the most practical arrival point. Usually reached via Tokyo or Osaka.
From the airport, continue toward Nagasaki by the most practical combination of rail, bus, rental car, taxi, or pre-arranged transfer. For remote shrines, a private transfer or rental car is often simpler than piecing together local connections.
Typical U.S. Routing
United States -> Nagasaki (NGS) -> Nagasaki -> Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions)
Our recommendation: Compare total travel time, not airfare alone. A slightly more expensive flight that removes a long ground transfer can make a pilgrimage much easier.
On the ground
Getting Around
You generally do not need a car once you are near Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions). The sacred site and its immediate historic center can usually be explored on foot, with local buses or taxis available for longer transfers.
A rental car is most useful if this stop is part of a wider regional pilgrimage.
Good to Know: Historic districts may restrict traffic or have limited parking, so check your lodging's arrival instructions in advance.
Where to Stay
Choose lodging in the most walkable part of Nagasaki, ideally within a short walk or simple transit ride of Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions). That makes it easier to attend Mass and return for prayer without losing time in traffic.
Best For Pilgrims
- Historic-center lodging near the church or shrine
- Religious guesthouses when available
- Hotels near a major transit stop
- Accessible lodging if your group has mobility needs
Pilgrim Tip: Check the actual walking route, not just the map distance; old cities can include steep streets, stairs, or cobblestones.
Accessibility
The main worship and visitor areas at Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions) are generally manageable for most pilgrims, though historic thresholds, paving, or side chapels may still create barriers. Accessibility services and entrances can change, so verify current arrangements before traveling.
Pilgrim Tip: If mobility is a concern, choose lodging and transportation that minimize unnecessary walking.
What to do
Most Important Things to Do
Venerate the Saint or Relics
Pilgrims visit the bronze monument on Nishizaka Hill, the Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum with its artifacts of Japan's Christian history, and nearby St. Philip's Church; commemorations peak around the martyrs' feast in early February, and many continue on to Nagasaki's other Christian sites such as Oura Cathedral.
Allow: 30-60 minutes for prayer before moving through the rest of the site.
Attend Mass
If Mass is offered during your visit, make it the center of the pilgrimage rather than an add-on. Check the official shrine or parish schedule shortly before traveling.
Understand the Devotion
Read a short life of the saint before arriving, then pray for the grace to imitate the virtue most associated with that saint.
Explore the Church and Grounds
Look for the principal chapel, altar, crypt, museum, gardens, historic rooms, or pilgrimage route connected with the site. Allow another 45-90 minutes where available.
Pilgrim Tip: Arrive early or stay later than large tour groups when possible; the atmosphere is often much quieter.
Suggested Pilgrimage Itinerary
Half-Day Pilgrimage
- Begin at Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions) and spend time in quiet prayer.
- Attend Mass if the schedule aligns with your visit.
- Visit the principal shrine, tomb, relic, apparition site, or historic chapel.
- Go to Confession when available.
- Finish with another short period of prayer before leaving.
Have more time? Add other churches and sacred sites in Nagasaki.
Mass, Confession & Prayer
When the church is active, Mass is the best way to place the saint's witness within the life of the Church. Confession, Adoration, and devotions vary by community.
Use the current schedule provided by the shrine, parish, diocese, or religious community shortly before visiting.
Pilgrim Tip: Avoid building your itinerary around an old fixed Mass time. Liturgical schedules can change seasonally and on feast days.
Practical
What to Bring
Pilgrimage Essentials
- Rosary
- Small Bible or prayer book
- Written prayer intentions
- Journal and pen
- Reusable water bottle
Practical Items
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Small backpack
- Portable phone charger
- Modest clothing for churches
- Payment card plus a small amount of Japanese yen (JPY)
Pilgrim Tip: Pack lightly enough that you can spend the day walking and praying without managing unnecessary gear.
Before You Go
Before leaving:
- ✓ Check current opening hours
- ✓ Check Mass and Confession information
- ✓ Write down your prayer intentions
- ✓ Confirm airport and ground transportation
- ✓ Check the weather
- ✓ Pack comfortable walking shoes
- ✓ Confirm accessibility needs in advance
- ✓ Carry appropriate church clothing
- ✓ Leave room for quiet prayer
Most Important: Do not experience Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions) only as a historic attraction. Make time for prayer, the sacraments when available, and the devotion or biblical event that gives the place its meaning.
Additional Information
Pilgrims visit the bronze monument on Nishizaka Hill, the Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum with its artifacts of Japan's Christian history, and nearby St. Philip's Church; commemorations peak around the martyrs' feast in early February, and many continue on to Nagasaki's other Christian sites such as Oura Cathedral.
Official Information
Check the shrine, parish, diocese, or custodian's official website for current opening hours, liturgies, closures, and pilgrimage notices.
Currency
Japan uses Japanese yen (JPY). Carry a payment card plus a small amount of local cash for offerings, small cafés, or local transport.
Local Language
Japanese is the principal language for this destination. English availability varies, but major international shrines often have multilingual staff or printed material.
Religious Etiquette
Dress respectfully, silence phones during prayer and Mass, avoid photographing worshippers at close range, and follow any local rules around relics, tombs, confessionals, or restricted chapels.
Pilgrim travel note: Mass times, opening hours, costs, accessibility, and local conditions can change. Please confirm important details directly with the shrine and your providers before you travel. Travel Disclaimer
Travel with a group
Prefer to travel with a group?
No guided pilgrimages that include Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions) are listed yet. Many parishes and dioceses organize their own trips, so ask at yours.
Information & sources
Mass times, admission and travel requirements change. Confirm them with the official source before you visit.
Report something that’s wrongFrom pilgrims who have been here
Pilgrim Photos
No pilgrim photos yet — be the first to share one from Monument of the 26 Martyrs (Shrine of St. Paul Miki and Companions).