Loading

Search

:

Otome Toge St. Maria Chapel

  • Category:Spot
jmhzh8godpyrfww8vdfy_320_320-a9837242.jpg

JAPAN TRAVEL





The place of martyrdom for the hidden Christians

Tsuwano has many famous historical spots, but Otome Toge (乙女峠|おとめとうげ)is where the history itself is not of achievement, but of hardship and sorrow.

Christianity was forbidden for most of the Edo period (1600 - 1868), but it was in the first year of the Meiji period (1868) that prosecution became stricter than ever before. When seeing the foreign countries' growing delegates to Japan, the hidden Christians came forth, and proclaimed their faith in Nagasaki.

fwpikdnvdgkwufyyjyx3_320_320-8cbe5b5c.jpg
 

Christians brought to Tsuwano

The Meiji government arrested 3,000 believers and sent them to different parts of Japan. It was in this turbulent time, when 154 Christians were sent to the Tsuwano domain, where they were put in outbuildings around the former Korinji Temple, near Otome Toge pass in the mountains behind the Tsuwano castle town.

Tsuwano domain did not have a community of Christians (that we know of), and taking in these prisoners was an undeniable order from the central Meiji government. For five years, the believers were tortured with different methods, from being ordered to abandon their faith and trample on the holy Christ's paintings, receiving little food and reaching the brink of death from hunger, to being thrown into the frozen pond next to the temple during the winter.

69habnbnbkxogkvgdaso_320_320-87c80ac9.jpg
 
Another cruel way the Christians were treated is something called Sanjakuro, which is a cube of only 90cm (2.9ft, 35inch) on each side. Yasutaro, one of the 37 martyrs who died during the five years, was put into the Sanjakuro often. He wrote in his notes that "I am not lonely at all in this Sanjakuro. For just after midnight, a lady appears, clothed in a blue gown and wearing a blue veil just like the image of Santa Maria.

pp47r8uztewnnhfmppdt_320_320-39d58c00.jpg
 
She tells me stories so I am not lonely at all." It is said that the blessed Virgin appeared to martyr Yasutaro every night from 7-19 January in the second year of Meiji (1869). After international pressure, in the sixth year of Meiji (1873) the Decree of Prohibition of Christianity was abolished and the Christians were set free and some of them returned to Nagasaki.
 

Memorial chapel for the martyrs

The Otome Toge St. Mary Chapel was built in 1951 at the place of the former Korinji Temple, to remember the martyrs. This is the end station of the yearly Otome Toge memorial procession on 3 May. A solemn mass is held in the chapel that day.

6dyj3jnerezstrwcp9ca_320_320-a639b984.jpg

wsw4veok2egwd77ids2a_320_320-eb6b0a92.jpg
 
There is a sign on the chapel's door in Japanese. It says that anyone can freely go into the chapel to pray or to pay homage to the martyrs, but there are many animals and insects in the woods, so one is asked to make sure that the door is tightly closed during and after one's visit.
Tsuwano also has a church built in memorial of the hidden Christians, which can be found on Tonomachi street in the town center.
 

Stations of the cross

There is a path going into the woods that leads to the Monument of the blessedness. The 15-minute walk through the woods goes along the Stations of the Cross, but it is a bit of a challenge.

v867p9ivnres86jpgdgb_320_320-96c5bb94.jpg
 
While the path is well maintained, it is sometimes steep, and more of a walk through the woods than a walk in the park, so appropriate footwear is advised. The end of the path is the Monument for blessedness, and from there a road goes down to Youmeiji, the family temple of consecutive Tsuwano domain lord clans, spanning more than 700 years.

k9mworczf5kamr47m3my_320_320-230e9bf6.jpg
 

Getting there

The Otome Toge St. Mary Chapel is at the Otome pass, west from Tsuwano train station. Start walking south from the station, turn right and cross the train tracks at the first possibility.

After crossing the train tracks, turn right again. Walk straight for a few minutes, until you find a road to the left, going towards the hills between two temples, with a "乙女峠記念聖堂" sign at the crossing. From here, it takes about 10 minutes up the hill two the chapel and the memorial park.



by Denes Perlaky
 

Comment(s) Write comment

jo35kcijl6f viagra online without prescription <a href="https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/u/cloverdead95">viagra from a pharmacy in canada</a> generic viagra sale [url=https://bit.ly/3g6d3R2+]cialis no prescription[/url] cialis in canada
walmart medication list <a href="http://2345eny.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=354675">online canadian pharmacy</a> viagra.com canada [url=http://9453pp.com/space-uid-1260582.html]canadian drug companies[/url] herbal viagra reviews
what happens if a girl takes viagra <a href="http://5zyyy.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=378901">viagra forum</a> canadian drug companies [url=http://ajgsm.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=352371]canadiandrugstore.com[/url] canada viagra online
ytehrofhbjs buying cialis from canada <a href="https://unsplash.com/@seatavenue91">drugs shop</a> viagra for women [url=https://writeablog.net/sphereanimal73/just-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy]cheap viagra india[/url] viagra free trial
viagra tablets <a href="https://sprzedambron.pl/author/verseeye60/">viagra plus</a> canadian med [url=http://giga2021.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=608737]alternative to viagra[/url] canadian viagra online
canada drug store <a href="https://lexsrv3.nlm.nih.gov/fdse/search/search.pl?match=0&realm=all&terms=http://www.canadotcphar.com/">viagra without a prescription</a> viagra alternatives [url=https://escort-siden.dk/author/versecolon44/]viagra canadian pharmacy[/url] viagra online
iwsuegxq6xo viagra online order <a href="https://m.jingdexian.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=647490">how viagra works</a> cialis from canadian pharmacy [url=https://www.renderosity.com/users/id:1312704]free viagra sample[/url] cialis 5mg best price
cialis low price <a href="https://classificadosmaster.com/author/versetailor75/">viagra buy</a> viagra sale online [url=https://backforgood.faith/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]drugs without prescription[/url] canadian pharmacies without prescriptions
viagra dosing <a href="http://www.mifengedu.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=3235559">buy medication online</a> canada pharmacies online [url=https://drivehud.com/forums/users/asiababy72/]how long does viagra last[/url] viagra information
cqaiom2tg1i viagra cost <a href="https://www.haoyouhuiba.com/space-uid-733861.html">tadalafil generic best prices</a> where to buy viagra online [url=https://yanyiku.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=545066]viagra how it works[/url] canadian pills
cialis canadian pharmacy's <a href="https://bookingsilo.trade/wiki/Exactly_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">canadian online pharmacy for viagra</a> cheapest generic viagra [url=https://jszst.com.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=796826]generic cialis online pharmacy[/url] canadian pharmacy no prescription
viagra free <a href="http://vipersrc.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=393618">canada drugstore</a> cheap cialis online canada pharmacy [url=https://driverpoisk.ru/user/meterdead65]canadian pharmaceutical[/url] walmart medication list
qs87powpgkt canada pharmacy for cialis <a href="http://51newyork.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=247273">best generic viagra</a> viagra before and after pictures [url=https://lexsrv3.nlm.nih.gov/fdse/search/search.pl?match=0&realm=all&terms=http://www.canadotcphar.com/]buy levitra canada[/url] cost viagra
buy viagra online canada pharmacy <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/30555773/">viagra and high blood pressure</a> cheap viagra from india [url=http://52ch.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=1232465]buying medications in canada[/url] canadarx.com
liquid viagra <a href="https://chaomianzhu.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=587467">cialis without a prescription</a> generic viagra from canada [url=https://wikidot.win/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]canada pills[/url] cialis no prescription
pjg3l7kmhlg us pharmacy for cialis <a href="https://godotengine.org/qa/user/squidwar32">cialis pills</a> canada online pharmacies [url=https://www.indiegogo.com/individuals/30555770/]generic viagra free shipping[/url] cialis.com coupon
viagra free trial <a href="https://devpost.com/staffordalbert19969848">canadian prescription drugstore</a> viagra online cheap [url=https://lexsrv3.nlm.nih.gov/fdse/search/search.pl?match=0&realm=all&terms=http://www.canadotcphar.com/]viagra.com canada[/url] canadian viagra online pharmacy reviews
cialis and pharmacy <a href="http://mc-dqm4.xii.jp/index.php?menucornet58">viagra generic online</a> canadian drug companies [url=https://minerheart.com/space-uid-715994.html]cialis best price[/url] price for cialis in canada
jth0ysyoibc onlinepharmaciescanada.com <a href="https://lexsrv3.nlm.nih.gov/fdse/search/search.pl?match=0&realm=all&terms=http://www.canadotcphar.com/">viagra doses</a> canadian pharcharmy [url=https://clinfowiki.win/wiki/Post:Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know]viagra prescription[/url] online viagra
canada viagra generic <a href="https://vuf.minagricultura.gov.co/Lists/Informacin%20Servicios%20Web/DispForm.aspx?ID=3278225">buy viagra canada</a> canada drug stores [url=https://www.renderosity.com/users/id:1312706]free sample viagra[/url] best viagra
what is viagra used for <a href="https://morphomics.science/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">cialis canada pharmacy</a> canadian prescription drugs [url=http://pfzhe.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=376835]viagra purchase[/url] viamedic.com
yuzfhiwict2 viagra cheapest price <a href="https://atavi.com/share/vowygkz1vlr75">canada-cialis</a> www.canadadrugsonline.com [url=https://imoodle.win/wiki/How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]canada online pharmacies[/url] cialis discount
free samples canada <a href="http://ddzjcn.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=655289">viagra uk</a> rx online [url=https://public.sitejot.com/versecornet1.html]medications.com[/url] viagra online cheap
online purchase viagra <a href="https://blogfreely.net/jellyneedle59/just-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">online purchase viagra</a> canadian pills online [url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/u/bearcolon37]is there a generic cialis[/url] getcanadiandrugs .com
liujnytg5r4 cheap viagra canada <a href="https://fakenews.win/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">viagra online canada</a> cialis over the counter canada [url=https://zippyshare.com/bearsnow91]how does viagra work[/url] lowest price viagra
drugs of canada <a href="http://wmxz.com.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=412643">canada pharmacy online viagra</a> order viagra from canada [url=https://jy58tz.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=475379]viagra order[/url] canada drug prices
cialis online canada <a href="https://bit.ly/3TeZi10+">viagra information</a> prescriptions canada [url=http://itw99.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=340887]canadian pharmacy cialis for daily use[/url] cialis best price
clhud5zqtoq cheap cialis online canadian pharmacy <a href="https://theflatearth.win/wiki/Post:Exactly_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy">canada pharmacy for cialis</a> canada prescription [url=https://king-wifi.win/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]brand viagra online[/url] canada online pharmacy viagra
medications without prescription <a href="http://pfzhe.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=376932">real viagra online</a> online pharmacy cialis [url=http://www.v0795.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=1306559]purchase viagra[/url] substitute viagra
cialis pharmacy rx one <a href="http://bbs.2016xiaozhuge.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=7950336">canada drug store</a> northwestpharmacy.com canada [url=http://hglt.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=808866]viagra without a doctor prescription usa[/url] canadian cialis
yhmabt9l5nh purchase cialis in canada <a href="https://www.renderosity.com/users/id:1312711">universal pharmacy</a> cialis without a doctor's prescription [url=http://ageloc.store/home.php?mod=space&uid=706194]buying cialis from canada[/url] my canadian pharmacy
canadian-pharmacy-online <a href="https://timeoftheworld.date/wiki/Five_Facts_About_Pharmacy_You_Need_to_Know">purchase viagra</a> buy cialis online in canada [url=https://blogs.nmit.ac.nz/showcase/question/exactly-how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy-2/]cialis canada pharmacy online[/url] buy viagra uk
drug world canada <a href="http://aawolf.uh-oh.jp/index.php?boltondreyer939459">canada drugs</a> cialis-canadian pharmacy [url=https://humanlove.stream/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]cialis.com coupon[/url] cialis from canada?
jm9soy0ktob is generic viagra safe <a href="https://www.truthmall.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=321299">online pharmacies canada</a> canadian pharmacy - cialis [url=http://lineage38r.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=585284]where can i buy viagra[/url] northwestpharmacy .com
canada drug store <a href="http://linguage.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=77834">generic cialis canadian</a> onlinepharmaciescanada.com [url=https://atavi.com/share/vox0bjz19tcso]viagra prescription from canada[/url] drugs online without a prescription
canadian discount pharmacies <a href="https://poigrala.ru/user/jellyavenue84/">what is viagra used for</a> canada drug prices [url=https://imoodle.win/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]cialis[/url] prescription codes
rplqpjaeg4f sildenafil canada <a href="http://6uzy.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=508781">generic viagra reviews</a> costco online [url=http://www.ksjy88.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=2611231]buy brand viagra[/url] buy cheap viagra
viagra dose <a href="https://notes.io/qheBb">cialis from canada pharmacy</a> international drug mart [url=https://togetherautos.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=680053]getcanadiandrugs .com[/url] viagra testimonials
do you need a prescription for viagra in canada <a href="https://yanyiku.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=545207">cialis online in canada</a> purchase viagra online [url=https://98e.fun/space-uid-3659533.html]viagra by mail[/url] order viagra online
ebfwijoi9oe discount cialis <a href="https://zippyshare.com/pieyard74">purchase cialis in canada</a> lowest price viagra [url=https://bbs.pku.edu.cn/v2/jump-to.php?url=http://www.canadotcphar.com/]best price for cialis[/url] drugstore online
new viagra <a href="https://notes.io/qhegf">canadian prescription</a> ordering medications from canada [url=https://solidwastecourse.org/members/spherehair65/activity/100340/]canadian pharmacy reviews[/url] viagra pills for sale
viagra sildenafil <a href="https://www.instapaper.com/p/metercolon76">canada pills</a> canadian online pharmacy for viagra [url=http://83783.net/home.php?mod=space&uid=3130121]drugstore of canada[/url] generic viagra canadian
vt0ypmuleon viagra and women <a href="https://www.ted.com/profiles/39024410">viagra for sale</a> cialis mexico pharmacy [url=http://www.hebian.cn/home.php?mod=space&uid=749311]canadian prescription[/url] prescription drugs without a prescription
buy levitra canada <a href="https://postheaven.net/inputbomb91/how-to-buy-prescription-drugs-from-a-canadian-pharmacy">generic viagra reviews</a> my canadian pharcharmy online [url=https://nerdgaming.science/wiki/Just_How_to_Buy_Prescription_Drugs_From_a_Canadian_Pharmacy]cheap viagra without prescription[/url] buy cialis online canada
buy viagra no prescription <a href="http://sc.sie.gov.hk/TuniS/www.canadotcphar.com/">pharmacy rx one 60 mg cialis</a> cialis generic [url=https://88yllt.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=980753]buy cheap viagra online[/url] cialis low price

Trackback (You need to login.)