Hirosaki Catholic Church

Hirosaki Catholic Church is a wooden building in Romanesque style with white plaster walls inside and dark wooden columns, crowned by a gabled roof with a steeple. The interior shows a clear contrast between the bright walls and the massive timber supports that hold up the ceiling.

The original building was constructed in 1882 during early Catholic missionary work in Hirosaki. The current structure was completed in 1910 under Father Auger's guidance, replacing the earlier one.

The stained glass windows show biblical scenes mixed with local elements such as Mount Iwaki, traditional Tsugaru-shamisen instruments, and regional apple farming motifs.

The building is reachable via the 100-yen Loop Bus from Hirosaki Station to the Culture Center, followed by a five-minute walk to 20 Hyakkoku-machi Koji. The route is flat and easy to walk, and the area is well marked.

The chancel houses an eight-meter-high oak altar donated in 1866 by Saint Thomas Church from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. This European artwork with detailed biblical carvings creates a striking contrast to the Japanese architecture of the building.

Website: http://sendai.catholic.jp/hirosakicatholicchurch.html

GPS coordinates: 40.60636,140.47211

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:27