Amakusa Christian Museum

The Amakusa Christian Museum is a religious museum in the Amakusa region with four exhibition spaces displaying religious artifacts, ancient ceramics, and archaeological materials. This collection documents the Christian history of the island region over several centuries.

Founded in 1966, the museum preserves artifacts and documents from the Shimabara Rebellion and the period when Japanese Christians practiced their faith in secret. The collection shows the difficult era when the local community had to hide its beliefs.

The museum displays how Christians in the Edo period kept their faith alive through hidden objects and modified practices. Visitors can see handcrafted items that were secretly made and used during this time.

The museum is located in the town of Amakusa and is open daily with clearly marked spaces and a continuous route through the exhibitions. Visitors should allow enough time to carefully read the various objects and their descriptions.

The museum holds the Amakusa Shiro Battle Flag, a nationally designated important cultural property, along with a large wall painting depicting the final battle at Hara Castle. These works are surprisingly direct and honest in their portrayal of this violent chapter in local history.

Location: Amakusa

Inception: 1965

Official opening: August 1, 1966

Address: 〒863-0017　熊本県天草市船之尾町19-52

Website: http://city.amakusa.kumamoto.jp/kirishitan

GPS coordinates: 32.45995,130.18403

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:05