Former Nokubi Church, Catholic church building on Nozaki Island, Japan
The former Nokubi Church is a red brick building with Gothic architectural elements situated on a hilltop above the settlement. Its structure features European design adapted to the island environment, with pointed windows and brick masonry defining its appearance.
The church was completed in 1908 when architect Yosuke Tetsukawa designed it for 17 households of former Hidden Christians who had settled on the island. This marked a turning point in Japanese religious freedom after decades of persecution.
The building demonstrates how Japanese religious spaces evolved when Western brick construction replaced wooden traditions in the early 1900s. You can see this shift in the blend of European design adapted to local island conditions.
You can reach the church by taking a 35-minute municipal ferry from Ojika Port to Nozaki Port, then walking about 20 minutes uphill. The island is now uninhabited, so plan for limited facilities and bring appropriate clothing for weather changes.
This structure was Japan's first Catholic church built entirely in brick and stone, and it retained its original form even as the island later became uninhabited. This preservation makes it a rare record of a community that once thrived here.
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