Gotō Islands, Island chain in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
The Gotō Islands form an island chain in Nagasaki Prefecture that stretches across the eastern waters off the coast of Kyūshū. The terrain consists of forested hills, narrow bays, and fishing harbors tucked between rocky headlands.
During the Edo period between 1603 and 1867, Christians moved here to escape persecution, practicing their faith secretly in forests and remote valleys. After the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the ban lifted, and missionaries began building churches in places where believers had previously prayed in hiding.
Catholic communities on the islands maintain their religious tradition today in small wooden churches scattered across coastal villages. Many residents combine fishing with tending family gardens where they grow vegetables and tea.
Ferries connect the main islands to Nagasaki and dock at several ports along the coastline. Visitors planning to explore the smaller islands should expect longer waits between connections, as schedules depend on weather and tides.
In the shallower coastal zones, fishermen cultivate nori seaweed on floating frames that appear like dark strips in the water at low tide. The harvest takes place in winter, when the seaweed reaches its highest quality and is sorted by hand on boats.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
