Depart this evening for your overnight flight to Hirado, Japan.

Upon arrival, meet your Perillo Tours English speaking guide and drive directly to Hirado, a beautiful and historic location full of interesting museums, Christian churches, white sandy beaches and an imposing castle. Check in at your hotel for dinner and accommodation.                                       (D.)

Hotel breakfast. Meet your Perillo guide for a full day tour of Hirado. Begin the day with a visit to St. Francis Memorial Church built to commemorate the first introduction of Christianity to the Nagasaki region by St. Francis Xavier. On to Hirado Castle, standing in an area with a commanding view of Hirado Port. A monument commemorating the landing of Franciscan Fr. Pedro Bautista (26 Martyrs), who was sent to Japan by the Governor General of the Philippines OFM as an ambassador, lies at the castle entrance. Stop at the Hirado Dutch Trading Post, built in 1609. Historically known as Firando, Hirado was the port of call for ships between the Asian mainland and Japan as far back as the Nara period. Most of this trade took place at the Hirado Dutch Trading Post, Enjoy the surrounding picturesque scenery and beautiful seafront

After lunch, drive to Ikitsuki Island to visit the Yamada Church which contains monuments of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Saint Thomas Nishi, two within a group of canonized martyrs known as St. Thomas Nishi and his 15 Companions. As the second son of Gaspar Nishi, the governor of Ikitsuki, Fr. Thomas Nishi travelled to Manila around 1620 to become a friar and entered the Monastery of the Rosary (Santo Domingo Monastery) of the Dominican Order. Nearby is the Gaspar-sama Martyrdom site. A churchyard once existed here, built in 1563 with raised crosses. The family of Saint Thomas Nishi, including his father, Gaspar Nishi (one of the 188 blessed martyrs, who became the first martyr of Ikitsuki), as well as his mother and siblings, were executed at this site in 1609. The Christians of Ikitsuki revered this land as the "grave of the venerable Gaspar." As his family risked their lives for their faith, Thomas Nishi travelled to Manila and became a priest in order to promote the spread of Christianity. When he returned to Nagasaki, however, he was martyred and subsequently canonized. Return to Hirado for dinner in a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.                          (B.L.D.)

Breakfast and check out. Leave for Tabira Church located outside of central Hirado on the Kyushu mainland. This red-brick, Romanesque-style church was built in 1918 by Christian followers who relocated to the area from Sotome and Kuroshima. Head for Sasebo, once a humble fishing village controlled by the Hirado Domain until shortly after the Meiji period. Proceed to Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort and enjoy a cruise on Sasebo Bay. Depart for Nagasaki, commonly known as the ‘Rome of Japan’. It is a busy and colourful city, steeped in history and Christian courage. Nagasaki was the second city in Japan to be devastated by an atomic bomb during World War II. Visit the the Kurosaki Church, setting of the movie “Silence”, standing beautifully on a hill in Sotome. Drive to the Oura area to visit the Oura Catholic Church, a national treasure, and the oldest wooden church of Gothic architecture in Japan. Check in at your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation.                                                                                             (B.L.D.)

We begin our morning with an inspiring visit to Nishizaka Hill. The landscape has changed greatly since that time, but Nishizaka Park is the exact place were on February 5, 1597, St. Paul Miki and his companions (the 26 Martyrs of Japan) were crucified after being marched by foot in winter for a gruelling 30 days from Kyoto to Nagasaki. They were later canonized on June 10, 1862. Later, during the Tokugawa Era (from 1619 to 1800), more than 600 martyrs died in this place. Nishizaka Park was designated as a Historical Site by the Nagasaki Prefectural Government on April 7th 1956. Among the 205 Martyrs beatified in 1867, 159 died at Nishizaka. San Lorenzo Ruiz and his 15 companions (canonized in 1987) also died in this place. Visit the Nishizaka Church (St. Philip’s Church), declared a National Sanctuary by the Bishops’ Conference of Japan on June 8, 2012. Then, on to visit the 26 Martyrs Museum. It aims to present the history of Christianity in Japan from St. Francis Xavier’s arrival in Japan until the Meiji Era, from a Christian viewpoint. Visit the Nakamachi Church, dedicated to the 16 Martyrs of Nagasaki. The first Nakamachi Church was built in 1896 using funds donated by an anonymous French person, to commemorate the 330th anniversary of the deaths of the 26 Martyrs and as a dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The church was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945, but was rebuilt by parishioners in 1951. In 1988, a monument to the 16 Martyrs was constructed in a garden at this church. Cardinal Jaime Sin of Manila attended the unveiling ceremony for the monument, in recognition of Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino saint. In 2015, the little Japanese garden and the monuments to the 16 saints was refurbished to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the "Discovery of the Christians". Next, visit St. Kolbe Memorial Museum. Maximilian Maria Kolbe OFM arrived in Nagasaki from Poland in 1930 and established the monastic order Ordo Fratrum Minorum Conventualium at the foot of Mt. Hiko. He propagated the “Innocent Heart of the Virgin Mary” through its publication Seibo no Kishi (the Knights of the Immaculata). See the Hongochi Lourdes, a cave resembling that of the Lourdes Grotto, which was found by St. Kolbe. Pope John Paul II visited this spot during his tour of Japan in 1981. In 1984, the Vatican officially added the Hongochi Lourdes to its list of pilgrimage sites.                                                                                                                                                                                         (B.L.D.)

Today, visit the Urakami area. At the epicenter of the Atomic Bomb devastation of August 9, 1945 lies the Urakami Cathedral, also known as St. Mary’s Cathedral, Japan’s largest Catholic Cathedral. It was originally built in brick in Romanesque style from the 1890's to its completion in 1925 when it was reputedly the largest church in Asia. It was constructed to serve the many kakure kirishitan (Hidden Christians), who had retained a version of their faith during the times of persecution under the Tokugawa regime in the Edo Period of Japanese history (1603-1867). Nearby is the Nyoko-do – the ‘hut of brotherly love’, built on the site of a former residence of a “chokata”, a leader of hidden Christians. Dr. Nagai lived in this hut from 1946-1951 bedridden with terminal radiation. This is where he wrote his 20 books on peace and love and later died. In the afternoon, visit the Hypocenter Park. Hypocenter: the point directly beneath an atomic explosion, the spot that is exposed to the center of the bomb's destructive force, often called ground zero. In Nagasaki, that precise point is marked by a cenotaph in the center of concentric circles. Nearby is the Nagsaki Peace Park. The park is home to the massive Peace Statue as well as various other memorials. A monument around a black pillar marks the atomic explosion's epicenter in the nearby Hypocenter Park and stores the name list of bomb victims. Above the park stands the sobering Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum which exhibits extensive materials, both print and reproductions, on the actual bombing and latest nuclear weapons, aiming to contribute to the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace.                                                                                                                                                    (B.L.D.)

Today, travel east by coach to Unzen located in the Shimabara Peninsula. Visit the Unzen Catholic Church where Mass will be arranged for the group. This church was built in 1981 to commemorate the victims of the Shimabara Rebellion. Visit the Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell). Hot water and gases spout out of the earth. White steam and a smell of sulfur accompany you as you walk through this hotspot of volcanic activity. Christians were martyred here during the depression of Jigoku in the 17th century. Stop at Ashiyu Hiroba to take a break. Soak those tired feet in its hot spring waters. Drive to Shimabara. Photo stop at the Shimbara Castle before taking a walk through the Carp Swimming Street. Leave for Tairamachi Port and take the ferry crossing the Ariake Sea to Nagasu Port. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in Kumamoto followed by hotel dinner.                                                    (B.L.D.)

Full day tour of Kumamoto, a town well known for its fresh water. The city is the biggest in the world to have its water needs met entirely by natural underground springs, all from nearby Mt Aso. Begin the day with a visit to Tetori Catholic Church. After, visit the Tabaruzaka Memorial Park, the site of the battle of the last samurai. Take some time exploring the area as your guide helps you to imagine what this battle looked like. After lunch, visit the Kumamoto Castle with its signature curved stone walls, known as musha-gaeshi. On to visit the Suizenji Jojuen Garden. Dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel.                                                                                                                                                                                       (B.L.D.)

Check out and celebrate Mass in one of Kumomoto’s Catholic church. Then, travel north by coach to Dazaifu, established in the late 7th century and served as the administrative center of the entire island of Kyushu for over 500 years. There are a number of temples and shrines, the most famous of which is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, as well as sites related to Dazaifu's role as the region's administrative center, such as the Government Office Ruins. From here, continue to Fukuoka. Free time for last minute shopping around Hakata or Tenjin before checking in at your hotel for dinner and accommodation.                                                                                                                                                                                                           (B.L.D.)

This morning, enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Then check out of your hotel. Visit the Imamura Catholic Church was built in the Romanesque style with red bricks and has two towers. As one of the few brick churches remaining in Japan, it is highly valuable. In 1867 (Keio 3), Christians hiding in Imamura were discovered by other Christians in Urakami, Nagasaki. The Imamura Christians kept their faith while secretly maintaining contact with the other Christians. After lunch, the rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight accommodations at you hotel.                                                            (B.L.D.)

After breakfast transfer to Fukuoka Airport for your departure flight home.                                         (B.)