Japan Catholic Pilgrimage September 11–21, 2027
A Catholic journey of faith
Walk in the footsteps of Japan’s martyrs. Discover the legacy of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Find time for prayer, reflection, and fellowship from Tokyo to Akita.
Your journey through Japan: Faith. Fellowship. Discovery.
- Tokyo & Mount Fuji September 11–14 · Welcome & reflection
- Nagasaki & Shimabara September 14–18 · Martyrs & witnesses
- Akita September 18–21 · Prayer & Marian devotion
- Return via Tokyo September 21 · Onward journey home
An 11-day pilgrimage with planned daily Mass.
Book Your 2027 Japan Catholic Pilgrimage
Ready to join our September 11–21, 2027 Catholic pilgrimage to Japan? Travel with Japan Adventure Club through Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Nagasaki, and Akita, with planned daily Mass, meaningful church visits, and time for prayer and fellowship. Contact us for pricing, availability, and registration details, and let us know how many pilgrims will be joining you.
An invitation to pilgrimage
🌟 Encounter Japan through its Catholic story.
Join Japan Adventure Club for an 11-day Catholic pilgrimage through Tokyo, Mount Fuji, Nagasaki, and Akita. This journey brings together planned daily Mass, sacred heritage visits, and time to reflect on lives of courage, devotion, and hope.
Discover the witness of the Twenty-Six Martyrs, explore places connected with St. Maximilian Kolbe and Dr. Takashi Nagai, and spend two days visiting Seitai Hoshikai in Akita.
01 / Gather
Prayer & community
Begin in Tokyo with Mass and a choice of the MIM Day of Reflection or a separate sightseeing program after Mass.
02 / Discover
Faith & remembrance
Explore Nagasaki, Unzen, and Shimabara through the stories of Japan’s martyrs and Catholic witnesses.
03 / Reflect
Peace & devotion
Reflect on peace in Nagasaki and spend unhurried time in prayer during your visits to Seitai Hoshikai in Akita.
Your day-by-day pilgrimage
3 nights Tokyo · 4 nights Nagasaki · 3 nights Akita
01
Saturday, September 11, 2027 · Tokyo
Arrival & welcome Mass
Begin your pilgrimage with arrival Mass at Takanawa Catholic Church, followed by a visit to the Imperial Palace area.
Overnight: Tokyo
02
Sunday, September 12, 2027 · Tokyo
A day for faith & fellowship
Join Tokyo MIM members for Mass. MIM participants will continue with a Day of Reflection—an all-day retreat with spiritual talks, prayer, and fellowship.
Separate sightseeing option
Pilgrims not participating in the MIM retreat will visit Tokyo Tower, Shibuya Scramble Crossing, and Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden after Mass.
Overnight: Tokyo
03
Monday, September 13, 2027 · Mount Fuji
Prayer in the Mount Fuji region
Celebrate Mass at Fujiyoshida Catholic Church and visit Our Lady of Mount Fuji Shrine, located between the second and third stations. Return to Tokyo after your pilgrimage visit.
Overnight: Tokyo
04
Tuesday, September 14, 2027 · Tokyo → Nagasaki
The witness of the martyrs
Take a morning flight to Nagasaki. Celebrate Mass at St. Philip’s Church, then visit the Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument and Museum to reflect on the courage and faith of Japan’s martyrs.
Overnight: Nagasaki
05
Wednesday, September 15, 2027 · Nagasaki
In the footsteps of St. Maximilian Kolbe
Celebrate Mass at Seibo no Kishi (Hongouchi Catholic Church). Visit St. Maximilian Kolbe’s museum, the rosary walk, and Lourdes Grotto. Continue to Oura Cathedral, the former seminary museum, and St. Maximilian Kolbe’s first friary on Oura Cathedral hill.
Overnight: Nagasaki
06
Thursday, September 16, 2027 · Unzen & Shimabara
Faith through persecution
Visit the Unzen Hells hot springs torture site. Celebrate Mass at Shimabara Catholic Church, then visit the Hara Castle ruins and the Holy Maria Kannon of Hara Castle statue. Return to Nagasaki.
Overnight: Nagasaki
07
Friday, September 17, 2027 · Nagasaki
A prayer for peace
Celebrate Mass at Urakami Cathedral, followed by the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. Visit Nyoko-do, Dr. Takashi Nagai’s hermitage and museum, and the Nagai family gravesite for reflection on faith, reconciliation, and hope.
Overnight: Nagasaki
08
Saturday, September 18, 2027 · Nagasaki → Akita
Northward to Akita
Begin with early Mass in Nagasaki before traveling to Akita by air, with connections as required.
Overnight: Akita
09
Sunday, September 19, 2027 · Akita
Marian devotion & reflection
Visit Seitai Hoshikai Catholic Convent. The planned program includes Mass, the outdoor Stations of the Cross, and a Rosary Walk, with time for personal reflection.
Overnight: Akita
10
Monday, September 20, 2027 · Akita
Quiet prayer & Catholic heritage
Return to Seitai Hoshikai Catholic Convent for Mass and quiet prayer. Visit Catholic Akita Church, commemorating the 32 Catholic samurai and their families martyred in 1624.
Overnight: Akita11Tuesday, September 21, 2027 · Akita → Tokyo
A final Mass & journey home
Conclude with Mass at Catholic Tsuchizaki Church before traveling to Tokyo for your onward journey home. Mass timing and domestic travel will be coordinated with the final flight schedule.
Departure day
Planning note: This is a proposed itinerary. Masses, church and convent visits, flights, and sightseeing are subject to confirmation and local availability. The program may be adjusted for worship schedules, flight connections, weather, and access conditions. Contact us for confirmed pricing, inclusions, and booking terms before making travel arrangements.
optional activities
Kaiseki Dinner with Geisha Dance
Kaiseki Dinner with Geisha Dance
Kaiseki Dinner with Geisha Dance
Enjoy an elegant Kaiseki dinner with a traditional Geisha dance performance, where exquisite seasonal dishes and graceful artistry blend to offer an unforgettable taste of Kyoto’s refined culture.
Private Kimono Tea Ceremony
Kaiseki Dinner with Geisha Dance
Kaiseki Dinner with Geisha Dance
Experience the award-winning tea ceremony guided by an expert tea master. Learn the history, tools, and etiquette as you whisk your own cup of premium matcha — a true taste of Kyoto’s culture.
Ninja Experience
Kaiseki Dinner with Geisha Dance
Osaka: Sumo Show & Experience
Train like a ninja for a day at the Samurai Ninja Museum Kyoto, Japan’s top-rated and most affordable hands-on ninja experience for all ages!
Osaka: Sumo Show & Experience
Osaka: Sumo Show & Experience
Osaka: Sumo Show & Experience
Enjoy an English-guided Sumo show and hands-on experience, try on or purchase kimonos, and savor a hearty Chanko Nabe hot pot, the traditional meal of sumo wrestlers.
Sagano Romantic Train
Osaka: Sumo Show & Experience
Sagano Romantic Train
Ride the Sagano Romantic Train, a scenic railway through Kyoto’s Arashiyama mountains offering breathtaking views of rivers, forests, and cherry blossoms in spring.
Osaka Sakura Cruise
Osaka: Sumo Show & Experience
Sagano Romantic Train
Enjoy a 25-minute Okawa River cherry blossom cruise, passing Osaka Castle and the Mint Bureau for stunning spring views of Osaka from the water.
Cherry Blossom Top Viewing Spots and Festivals in Japan
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Tokyo
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Tokyo
Join our Tokyo Cherry Blossom Tour to see the city’s best festivals and sakura spots, including Ueno Park, Chidorigafuchi, Nakameguro, and more.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Osaka
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Tokyo
Each spring, Osaka bursts into pink as cherry blossoms bloom across the city’s castles, rivers, and parks. The city offers dazzling hanami scenes filled with history, beauty, and festive spring energy.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Kyoto
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Kyoto
Stroll beneath lantern-lit trees or along the Philosopher’s Path—Kyoto’s cherry blossom season is a poetic blend of timeless culture and fleeting sakura beauty.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Nara
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Kyoto
Join our Nara Cherry Blossom Tour to experience Japan’s ancient capital in full bloom. From late March to mid-April, visit top sakura spots like Nara Park and Mount Yoshino, where temples, deer, and pink blossoms create an unforgettable spring journey.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Hiroshima
Hiroshima's cherry blossoms peak from late March to early April at iconic spots including Peace Memorial Park (300 trees symbolizing renewal), Hiroshima Castle (450 trees with traditional moat views), Shukkeien Garden (200 trees with evening illuminations), Hijiyama Park (1,300 trees on a hilltop), and nearby Miyajima Island (1,900 trees around Itsukushima Shrine's vermillion pagoda).
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Kanazawa
Each spring from early to mid-April, Kanazawa—a city of samurai heritage, gardens, and gold leaf—transforms into one of Japan’s most elegant cherry blossom destinations. The blend of traditional architecture, stone bridges, and flowing rivers makes the city’s sakura season uniquely atmospheric and photogenic.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Himeji
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Fukuoka
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Himeji
Himeji, located in Hyogo Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most stunning cherry blossom destinations—famed for the magnificent Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Japan’s most beautiful surviving feudal-era fortress.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Nagoya
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Fukuoka
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Himeji
Each spring, Nagoya bursts into bloom as cherry blossoms transform its parks, rivers, and historic sites into a pink paradise from late March to early April. The city offers a perfect mix of urban charm and traditional beauty, making it a key stop for travelers exploring Japan’s heartland.
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Fukuoka
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Fukuoka
Cherry Blossom Festivals in Fukuoka
Fukuoka’s early-blooming cherry blossoms adorn parks, rivers, and historic streets from late March to early April, offering stunning hanami experiences from Nishi Park’s illuminated hilltop views to Akizuki’s serene samurai town backdrop.