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+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
Mount Fuji beyond a pagoda in spring

Japan Pilgrimages

Tokyo, Nagasaki and the Martyrs of Japan

Fifteen days across Japan, from Tokyo and Mount Fuji to the martyrs of Nagasaki, then the Inland Sea to Hiroshima, Osaka and Kyoto, and north to Our Lady of Akita.

Departures

Current Tours to Japan

Upcoming departures to Japan. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Nine stops across Japan

Tokyo and Mount Fuji, then Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto and Akita, by internal flight and bullet train the length of the country.

Itinerary · AS_JP-15D-01

Our Standard Japan Pilgrimage

This is the route we most often run for groups in Japan. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 3

Tokyo and Mount Fuji

Oura Church in Nagasaki
The Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Fuji
Day 1

Departure from the USA

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Tokyo, the first of fifteen days among the martyrs of Japan and Our Lady of Akita. Dinner and breakfast are served in flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Tokyo

Our local guide meets us on arrival and we transfer to our hotel. We begin the pilgrimage with Mass at Takanawa Church, built in memory of the Great Martyrdom of Tokyo, and gather this evening for a welcome dinner.Overnight in Tokyo.
Day 3

Fujiyoshida Church & Mount Fuji

We celebrate Mass at Fujiyoshida Catholic Church before setting out for Mount Fuji, where we explore the mountain area and pray at the Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Fuji. We return to Tokyo for the evening.Dinner and overnight in Tokyo.
Day 4 – 8

Nagasaki

The wooden statue of Our Lady of Akita
The Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument on Nishizaka Hill
Day 4

Nagasaki & the Twenty-Six Martyrs

We fly to Nagasaki, once known as the Little Rome of Japan, and celebrate Mass at St. Philip’s Church. We visit the Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum and Monument, honoring St. Paul Miki and companions, and view original letters written by St. Francis Xavier.Dinner and overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 5

Hirado & Tabira Church

We travel to Hirado to visit St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church and Tabira Church, built in part from crushed seashells by the hands of its own parishioners. We celebrate Mass at Tabira Church and visit the monument of St. Camillus Costanzo, martyred at the stake, before a stop at the Mount Inasa overlook above Nagasaki Bay.Dinner and overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 6

St. Maximilian Kolbe & Oura Cathedral

We celebrate Mass and keep a Holy Hour at St. Maximilian Kolbe’s Hongouchi Church, then visit his memorial museum and the Lourdes grotto he built in the 1930s. We continue to Oura Cathedral, where Japan’s Hidden Christians were discovered in 1865, and to the statue of Our Lady of the Cape above Nagasaki Bay.Dinner and overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 7

Shimabara & Hara Castle

We celebrate Mass at Shimabara Catholic Church, then visit the Unzen hot springs, where Christians were tortured for their faith, and the ruins of Hara Castle, site of the 1637 uprising that cost 37,000 Catholics their lives. We see the Holy Maria Kannon, the largest wooden statue of Our Lady in the world, carved in memory of the fallen.Dinner and overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 8

Urakami Cathedral & Dr. Takashi Nagai

We celebrate Mass at Urakami Cathedral, in the chapel of the Atomic Bomb Maria, then visit Nagasaki Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum. We continue to the museum of Dr. Takashi Nagai, the Catholic physician and atomic bomb survivor known as the Saint of Urakami, and pray at his family’s grave.Dinner and overnight in Nagasaki.
Day 9 – 11

Hiroshima, Osaka and Kyoto

The Atomic Bomb Dome at Hiroshima
The Peace Memorial Park at Hiroshima
Day 9

Bullet Train to Hiroshima

We take the bullet train to Hiroshima and celebrate Mass at the Memorial Cathedral of World Peace, built on the site where the city’s Jesuit community survived the atomic bombing. We visit Peace Memorial Park, the A-Bomb Museum and the A-Bomb Dome.Dinner and overnight in Hiroshima.
Day 10

Osaka & St. Mary’s Cathedral

We take the bullet train to Osaka and celebrate Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral, which honors Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon, the Catholic samurai beatified in 2017. We visit Osaka Castle before free time in the city.Dinner and overnight in Osaka.
Day 11

Kyoto & the 52 Martyrs

We travel to Kyoto to celebrate Mass at Kawaramachi Church, in the chapel of Our Lady of Miyako, honoring the 52 Kyoto martyrs. We visit Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before an afternoon free to explore Kyoto.Dinner and overnight in Osaka.
Day 12 – 15

Akita

Osaka Castle in autumn
The convent of Our Lady of Akita
Day 12

Flight to Akita

We celebrate Mass at Suita Church before making our way to the airport for our flight north to Akita. On arrival we have time to explore the area before gathering for dinner.Dinner and overnight in Akita.
Day 13

Our Lady of Akita

We celebrate Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of Akita, at the Seitai Hoshikai Convent, home to the statue witnessed shedding tears between 1973 and 1981. We take part in a ceremony of consecration and enrollment in the Miraculous Medal, then visit the samurai district of Kakunodate.Dinner and overnight in Akita.
Day 14

Catholic Akita Church

We return to the Seitai Hoshikai Convent for Mass, the outdoor Stations of the Cross and the Rosary Walk. We visit Catholic Akita Church, which honors 32 Catholic samurai and their families martyred here in 1624, and gather for a farewell dinner.Dinner and overnight in Akita.
Day 15

Return Home

We celebrate a final Mass of thanksgiving at Catholic Tsuchizaki Church before transferring to Akita Airport for our flight home, with hearts renewed by the grace of this pilgrimage.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Mount Fuji beyond cherry blossom
NagasakiUrakami Cathedral, rebuilt above the ground where the bomb fell.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
A torii gate standing in the water
A torii gate on the water
A temple among autumn maples
A temple in autumn
Osaka Castle reflected in its moat
Osaka Castle and its moat
A pagoda with Mount Fuji beyond
Mount Fuji from the pagoda
Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle
Mount Fuji above the spring fields
Mount Fuji in spring

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Japan?

Spring and autumn are the strongest seasons. Late March into April brings the cherry blossom and mild days, and October and November bring clear air and the maple colour. Summer is hot and humid and the rainy season runs through June, which is hard going on a route that crosses the length of the country.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Japan?

A US passport valid for the duration of your stay is required, with blank pages for entry stamps. No visa is needed for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. Entry procedures change from time to time, so we confirm what applies to your departure with your group before you travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Japan?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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