Join us on our second pilgrimage and cultural tour to Japan and South Korea (Our Lady of Akita and Naju), following a fabulously successful maiden pilgrimage in 2024. We will visit Tokyo, the vibrant capital of Japan, viewing the iconic Tokyo Tower, the Meiji Shrine and exploring the street food and markets. We will travel on the famous Bullet Train to Sendai and the highlight in Japan will be a guided visit of the Shrine of Our Lady of Akita followed by a traditional Japanese lunch of sashimi and the wonderful and well known Tea Ceremony. In South Korea, we visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Naju. We also have a cultural tour of South Korea and finish the pilgrimage in Seoul. Our pilgrimage includes a direct one-way flight from London Heathrow to Tokyo with Japan Airline and a direct one-way flight from Seoul to London Heathrow with Korean Air, all transfers and guided tours and visits as per the itinerary, daily Mass and 3*/4* half-board (breakfast and evening dinner) hotel accommodation.
Sister Agnes Sasagawa (the visionary) passed away on the Feast Day of the Assumption 15th August 2024 at the age of 93. Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa had many health problems for most of her life. Her health problems began from birth as she was born prematurely. Later in life, she was immobile for over a decade and eventually became totally deaf. In 1973, Marian apparitions were reported by Sister Sasagawa in the remote area of Yuzawadai, on the outskirts of Akita. Sister Sasagawa also reported to have a sudden healing of hearing impairments after these apparitions. A wooden statue representing the apparitions was venerated by the Japanese faithful and other Catholics and the weeping statue of the Virgin Mary was broadcast on Japanese national television in December 1973. The nuns at Yuzawadai reported stigmata on the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that appeared before the tears started. The wooden statue was said to have wept on 101 occasions after which the stigmata disappeared.
In 1980, Julia Kim (the visionary) suffered terminal cancer and was about to do sinful act to end her life when her husband persuaded her to see a priest. Upon greeting her he declared that her sufferings were blessing from God. The priest gave her an 18-inch statue of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, which later came to be called the Lady of Naju. She was miraculously cured from her illness. In 1982 Julia Kim saw a vision of Jesus with his Sacred Heart bleeding and asking for suffering for the conversion of sinners. On 30th June 1985, she witnessed The Blessed Mother begun to weep tears through the statue owned by Julia. On July 18th, she received the first message of Our Lady. On 19th October 1986, Our Lady’s shed blood tears for the first time. She continued receiving messages up to 77 times, these messages of the combined Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Today, Julia Kim at the age of 78 still takes part in meeting pilgrims arriving from around the world.
London - Tokyo
Depart on our direct, non-stop flight from London, Heathrow Airport to Tokyo, Haneda Airport (aircraft to be confirmed). Meals and snacks are served in the aircraft. Flight duration is 14 hrs. Japan is 9 hours ahead of UK time; you arrive in Tokyo the following day.
Tokyo
After landing at Haneda Airport, we proceed through security and on towards the baggage reclaim terminal where we will gather together and collect our luggage. Our English-speaking local guide will meet us in the Arrivals Terminal before escorting us to our coach. Transfer to our hotel in Tokyo where we stay for the next 3 nights. Evening dinner will be at a local restaurant. Return to our hotel and we will have an early night.
Tokyo - Meiji Shrine - Tokyo Tower
Breakfast in the hotel. We meet our local guide in the hotel lobby for a prompt departure at 08:30. We then travel by coach to St. Ignatius Church for our Mass. We then move on to visit Meiji Shrine which was completed in 1920 and dedicated to Emperor Meiji and his consort, Empress Shoken. The shrine is adjacent to Yoyogi Park, a large, forested area within the densely built-up city of Tokyo and offers many paths to take a relaxing stroll. Afterwards we have lunch in a local restaurant followed by a visit to Tokyo Tower, the world’s largest self-supporting steel tower, standing at an impressive 333 meters high. Inspired by the Eiffel Tower, it is painted white and orange and is a symbol of Japan’s post war rebirth. We then return to the hotel and will have some free time before our dinner at a local restaurant.
Tokyo - A Day of Leisure - Shopping and explore the Street Food & Market
Free day today to explore this vibrant and fascinating capital of Japan at your leisure. We recommend exploring Tokyo’s famous street food & markets where you can sample the authentic and delicious local flavours. You can also visit the many malls, shops, restaurants and convenience stores close to the hotel. We will regroup in the evening for dinner. Important notice, please read: Due to strict luggage restrictions on the bullet train (shinkansen) that we will be taking tomorrow, we must keep just our necessary toiletries, medication, nightwear and a change of clothes with us in the hotel room (everything else must be packed into our large suitcases). After breakfast, we take our large suitcases down to the hotel lobby, ready to be transported to Akita (the suitcases will be wating for us in our hotel in Akita when we arrive tomorrow). Please refer to the dimensions of the “large cabin bag (hand carry)” on the flight information sheet for the size of bag that will be permitted on the bullet train.
Tokyo - Sendai - Akita
Tokyo - Sendai - Miyagi Sant Juan Baustista Museum - Akita Breakfast in the hotel followed by check-out. We meet our local guide and transfer to Tokyo station and take the bullet train to Sendai, Miyagi, the largest city in the Tohoku region. The famous shinkansen (aka bullet train) is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. After we arrive in Sendai, we meet our local guide from Akita for the first time as well as our coach driver and we head for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch we visit The Miyagi Sant Juan Bautista Museum, there we learn the story of the feats accomplished by the Keicho Mission to Europe, which embarked on two trans-Pacific journeys carrying diplomatic missions across the ocean to Mexico on their way to the Vatican. These were to be some of the last diplomatic missions to depart before Japan entered its 200-year long period of isolation. The museum offers excellent displays and an interesting motion simulator video that explain the history of the ship and details of its construction. A replica of the Sant Juan Bautista at a scale of 1/4 is on display. In summary, while Sendai wasn’t as heavily marked by widespread martyrdom as Nagasaki, it was still a significant location for Christian persecution, with individuals like Hasekura Tsunenaga and many others facing threats and persecution for their faith. Mass will be at the Catholic Mototerakoji Church. We then transfer by private coach to Akita. We will stop for a comfort break on this 3-hour journey. We check-in to our hotel in Akita, evening dinner at a local restaurant and overnight here for 2 nights.
Shrine of our Lady of Akita - Tea Ceremony
After an early breakfast we meet our local guide at the hotel reception and proceed to the Shrine to join the Mass at Our Lady of Akita, Afterwards, we walk around the beautifully manicured Garden of Mary followed by Stations of the Cross . Lunch at a local restaurant. If time allows, we first visit Senshu Park and afterwards enjoy a traditional Tea Ceremony where we will drink tea in an ancient style tea ceremony. We watch the traditional dance on the stage by Japanese ladies wearing Kimonos. Return to the hotel. Evening dinner at the local restaurant.
Akita - Seoul - Naju
We leave the hotel early this morning, promptly at 05:00. We transfer to the local airport in Akita for our flight to Seoul, South Korea (via Tokyo). Upon arrival in Seoul (at 14:50), we meet our English-speaking local guide/driver in the Arrivals Terminal, and we continue our journey to Naju, which is in the far south-west of the country. The area is famous for its fertile pear and rice growing farmland (rice being part of Korea’s staple diet), so sit back and enjoy the journey, soaking up the lush green farms and hills, and the picturesque mountains and valleys of this unique country. The journey time to Naju is 3-4 hours and we will have a comfort stop enroute to break up the journey (with time for a late lunch). Upon arrival in Naju, we check-in to our hotel and overnight. We stay here for 2 nights. Evening dinner at a local restaurant.
Naju Shrine
Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards we take a short coach journey to the Shrine; Mass will be at the Shrine followed by a meeting with the Nuns. We then travel to the Our Blessed Mother’s Mountain and partake in the Stations of the Cross here. Enjoy this beautiful, tranquil and peaceful place surrounded by manicured gardens and green hills. Evening dinner at a local restaurant and return to the hotel and overnight.
Naju - Danggogae Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine - Seoul
Today we are leaving Naju and travel back to Seoul. Our first stop is to visit the Danggogae Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine, built on the hill where ten Catholics were martyred during the Gihae Persecution of 1839. They give up their lives for their faith. The suffering and trauma they endured is clearly explained in the beautiful photos hanging on the walls of the Shrines (extremely moving). Nine of the ten are now Saints. Today, the Shrines have become even more popular following the last martyr’s beatification by Pope Francis in August 2024. Let us remember their suffering and bravery and the sacrifices they endured for their faith and pray for them. Mass here. If time permits, we might also be able to visit some of the vibrant and bustling shopping areas (Insadong & Myeongdong Streets). Check-in to our hotel where we will stay for the final 2 nights of the pilgrimage. Evening dinner at a local restaurant.
Seoul - Myeongdoing Cathedral - Hanok Village
Breakfast in the hotel and Mass in Myeongdong Cathedral followed by a visit to Changdoek Palace where we can experience wearing traditional Korean clothing (Hanbok). We visit Bukchon Hanok village (the residential quarter for high-ranking government officials during the Joseon period, 1392 - 1910) where you can see many houses that have been restored to the traditional Korean houses known as hanoks. Our final visit of the day is to Ikseon-Dong Hanok village, the street where the past and present coexist; we will see how both the old and new structures are huddled together in this very unique street. Farewell dinner in the hotel.
Seoul - Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we visit the Jeoldusan Martyrs’ Shrine, a site dedicated to Korean Catholic martyrs who were executed in the late 1860s. It commemorates the approximate 8,000 individuals executed on this hill, known as "Beheading Hill". In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom, the Korean Catholic Church opened the Memorial Hall in October 1967. The memorial currently enshrines some 3,000 relics related to the martyrs. In 1984 Pope John Paul II visited Jeoldusan and Mother Teresa followed a year later, further solidifying the shrine’s importance. Free for the rest of the afternoon and to do some shopping. Evening dinner at a local restaurant. Return to our hotel and overnight.
Seoul - London
We have an early breakfast, check-out and then proceed to Incheon airport, Seoul for our flight back to London Heathrow on our direct, non-stop flight with Korean Air. Provisional departure time is 10:50 (subject to change). The rest of the day will be on board this 14.5-hour flight. All in-flight meals included. Arrival at London Heathrow is 17:20 local time. Itinerary is subject to change. E&OE.
The booking deadline at this price is 15/08/2025. If you are booking after this date, please contact us first to confirm the current price.
A deposit payment of £900 with your completed booking form will confirm your place on this tour. The final balance is due 2 months prior to the departure date.
We’ll mail your travel pack around two weeks before travelling, including your flight information, boarding passes (if applicable), general information booklet, hymn and prayer booklets, name badge, lanyard and luggage label.
All Saints Travel is an ATOL licence holder (no. 6049). In the very unlikely event of company insolvency, you are guaranteed a refund and repatriation back to the UK through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Air Travel Trust Fund (ATTF). Please visit www.caa.co.uk/atol-protection for further information.
It’s your responsibility to ensure you have a passport with at least 6 months validity remaining from the date of return, in addition to any visas required to travel to the relevant countries. Please call us on 01793 881166 for further information.
For the latest travel advice please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
While people of all ages are invited to travel on this tour, a reasonable level of fitness is required in order to keep pace with the group. There may be extended periods of standing and walking on hard surfaces.
It’s compulsory to have adequate travel insurance for your journey. When booking with us we can refer you to Global Travel Insurance Services Ltd, or you can buy your insurance independently.
