Our pilgrimages to Japan start in the vibrant and fascinating capital city of Tokyo. We stay here for a few nights to acclimatise and sample some of its rich history and culture. We will visit St Ignatius Catholic church, the iconic Meiji shrine and the Tokyo Tower, which affords a stunning 360 degree view of the city.
We travel northwards by bullet train to Sendai in the Miyagi prefecture. Here we will visit Sendai Castle and the Sant Juan Bautista museum where you will learn some of the history of Sendai, which was once a haven for Christians in Japan.
We continue our journey by coach to the prefecture of Akita to spend a few days at the shrine of Our Lady of Akita.
Our Lady of Akita Shrine
The shrine of Our Lady of Akita has become a significant part of the heritage of the more than four hundred thousand native Catholics that live in Japan. Located in the north western region of Honshu island, the shrine commemorates the Marian apparitions recorded by a Japanese nun, Sister Agnes Katsuko Sasagawa, that took place in 1973 at a convent in Akita. A wooden statue of Our Lady at the convent reportedly began shedding tears on several occasions between 1973 and 1975. The 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.
Today the shrine serves as a reminder of penance and the Catholic call to prayer. Pilgrims visiting the shrine will see the statue for themselves and enjoy the ambience of this beautiful and peaceful retreat.
Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, Tokyo
Tokyo skyline
The Way of The Cross, Akita
St Ignatius Catholic Church, Tokyo
