Oura Catholic Church — Japan's Oldest Surviving Church

Built in 1864 by French missionary Father Petitjean, Oura Church is the oldest surviving Christian church in Japan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site honoring the 26 Martyrs of Japan executed in 1597. The Gothic Revival structure with its cream-colored walls and triple-arched entrance stands on a hillside overlooking Nagasaki Harbor — positioned deliberately to face Nishizaka Hill where the martyrs died.

The church gained historical significance in 1865 when a group of 'hidden Christians' (Kakure Kirishitan) — descendants of believers who had practiced in secret for 250 years during the prohibition — revealed themselves to Father Petitjean, creating what Vatican historians call the 'miracle of the Orient.' The interior contains French-made stained glass windows depicting the 26 martyrs and the discovery of the hidden Christians.