Japan and Korea – 2027 Experience

Napa Experience:  Japan and Korea, November 2-12, 2027. 

Theme:  The Blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church.  

We will learn about the great love and perseverance that Japanese and Korean Christians bore for the Faith amidst difficult and trying circumstances.  Our goal as well is to give guests an appreciation of the cultural and natural beauty of Japan and Korea. We will be visiting the cities of Tokyo and Nagasaki.  We will be focusing on the Japanese Martyrs, and the culture in which they brought the Light of Christ to this beautiful land.  Throughout our time, we will also learn about what distinguishes Christianity from Buddhism and Shintoism – that Christ’s path was a way of salvation for these Christians.

Schedule

November 2:  Depart USA.

November 3: Afternoon Arrival.  Rest from trip.  Dinner at Hotel. 

November 4:  Tour of Asakusa:  Senso-Ji Temple; Christian Martyrdom Site.  Lunch at a 230-year-old Japanese restaurant: Isegen. Afternoon Mass at Church of St. Joseph (Tsukiji Catholic Church).  Dinner in Ginza.

November 5: Tour of Tokyo National Museum: Christian Artifacts: Fumi-e images; Bodhisattva “Kannon”; devotional items. Lunch. Visit to Rikugien garden.  Drop off in Shibuya for shopping and exploration.  Dinner:  Sukiyaki.   

November 6-9: Morning flight to Nagasaki from Kansai Airport. In Nagasaki, we will discover the legacy of the Japanese Martyrs commemorated there.  We will visit the Monument and Site of Martyrdom, as well as the adjoining museum.  After Mass, there will be a chance to venerate a relic of the saintly samurai, Paul Miki.  We travel into the countryside to pray at the Unzen Onsen, where martyrs were executed in the Hot Springs. We will visit the Urakami Cathedral, which was devastated by the Atomic Bomb. We will visit the Hongou-chiji Monastery, built by St. Maximilian Kolbe, which miraculously survived the atomic bomb.

November 10-13: From Nagasaki, we will fly to Seoul, South Korea (2 hours). Seoul will be home base for our stay to explore the various impressive shrines that dot the countryside outside of the city.  Most of these rural destinations are about 1.5 hours from Seoul itself.  They comprise cathedrals, churches, and martyrdom sites: Jeonju and its Jeondong Cathedral; Gyongju, which is famous for traditional Korean Architecture and an international Martyrs Shrine; Jeoldusan Martyr’s Shrine.  Aside from religious sites, we will taste Korean Imperial Cuisine as well as the famous Hanwoo Beef.

November 16: After Mass, guests will bid farewell to South Korea; Leisure Day in Seoul. Dinner: Farewell Banquet.