Photos

The complex of building and gardens comprising Suwa Shrine nestles on a shaded stretch of hillside overlooking the heart of Nagasaki-city.

The shrine was founded in the wake of ban of Christianity in the early 17th century, and during the Edo Period it soon grew into a spiritual and cultural hub for the citizens of Nagasaki.
When a Japanese woman reaches 33 years and a man reaches the ripe old age of 40, they visit the Suwa Shrine to pray for good health and a long life. Also, many newborn babies are brought here to receive blessings, together with young children aged three, five and seven years.