Sightseeing

Amakusa Pearl Center Sea Donut

50-minute drive from the hotel

The aquarium floats on the sea, allowing you to see beneath Amakusa’s waters from within. Around 2,000 specimens from 200 species are on display in the aquarium tanks, and you can also enter the neighboring Christian Museum. In addition to a pearl specialty shop carrying the finest quality pearl products, the Pearl Center also has a restaurant where you can enjoy Amakusa’s seafood cuisine, and a souvenir shop that sells a variety of local products, including Amakusa’s famous sweets.

Dolphin Watching

25-minute drive from the hotel

The waters around what is called Tsujishima, located a few minutes from Futae Port in Itsuwa, are inhabited year-round by a population of about 200 bottlenose dolphins. It is internationally famous for its sedentary population of dolphins. You have a 95% chance of encountering dolphins all throughout the year! There is an abundance of small horse mackerel and squid, etc., from the Ariake Sea, so although the dolphins are wild, they are very friendly towards people, showing off a variety of tricks like swimming alongside boats and jumping right before your eyes.

Hondo Beach

A few minutes from the hotel on foot

This beach stretches out in front of the hotel within walking distance. Located on the bay with gentle waves and shallow waters, it is recommended for families. On clear days, you can see Mt. Unzen in the distance. A beach fence is put up during the sea bathing season. Now an official Olympic event, the 51.5km triathlon was first held in Japan as the 1985 Amakusa Triathlon on this seaside swimming beach, and there is even a monument marking it as the birthplace of the sport in Japan.

Shirogahama Beach

30-minute drive from the hotel

This beautiful man-made white sand beach stretches 515m. There are two Orange House rest areas equipped with showers, toilets, changing rooms, and coin lockers. Furnished with public drinking fountains, public telephones, and walking paths, this popular beach is the most visited in Amakusa. It is also one of 3 beaches in Amakusa selected for the Ministry of the Environment’s “100 Best Swimming Beaches.” On opposite sides of the road are Michi no Eki Ariake Ripple Land, and the Ariake Onsen Center Sazanami on Yu, and you can also enjoy the view of the Ariake Sea and Shimabara Peninsula.

Kikaigaura Observation Point

50-minute drive from the hotel

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Located far to the west of Amakusa, the raging surf breaks over the rocks of the Kikaigaura coast. The coastline near the Kikaigaura Observation Point is a driving course known as the Amakusa Sunset Line. The sunset viewed from Kikaigaura Observation Point has also been selected for “Japan’s 100 Best Sunsets,” so this a great spot to watch the sunset. A church bell under which people swore their love for each other is preserved here, so it has also become popular with couples. At the restaurant next to the observation deck, you can enjoy a meal while taking in the fantastic sunset view.

14-minute drive from the hotel

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Early Christian artifacts, archaeological materials, and old ceramics preserved in Amakusa. The history of Amakusa’s early Christian community, focusing on the Amakusa-Shimabara Rebellion, is presented in 4 zones in a way that is easy to understand.

50-minute drive from the hotel

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The museum has a collection of around 150 items, including documents and artifacts connected with the hidden Christian community. Inside the museum, there are displays of an image of the Virgin Mary, which was a source of spiritual support for the hidden Christians; a statue of Kato Kiyomasa with a hidden crucifix carved into the back, and a wide variety of rosaries, etc. The second floor has folk history materials from Peru and the Andes, while the sake bottle annex displays around 500 Edo-period sake bottles and clay dolls from Amakusa.

30-minute drive from the hotel

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The history of the martyrdom of the early Christians is illuminated through historical exhibitions which present the introduction of western culture and Christianity through documents and media such as films, as well as dioramas, and 3-D movies. It presents the conditions of the time, influenced by the historical background of the Amakusa-Shimabara Rebellion and western culture.

30-minute drive from the hotel

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Walking along Shirogahama Beach, you will be greeted by the unexpected sight of a large octopus statue, completed on October 18, 2005. So realistic that it looks like it might slither into motion at any moment, it is a popular spot for tourists to take commemorative photos! There is also the “Praying Octopus” memorial, which was built to express gratitude to the octopus, a famous product of the Ariake Sea, as well as to honor the dead, and pray for good catches and safety at sea. With its two arms clasped in prayer, it is the charming new face of the Ariake Sea.

70-minute drive from the hotel

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This specialty store is packed with Amakusa delights, carrying all kinds of local specialty products from Amakusa. It is also a popular rest stop on the way to Amakusa. There is a 15m statue of Amakusa Shiro, the largest in Japan, and it offers a sweeping view of Amakusa Village. This is also a popular spot to take commemorative photos, with the statue of Amakusa Shiro in the background.

Sightseeing

Amakusa Pearl Center Sea Donut

Dolphin Watching

Hondo Beach

Shirogahama Beach

Kikaigaura Observation Point

Amakusa Christian Wing

Santa Maria Wing

Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall

Ariake Octopus

Amakusa Mura