History of the Catholic Church in Japan:
Francis Xavier and the Jesuits arrived in Japan in the 1540’s and soon had over 100,000 converts and at first were welcomed by the Imperial governments, and Christianity took root. It became especially strong in the area around Nagasaki. Unfortunately their good relationship with the Imperial government did not last. Fearful of colonialism that they had seen from the Spanish and Portuguese in the Philippines, the Emperor Ogimachi issued edicts to ban Catholicism in 1565 and again in 1568.
When these edicts did not have the effect intended, in 1587 the Imperial Regent banned the Jesuit missionaries, and Christianity was repressed as a threat to national unity. Practicing Catholics were forced to go underground, becoming hidden Christians, and many were persecuted and killed. Many martyrs were produced over the next few centuries. In 1873 the government officially removed notice boards banning Christianity, and full religious freedom was secured with the Meiji Constitution of 1889.
Catholic shrines & places of interest in Japan:
Akita: Shrine of Our Lady of Akita
Otometoge: Maria Seido Chapel (dedicated to the martyrs of Nagasaki)
Traveling within Japan
Geographically, the Japanese archipelago extends over 1,900 miles (3,000 km) in a north-to-south direction. If placed on the United States, this span would reach from the Texas border up past the Great Lakes, highlighting its significant north-south reach.
When traveling within Japan, you may wish to try the The Shinkansen, or “bullet train,” Japan’s premier high-speed rail network, operating at speeds up to 200 miles per hour (320 km/h) and renowned for its extreme punctuality, safety, and comfort. Connecting most major cities, it is a primary mode of intercity travel with over half a million daily users.
You will notice the unusual elongated nose on these trains…they are there for a reason. Typical high-speed train design meant that when a train emerged from a tunnel it created a sonic boom…not something that was very popular in Japanese cities. So designers picked an example from the Kingfisher birds, whose diving into water at speeds up to 25 miles per hour showed an example of 
how to avoid a large wake, and designed a special nose on these trains similar to the kingfisher that eliminated the sonic booms.
The nine Shinkansen lines take you in different directions around Japan. From Tokyo to the south runs the Tokaido Shinkansen line, connecting the capital with Osaka. The Sanyo Shinkansen line connects Osaka with Fukuoka and, from there, the Kyushu Shinkansen line runs through the island of Kyushu from north to south.
The other six lines either take you north or inland from Tokyo. These are the Akita, Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Joetsu, Tokoku, and Yamagata Shinkansen lines. The Hokkaido line takes you the furthest north, all the way to Hokkaido island.
Traveling to Japan:
By Air: Most people travel to Japan by flying into one of two major international airports in Tokyo: Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT). Haneda is much closer to the city center, making it the preferred choice for convenience, while Narita, located in Chiba prefecture, often offers more international, long-haul, and budget airline options.
By ship: many cruise lines offer trips to Japan, with itineraries typically ranging from 8 to over 30 days, often focusing on spring cherry blossoms or fall foliage. Major lines include Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, and MSC, with popular stops in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima