Beautiful Churches of Otaru: Catholic Otaru Church (Tomioka Cathedral)
Merry Christmas🎄
Since it is Christmas Day, as an Otaru guide, I will introduce you to a wonderful church in Otaru.
This "Otaru Church (Tomioka Cathedral)" can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot from Otaru Station.
It is located on the way up Jigoku-zaka (Hell Slope), but since it is quite far down the slope, rest assured that you do not have to climb the steep part of the hill.
Catholic Otaru Church (Tomioka Cathedral) was dedicated on June 30, 1929 (Showa 4). The exterior incorporates Gothic architecture, and the interior of the sanctuary (chapel) is surrounded by stained glass with gentle hues. The dedication name of the Catholic Otaru Church is "The Sacred Heart of Jesus."
It is a church with a handmade feel, and the stained glass is made of colored frosted glass.
That gives it a lot of character.
The stained glass in the large windows of the chapel is original from the time of construction and features simple geometric patterns. Soft light shines through onto the white plaster walls. Various types of glass are used in the stained glass, and it is said that the fine, textured glass in pink, yellow, and green is no longer produced in Japan.
My family are devout (?) Buddhists, but I also love churches.
I really like Jesus and Mary, so I visit quite often.
Even if you are not a believer, you are perfectly welcome to enter.
When there are volunteers present, they will sometimes go out of their way to show you around.
Once, I was even taken to a room that looked like Totoro's attic and allowed to peek through the choir's window.
How much of the church they show you depends on the person (bitter laugh), so if there is a volunteer there, please feel free to ask.
And, as you would expect, since it is a church, there is a beautiful silence.
Although I am not a believer, when I sit in a seat and pray with a reverent heart, I can almost hear the voices of a young girl from a distant past praying for the safety of her brother who went to war, or voices praying for the recovery of a family member suffering from illness, echoing from deep within the sanctuary.
Both the exterior and the interior are truly beautiful.
I believe it was selected as one of the 100 most beautiful churches in Japan.
(I will check that later.)
If you keep climbing the Jigoku-zaka where this church is located, you will reach Otaru University of Commerce.
The view from there is also beautiful, but for now, Tomioka Church, located before the steep slope, is definitely a recommended spot.
Please stop by when you come to Otaru^_^