The Tomb of Jesus Christ in Japan
Japan is well known for a variety of sightseeing spots, but this particular one is pretty much unheard of. Allegedly, there is the tomb of Christ. Yes, you read it right: the tomb of Jesus Christ.
Surrounded by mountains and a Lake Towada, the remote village of Shingo is a beautiful place to visit. However, it is not known for its beauty, but its alleged tomb of Christ is the main attraction there. Furthermore, the village is home to not only the tomb of Christ, but also its a home of his descendants: the Sawaguchi family. Interestingly, the village was renamed Shingo in 1955, but till then it was known as Herai. It is speculated, that it is a form of the word Hebrai, which means Hebrew in Japanese.
It all started, when in 1930s a young Shinto priest Takeuchi discovered documents, which were written in ancient Japanese. Later, these documents were called the Takeunochi documents and they were claimed to contain the testament about Christ’s life in Japan. The documents were confiscated by the government and were nowhere to be seen since.
According to the legend, Jesus avoided the crucifixion, by fleeing to Japan. There, he settled: got married, had children and died at the age of 106. The legend has been engraved on a stone for visitors to see.
“When Jesus Christ was 21 years old, he came to Japan and pursued knowledge of divinity for 12 years. He went back to Judea at age 33 and engaged in his mission. However, at that time, people in Judea would not accept Christ’s preaching. Instead, they arrested him and tried to crucify him on a cross. His younger brother, Isukiri casually took Christ’s place and ended his life on the cross. Christ, who escaped the crucifixion, went through the ups and downs of travel, and again came to Japan. He settled right here in what is now called Herai Village, and died at the age of 106. On this holy ground, there is dedicated a burial mound on the right to deify Christ, and a grave on the left to deify Isukiri. The above description was given in a testament by Jesus Christ.”
Regardless of the credibility of the legend, the village has become an attraction for tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Kirisuto no Haka (Christ’s Grave), Shingō, Aomori, Japan
- Coordinates
- 40.454064, 141.1487931
- Access
- The official Aomori guide gives the site address as Nozuki 33-1, Herai, Shingō. It lists about a 60-minute drive from Hachinohe Station; local bus travel requires transfers. Free parking is available. The graves are outdoors in Christ Park; the museum has separate seasonal hours. The Christ story is local legend, not established history.
- Admission
- The official visitor guide lists the Christ Village Tradition Museum at ¥500 for adults (high school age and older) and ¥300 for elementary and junior-high students; group rates are lower. It lists no separate ticket price for the outdoor graves, so check local signs.
- Time needed
- No official visit duration is published. The site combines the outdoor grave memorials with a separate folk-history museum; allow enough time to view the museum displays if it is open.
- Best season
- The annual Christ Festival is held in June. The museum is seasonal and closes from early November to late April; check its current dates if you plan around the festival.
- Opening hours
- Christ Village Tradition Museum: 09:00–17:00; closed Wednesdays (open daily during summer vacation) and from early November to late April. The official guide publishes no separate daily hours for the outdoor graves. Check for seasonal changes before travelling.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-21
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