Amakusa Collegio Museum
天草コレジヨ館
A museum recreating the 16th-century Jesuit seminary 'Amakusa Collegio', with a replica of a Gutenberg-style movable-type printing press and Southern Barbarian musical instruments.
In 1591 the Jesuits opened a seminary called 'Collegio' in Kawaura, Amakusa, where they taught Latin, music and Western printing. They published the 'Amakusa Edition' of Aesop's Fables, the Heike Monogatari and other works. The Amakusa Collegio Museum recreates the movable-type printing press brought from Europe, and it displays replicas of Amakusa-printed books and Southern Barbarian musical instruments. Visitors can try playing the old instruments and experience movable-type printing. Admission is about 300 yen, and it is closed on Wednesdays (check the official website). The museum is in Kawaura Town, about 15 minutes by car from Sakitsu, making it a good pairing for a day trip with Sakitsu.
Opening hours
8:30 am–6:00 pm, closed Wednesdays
Nearby sights
- Sakitsu Church & Village
- Amakusa Rosario Museum
- Oe Church
- Jusanbutsu Park
- Myokenura
- Shimoda Onsen (Amakusa)
- Ushibuka Haiya Bridge
- Jumanyama Observatory