Yamate Catholic Church (Sacred Heart Cathedral)
カトリック山手教会
A Gothic twin-spired church that traces its origins to the first Catholic church built in Japan after the country opened in 1862. It is now the cathedral of the Yokohama diocese and a classic photo spot on a Yamate walk.
The church's predecessor was the “Yokohama Catholic Church,” built in 1862 in the Yokohama Foreign Settlement. It was the first Catholic church built in Japan after the country ended its isolation. In 1906 it moved to Yamate. After the Great Kanto Earthquake destroyed it, it was rebuilt in 1933 as the Gothic twin-spired building seen today. It is now the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Yokohama, known as the Sacred Heart Cathedral. The white walls, spires, and stained glass look wonderful in photos, and the church often appears in Japanese dramas and weddings. On weekdays outside of Mass times, you can enter quietly to look around. Entry is free. Please remain silent and do not photograph worshippers. The church is on Yamate Honmachi, about a 10-minute walk from Ishikawacho Station. You can combine a visit with the Yamate Western-style Houses, the Foreign General Cemetery, and Nokendai Hill Park.
Opening hours
Approx. 9:00 am–5:00 pm (no visits during Mass or weddings)
Nearby sights
- Yamate Bluff Western Houses
- Motomachi Shopping Street
- Yokohama Chinatown
- Yokohama Kanteibyo
- Yokohama Marine Tower
- Harbor View Park
- Yamashita Park
- Yokohama Stadium