Roadside Station Yuhigaoka Sotome

In the place where the masterpiece "Silence" was born
Specialty products related to missionaries

Located on a hill overlooking the Kakurinada (Sumo-nada), it overlooks the blue ocean and sky during the daytime, and at dusk, the sea and sky turn red. The former Sotoumi Town was a place of hidden Christians, and during the Meiji period (1868-1912), a French missionary, Marc Marie de Roth, a.k.a. Mr. de Roth, carried out missionary activities. It is also the setting of Shusaku Endo's masterpiece "Silence. The restaurant "La Mer" with its spectacular view is popular for its lunch buffet (currently on hiatus in Corona) based on the theme of local production for local consumption. Be sure to try the "de L'Osama Somen" (noodles), a dish associated with Father de L'Oro. This station is also a great place to take a break from church tours.

Roadside Station Yuhigaoka Sotome Map

Roadside Station Yuhigaoka Sotome Gourmet Information

Local specialty: Do Lo-Sama Somen (noodles)

The "de Rohsama Somen" is a hand-pulled somen made with the highest quality strong flour. Father de Ro, who was assigned to the area in the early Meiji period, was so distressed by the poverty of the local people that he established a vocational school to help them earn a living. He produced bread and macaroni for foreigners, and somen noodles for the Japanese. The business ceased during World War II, but was revived and reproduced in 1982. Since then, it has been loved for its slightly thicker, firmer texture and chewy texture.

the best local product

Yuko is a local traditional citrus fruit. It has long grown wild in the Sotoumi and Doikubu areas, and has a refreshing aroma and mild acidity with almost no bitter components. Currently, it is cultivated in a very limited area, and has been recognized as a World Heritage Site of Food, "Ark of Taste". In addition to the fruit, processed products such as jam, cakes, and karinto have been developed and are sold at roadside stations.

Roadside Station Yuhigaoka Sotome Area

Shusaku Endo Literature Museum

If you want to have fun in the area

Located just across the street from the roadside station, the museum houses approximately 30,000 items, including Shusaku Endo's belongings and original manuscripts. His novel "Silence" was modeled on a real village in the Outer Sea during the Prohibition Era, and is considered to be the starting point of his literature. As a Christian, he was also deeply attached to the Outer Sea. Let us touch on his thoughts as a writer and think about the people who lived during the tumultuous monastic period.

Dezu Catholic Church

If you want to have fun in the area

A church encompassed by "Dezu Settlement on the Outer Sea", one of the component assets of the "Nagasaki and Amakusa Region Heritage Related to Submerged Christians" registered as a World Heritage Site in 2018. It was built in 1882 by Father de Ro. It has been partially remodeled and expanded to its present form. The bell in the bell tower was brought from France by Father de Roth, and it still rings beautifully in the morning and evening. The building is open to visitors, but photography inside is strictly prohibited by the Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki.