🗺️ Tokyo St. Mary's Cathedral東京カテドラル聖マリア大聖堂

Located on the elevated area of Sekiguchi in Bunkyo Ward, this Catholic church was originally built in 1899 as a Gothic wooden church to serve as an annex to the Notre Dame French School. In 1900, it became the church of the Sekiguchi parish, and in 1920, it was designated as the cathedral of the Tokyo diocese. The church, which once featured tatami flooring, was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The current building, designed by the renowned architect Kenzo Tange, was constructed in 1964 with the assistance of the Cologne diocese in Germany. Its eight elongated curved walls have a unique shape, and when viewed from above, they form the outline of a cross. Inside the church, there are no supporting columns, and the ceiling reaches a height of 40 meters, creating a majestic and grand atmosphere. The interior displays a bust of Saint Francis Xavier, donated by the Cologne diocese, as well as relics of Saint John Paul II. At the back of the church is the largest pipe organ in any church in Japan. The acoustics of the hard walls in this spacious area are excellent, making it suitable for hosting concerts. This atmospheric space has also attracted many couples wishing to hold their weddings here. The "Lourdes" area within the grounds authentically recreates the cave where the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared.

The "Cathedral" primarily based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. Designed by the late world-class architect Kenzo Tange. It features the largest pipe organ in all of Japan. Additionally, there is a true-to-life reproduction of the cave where the Virgin Mary appeared, known as "Lourdes."