"A meditation on sacred sites themselves in a remote Japanese village"
Tomb of Christ, Shingo
Shingo, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
In the mountain village of Shingo, two earthen mounds beneath simple wooden crosses mark what local legend calls the graves of Jesus Christ and his brother. Based on documents proven to be forgeries, the site nevertheless attracts over 10,000 visitors annually and hosts an annual festival where a Shinto priest offers prayers at Christ's supposed grave. This gentle paradox offers unique reflection on how communities create and maintain sacred space.
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Quick Facts
Location
Shingo, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Coordinates
40.4540, 141.1487
Last Updated
Jan 14, 2026
Learn More
Created in 1935 based on forged documents, the site has developed genuine cultural significance through village maintenance and annual festival since 1964.
Origin Story
In 1935, Kiyomaro Takeuchi claimed to discover ancient documents proving that Jesus Christ traveled to Japan, lived here as a garlic farmer, and was buried in this village. Historian Kokichi Kano immediately proved the documents were modern forgeries. Despite this, the village developed the site as a cultural attraction, and the annual Christ Festival began in 1964.
Key Figures
Kiyomaro Takeuchi
Site creator
Kokichi Kano
Historian
Eli Cohen
Israeli Ambassador
Spiritual Lineage
The site exists outside traditional religious lineages. The Shinto priest who conducts festival ceremonies represents mainstream Shinto practice applied with characteristic Japanese flexibility to an unconventional subject.
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