Travel Guide
Trappistine Monastery was established as the first convent in Japan by 8 nuns from French in 1898. The red-brick contemplative convent was built in a solemn combination of Gothic and Romanesque styles reminiscent of old European castles. Highly recommended to visitors are original sweets, all made by nuns living here. Popular souvenirs include Madeleine cake and butter candy.
In the garden, with its holy atmosphere, there are statues of Maria Teresia, Jeanne d'Arc, Archangel Michael and others, and rocks simulating the cave of Lourdes. A meadow spreading around trimmed shrubbery is dotted with facilities including a museum, a travelers' church and a store, where we can learn about the monastery's past and present. Inside the buildings is not open to the public but you can see a large number of photos showing the inside.
The official name of Trappistine Monastery is Our Lady of the Lighthouse Trappist (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance) Monastery. There are about 70 nuns living a self-sufficient life here, visitors are not allowed to enter the facilities but the garden is open. The current church is a reconstruction made in 1927 after the big fire in 1925. There are branches in Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Imari, Saga, Nasu, Tochigi, Miyakojima, Okinawa and other places.
A nun is typically one living under vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and is required to live inside the monastery, can only go out for election and illness. A nun lives a contemplative and cloistered life of meditation and prayer for the salvation of others, silence is her duty, dialogue is limited to the minimum. A nun wake up at 3:30 in the morning and go to bed at 7:45 in the night. During the wake up time, a nun works 8 hours and pray 8 hours every day.
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| Maria Teresia | Trappistine Monastery | Angel Michael |
Travel Advice
Sightseeing
An ice cream shop in the park which is in front of the monastery is worth trying for its fragrant and delicious taste.
Trappist
Trappist is “The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance”, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church. Trappist follows The Rule of St. Benedict, the rule describes the ideals and values of a monastic life.
The daily life of a Cistercian monk or nun, commonly referred to as Trappist and Trappistine, is wholly ordered to contemplation of the sacred mysteries revealed in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and handed down to us by the church.
Strict Observance refers to the Trappists' goal of following closely St. Benedict's Rule and taking the three vows described in his Rule: stability, fidelity to monastic life, and obedience. Trappist monks generally speak only when necessary; thus idle talk is strongly discouraged.
Visit
| Address | 346 Kamiyunokawa-cho, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido | |
| Phone | 0138-57-3331 | |
| Admission | Free | |
| Hours | 09:10 to 11:30, 14:00 to 16:30 | |
| Closed | Open 7 Days a Week | |
| Duration | 20 minutes | |
| Getting There | By Train 30 minutes ride by Hakodate Bus bound for Asahioka Hospital from JR Hakodate Station to the Trappistinu bus stop, then walk approximately 10 minutes. |
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| Parking | No parking available | |
Attractions in Japan