The Association
A route born by walking.
The Way of Hasekura and the Japanese Martyrs is an initiative of the association Variante Cimina della via Francigena ETS, which looks after its development and promotion.
Who we are
Variante Cimina of the via Francigena
The association was founded in July 2015 from a meeting of personal experiences, passions and different professional skills, with one clear idea: to bring value to the lands crossed by walking routes, connecting landscape, culture, traditions and small local businesses.
As the name suggests, we started from a variant of the Via Francigena that crosses the Cimini Mountains, between Lake Vico and the Tiber valley. From there we kept doing what we do best: walking, studying places, mapping routes and telling their stories.
The Way of Hasekura and the Japanese Martyrs is the result of years of historical, cultural and environmental research: a route conceived and mapped by the association’s members, pilgrims and walkers before being planners.
Our details
Variante Cimina della via Francigena ETS
- Registered office: Via Zara 16, 00198 Rome
- Tax code: 97856960584
- Established: 22 July 2015
- Email: info@variantecimina.it
- Website: www.varianteciminadellafrancigena.it
Our route
From Civitavecchia to the Quirinal
Just over one hundred kilometres between the sea, coastal towers, nature reserves and the Roman countryside, in the footsteps of the samurai Hasekura Tsunenaga and the Keichō embassy of 1615. Six municipalities along the way: Civitavecchia, Santa Marinella, Cerveteri, Ladispoli, Fiumicino and Rome.
An officially recognised route
By decree of 23 March 2023, the Way of Hasekura is included in the Catalogue of Italian religious routes.
Documents
Rules of use
The official rules of the Way of Hasekura and the Japanese Martyrs, to download and read as a PDF.
Become a partner
Walk with us
Municipalities and public bodies, associations, accommodation providers, businesses along the route and private individuals: the Way of Hasekura grows thanks to those who support it and live it every day.
If you would like to work with the association or become a partner of the route, you will find all the information on the website of the Variante Cimina Association.

