Shimabarajo Castle

Shimabara Castle is a castle built over seven years starting in 1618 and completed in 1625. It was constructed by Matsukura Bungo-no-kami Shigemasa, who moved from Gojo in Yamato Province (present-day Nara Prefecture) to Shimabara. The castle is also called “Shihekiyama” or “Moridake,” and because it was built using a small hill, it is also known by the alternate name “Moridake Castle.” For 253 years, the castle was inhabited through 19 generations by the Matsukura, Koriki, Matsudaira, and Toda clans. After becoming abandoned in 1874, it passed into private hands and fell into ruin, but in 1964 the main keep was restored, and today you can visit and view architecture in the Azuchi–Momoyama style. Current exhibits inside Shimabara Castle include a Christian Historical Museum, a Seibo Kitamura Memorial Museum, and a Folk Tools Museum. The Christian Historical Museum in particular presents Shimabara’s history during the isolation era from a Christian perspective, covering topics such as Nanban trade, missionary work, Christian daimyo, and the Shimabara Rebellion. Access to Shimabara Castle by public transportation is via the Shimabara Railway from JR Isahaya Station: take a local train for 70 minutes to “Shimabara Station,” then walk about 4 minutes. By car, it is about 60 minutes (around 40 km) from Isahaya City via the Unzen Green Road.