Shimabara Castle
Shimabara Castle
4
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
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4.0
320 reviews
Excellent
65
Very good
165
Average
82
Poor
7
Terrible
1
Hiroaki Kaneko
Tokyo, Japan5,359 contributions
Jan 2020
島原を象徴する史跡の一つです。天守は復元されたものですが威風堂々としており、ぐるっと囲まれた堀のどこから見てもその素晴らしさを窺い知ることが出来ます。
天守内は歴史資料館となっていますが、他の日本の城とは一線を画し、潜伏していたキリシタンの史料が多く展示されています。島原を中心としたキリシタンの信仰と彼らを弾圧しようとする勢力との戦いを学ぶことが出来る施設の一つでもあります。
最上階からの展望室からは、有明海と普賢岳の美しい風景を楽しむことが出来ます。武士に仮装したボランティアによるショーも行われていることがあるため、子供も楽しむことが出来ると思います。
It is one of the historical sites that symbolize Shimabara. The castle tower is a reconstruction, but it is majestic, and you can see the splendor of the castle from every angle of the moat that surrounds it.
The inside of the castle tower is used as a historical museum, and unlike other castles in Japan, it displays many historical documents of Christians who were active in hiding. It is also one of the facilities where you can learn about the beliefs of the Christians around Shimabara and their battles against the forces that tried to suppress them.
From the observation deck on the top floor, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Ariake Sea and Mt.Fugen. There is also a show by volunteers dressed up as Samurai warriors, which is fun for children.
天守内は歴史資料館となっていますが、他の日本の城とは一線を画し、潜伏していたキリシタンの史料が多く展示されています。島原を中心としたキリシタンの信仰と彼らを弾圧しようとする勢力との戦いを学ぶことが出来る施設の一つでもあります。
最上階からの展望室からは、有明海と普賢岳の美しい風景を楽しむことが出来ます。武士に仮装したボランティアによるショーも行われていることがあるため、子供も楽しむことが出来ると思います。
It is one of the historical sites that symbolize Shimabara. The castle tower is a reconstruction, but it is majestic, and you can see the splendor of the castle from every angle of the moat that surrounds it.
The inside of the castle tower is used as a historical museum, and unlike other castles in Japan, it displays many historical documents of Christians who were active in hiding. It is also one of the facilities where you can learn about the beliefs of the Christians around Shimabara and their battles against the forces that tried to suppress them.
From the observation deck on the top floor, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Ariake Sea and Mt.Fugen. There is also a show by volunteers dressed up as Samurai warriors, which is fun for children.
Written 31 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimitaka S
Taichung, Taiwan15,193 contributions
Dec 2020 • Solo
Although this castle is a reconstruction of Showa Time, it is still the main tourist attraction and the symbol of Shimabara. Inside is a historical museum, and you can learn the history of Shimabara. There are many displays concerning Christianity, which are quite interesting. From the top of the castle, you can enjoy a nice view.
Written 24 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
W W
Sunshine Coast, Australia382 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
Visited here in March 2012 and it was freezing. The castle was impressive from the outside, but inside it was very dissapointing, the displays did not have english translation for most things so just had to look. It was not heated at all inside and was icy. The building is not the original one and has been rebuilt using concrete, inside it is basically bare concrete walls with display cabinets. Was it worth the long bus ride from Nagasaki - one its own NO, but we also looked at the old samuri village and the houses that where buried in the recent volcano eruption. I guess we got to see lots of Japan that most tourists dont see on our bus trip.
Written 23 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cjbh
Salt Lake City, UT159 contributions
Dec 2019
The big deal about this castle is the part it played in the Shimabara Rebellion in the 1600's. The mostly Christian peasants rose up against their cruel master and attacked this (his) castle. They could not take it, so they retreated to the nearby abandoned Hara castle. The government laid seige to Hara castle with 125,000 troops agains the 37,000 rebels. Eventually they ran out of food and surrendered. All 37,000 Christians were executed, mostly by beheading, but some were thrown alive into nearby natural boiling waters. Every man,woman and child was killed.Their heads were posted on spikes at the town gates.
This castle was actually dismantled over 100 years ago, and rebuilt in 1964 as a museum. So everything is in good shape, including the huge stone foundation walls and the moat. The museum has quite a few Hidden Christian artifacts, most with at least an English label.
Nearby is a street that has 3 samurai houses you can visit.
This castle was actually dismantled over 100 years ago, and rebuilt in 1964 as a museum. So everything is in good shape, including the huge stone foundation walls and the moat. The museum has quite a few Hidden Christian artifacts, most with at least an English label.
Nearby is a street that has 3 samurai houses you can visit.
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xin Ru T
Singapore, Singapore1,345 contributions
Dec 2016 • Solo
From Shimabara Railway Station, walk straight ahead, then follow the signs to enter Shimabara Castle. The castle is beautiful, though I am unsure how it is compared to other Japanese castles as this is the first I have visited. Looking at the castle buildings is free. To enter the castle buildings, an admission fee of 520 yen is required per adult. You can probably spend 1.5 to 2 hours here.
The museum on the first floor of the main castle is very intriguing. There are English panels discussing the "Hidden Christians" culture, i.e. the oppression of Japanese Christians in the past. For instance, there are artifacts showing how the Japanese Christians disguised statues of Mary. The observatory on the fifth floor of the main castle offers gorgeous views, though you will have to brave the strong winds in winter. The museums on other floors and in other buildings have much fewer materials in English, but there are still artifacts to look at.
Outside the main entrance / exit of Shimabara Castle, there is a Japanese restaurant at the main road that opens at 11am. You can try eating the local speciality guzoni, which is a rice cake soup with ingredients like cabbage, lotus roots, mushrooms, chicken and grilled eel.
From Shimabara Castle, you can follow the signs and walk to the Samurai Houses.
The museum on the first floor of the main castle is very intriguing. There are English panels discussing the "Hidden Christians" culture, i.e. the oppression of Japanese Christians in the past. For instance, there are artifacts showing how the Japanese Christians disguised statues of Mary. The observatory on the fifth floor of the main castle offers gorgeous views, though you will have to brave the strong winds in winter. The museums on other floors and in other buildings have much fewer materials in English, but there are still artifacts to look at.
Outside the main entrance / exit of Shimabara Castle, there is a Japanese restaurant at the main road that opens at 11am. You can try eating the local speciality guzoni, which is a rice cake soup with ingredients like cabbage, lotus roots, mushrooms, chicken and grilled eel.
From Shimabara Castle, you can follow the signs and walk to the Samurai Houses.
Written 18 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
beachsamba
Tsukuba, Japan20 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
Totally worth the pain of visiting. The castle and city is very quiet, and the people are very helpful and friendly. Despite being out of the way, they have bilingual maps, guides, and signs that make walking around easy.
The castle itself looms over the city, and at the entrance, you will be greeted by enthusiastic staff dressed in Edo period costumes with whom you can pose with. There are also several samurai armor you can try on. The exhibition chronicles the Christian history of Japan through documents and artifacts. Be patient as you go through the floors, and you will be greeted with studding 360 access view of the entire city of the fifth floor. This is one of the best castles I have visited in Japan, and a must for any history enthusiast!
The castle itself looms over the city, and at the entrance, you will be greeted by enthusiastic staff dressed in Edo period costumes with whom you can pose with. There are also several samurai armor you can try on. The exhibition chronicles the Christian history of Japan through documents and artifacts. Be patient as you go through the floors, and you will be greeted with studding 360 access view of the entire city of the fifth floor. This is one of the best castles I have visited in Japan, and a must for any history enthusiast!
Written 7 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juneohzn
Singapore, Singapore46 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
The Shimabara castle was quite ordinary. However, the many friendly samurai made a lot of difference. They were friendly and eager to help. They made the whole experience much more fantanstic.
The inside of the castle displays many of the old Japanese artifacts and give us a small glimpse about their way of life.
We had fun taking photos with the different samurai who had different dressings!
The inside of the castle displays many of the old Japanese artifacts and give us a small glimpse about their way of life.
We had fun taking photos with the different samurai who had different dressings!
Written 4 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew M
7,589 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
The Shimabara Castle is probably the "must see" attraction in town. It is centrally located, a 10 minute walk from the main railway station (Shimabara Railway Station). Most buses in Shimabara stop near to the castle, and the Shimatetsu Bus Station is a 15 minute walk away. The road leading up to the castle is an upward slope, so it is not an easy walk up. The walk up is worth it, as the best photos of the walls of the castle are from the south west corner. The main entrance is to the west of the castle.On entering the castle, there are quite a few samurai suits on display. The entrance fee is 540 yen for adults.
The castle was build by Lord Matsukura between 1618 - 1624. It was a much larger and extravagant castle than those in the neighbouring districts, and the construction was mostly funded by raising taxes. The castle is 5 stories tall, and was surrounded by walls up to 15 meters in height, and wide moats of 30-50 meters. The main castle area was pulled down in 1876, and a concrete restoration done in the 1970's. Due to the expansive moat system, and the pyramid shape of the castle, it makes for great photos. It would have been more impressive if the restoration was done with wood, which is rarely the case in Japan.
Matsukura enforced the shogonate rule of oppressing foreign religions (christianity) and in addition to the raising of taxes, the peasant discontent led to the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. Shirō Tokisada led the Shimabara Rebellion at the age of 16. His "green" statue may be found in the statue park on the museum grounds. The rebellion was mainly organised by the catholic faithfuls in Shimabara. The rebels took over the Hara Castle, which was a few kilometers south of town. The ruins of the castle are still a regularly visited tourist attraction. The rebels held out for months, until they ran out of food and ammunition. Many samurai died in the battle. After the castle fell, more than 30,000 rebels were beheaded. Some of the executions took place at Unzen Hell, where a monument to the Christian martyrs remains today. Tokisada was executed, and his head carried around on a pole for display. During the battle the Shogonate requested assistance from a Dutch ship in harbour. In return for their assistance,trade was allowed with the Dutch, but the Portugese were ousted. Japan had a policy of seclusion at the time, with limited foreign trade being done in Kyushu.
Inside the castle, the displays are very well done. In particular, there are many items related to Christianity, which is a rare sight in Japan. The Christians used different techniques to hide their religion, so buddhist statues may have had christian etchings or secret compartments where christian objects were stored. There is an extensive section on the rebellion, and the clothing, armour and weapons of the time. Pottery and artwork are on also on display. There is a beautiful picture of the Tsunami caused by the 1792 Unzen eruption, which killed approx. 15,000 persons, and remains one of Japan's worst natural disasters today.
There are photos of all the castles in Japan on the top floor, and beautiful views of Shimabara. After visiting the castle. there is a small bell tower, and lookout area next to the western castle walls. A gift shop is opposite the castle, and there are quite a few great souvenirs, snacks and cold beverages.To the rear of the castle is a statue park, which allows for great photos. The sculptures are mainly done by sculptor Kitamura Seibo, who is famous for doing the Nagasaki Peace Park statue.Do not miss the "green" statue of Amakusa Shirō Tokisada , the leader of the rebellion.
Our visit here took approx 1 hour. Photos are free in the castle and grounds. After visiting the castle, there are a few more museums in the area surrounding the castle. we were running late for our bus back home, and did not get a chance to visit any of the other museums. If you wish to take a taxi, there are quite a few parked in the square in front of the train station.
The castle was build by Lord Matsukura between 1618 - 1624. It was a much larger and extravagant castle than those in the neighbouring districts, and the construction was mostly funded by raising taxes. The castle is 5 stories tall, and was surrounded by walls up to 15 meters in height, and wide moats of 30-50 meters. The main castle area was pulled down in 1876, and a concrete restoration done in the 1970's. Due to the expansive moat system, and the pyramid shape of the castle, it makes for great photos. It would have been more impressive if the restoration was done with wood, which is rarely the case in Japan.
Matsukura enforced the shogonate rule of oppressing foreign religions (christianity) and in addition to the raising of taxes, the peasant discontent led to the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637. Shirō Tokisada led the Shimabara Rebellion at the age of 16. His "green" statue may be found in the statue park on the museum grounds. The rebellion was mainly organised by the catholic faithfuls in Shimabara. The rebels took over the Hara Castle, which was a few kilometers south of town. The ruins of the castle are still a regularly visited tourist attraction. The rebels held out for months, until they ran out of food and ammunition. Many samurai died in the battle. After the castle fell, more than 30,000 rebels were beheaded. Some of the executions took place at Unzen Hell, where a monument to the Christian martyrs remains today. Tokisada was executed, and his head carried around on a pole for display. During the battle the Shogonate requested assistance from a Dutch ship in harbour. In return for their assistance,trade was allowed with the Dutch, but the Portugese were ousted. Japan had a policy of seclusion at the time, with limited foreign trade being done in Kyushu.
Inside the castle, the displays are very well done. In particular, there are many items related to Christianity, which is a rare sight in Japan. The Christians used different techniques to hide their religion, so buddhist statues may have had christian etchings or secret compartments where christian objects were stored. There is an extensive section on the rebellion, and the clothing, armour and weapons of the time. Pottery and artwork are on also on display. There is a beautiful picture of the Tsunami caused by the 1792 Unzen eruption, which killed approx. 15,000 persons, and remains one of Japan's worst natural disasters today.
There are photos of all the castles in Japan on the top floor, and beautiful views of Shimabara. After visiting the castle. there is a small bell tower, and lookout area next to the western castle walls. A gift shop is opposite the castle, and there are quite a few great souvenirs, snacks and cold beverages.To the rear of the castle is a statue park, which allows for great photos. The sculptures are mainly done by sculptor Kitamura Seibo, who is famous for doing the Nagasaki Peace Park statue.Do not miss the "green" statue of Amakusa Shirō Tokisada , the leader of the rebellion.
Our visit here took approx 1 hour. Photos are free in the castle and grounds. After visiting the castle, there are a few more museums in the area surrounding the castle. we were running late for our bus back home, and did not get a chance to visit any of the other museums. If you wish to take a taxi, there are quite a few parked in the square in front of the train station.
Written 11 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sirin P
Nonthaburi, Thailand33 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
I love this place. So quiet and you can see top view of Shimabara city at 5th floor. There is a museum and antique Japanese tools.
Written 19 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vibromama
Amakusa, Japan28 contributions
Mar 2016
the historic castle offered opportunities for children to dress up in a variety of traditional costumes.
Written 30 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1. How much time would I need to cover Shimabara castle?
2. Plan to travel (with luggage) from Kumamoto to Shimabara via ferry, then straight to the castle. Will there be lockers at Shimabara station?
3. Is it wise to travel down to Nagasaki immediately after visiting the castle? Is train the best option?
Written 10 October 2018
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