Hinoe Castle Ruins

 

During the period of the Southern and Northern Courts (1337-92), the Arima family ruling

the Shimabara Peninsula constructed a castle named Hinoe-jo. The 14th lord, Harunobu

(1567-1612) was a Christian daimyo and refurbished his castle into a large scale which had

gardens, a tea arbor and many rooms.

 

There remain stone walls around the site of the front gate. A recent survey reveals that

the construction materials including the stone steps were diverted from tombstones in

Buddhist grave-yards which the lord had demolished.

 

The fact indicates the religious situation in those days when Christianity was flourishing.

In 1982, the location of the ruined castle was designated as a National Historic Site.

 

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