Shimabara Castle

Shimabara Castle, is located in Shimabara-city and was built in 1625 by the feudal load

Matsukura Shigemasa, who was regarded as a master of castle building. The castle,

which took 7 years to complete, is also known as “Moritake Castle”.

It was an almost rectangular flatland castle built in the Renkaku-style. Also, it was a superb example

of a castle where three layered yagura turrets were placed at strategic points around the five-layered

donjon which was influenced by the architectural style of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.

Through it was demolished in 1874 during Meiji Restoration, west turret called “Nishi-no-yagura”

was first restored in 1960 and the donjon was restored in 1964. In the castle, the Christianity

Museum has been established. Many Christian historical materials, local collection, and ethnic

collections are exhibited in the museum.

View from the Castle tower

Location of Shimabara

General information

Address	1-1183-1 Jonai Shimabara-city, Nagasaki-prefecture
Access	80 minutes by vehicle from Nagasaki Airport 100 minutes by behicle from Nagasaki-city 10 minutes walk from Shimatetsu Shimabara Station
Open hours	9:00 to 17:30
Admission fee	JPY 540 to enter the Castle tower
Days closed	December 29 and 30

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