Hirado Castle

Stands on a hill guarding Hirado Port and the Hirado Strait, which used to be part of an important

trade route between Japan and the Asian mainland. The original fortress was built in 1599 by the

local Matsura Lord; however, he destroyed the structure after fighting the Tokugawa on the losing

side of the Battle of Sekigahara as a gesture of loyalty to the victor. The Matsura Clan continued

ruling Hirado for the next two and a half centuries.

A new castle, also known as Kameoka Castle was built on the site a hundred years later in 1718 as

part of the coastal defences erected during Japan’s self imposed seclusion in the Edo Period.

This structure stood for over 150 years, but eventually fell into disrepair and was dismantled during

the Meiji Period.