Castle / Ruins of Castle Spots in Hirado Area

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Hirado

Category

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour

Castle / Ruins of Castle

Hirado Castle

4.0

177 Reviews

Travel / Tourism

Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Iwanouechou 1458

This was the residential castle of the Matsura clan, the feudal lords of the Hirado Domain. The fortification technology at the time incorporated the unusual Yamagaryu (Yamaga school) style. Construction originally began in 1599 as “Hi-no-Takejo” but as it neared completion in 1613, it fell under suspicion from Tokugawa Ieyasu due to the deep friendship the clan had with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, so the clan head Shigenobu burned down the castle himself. The clan lived in the palace that was on the site for about 90 years, and reconstruction of Hirado Castle began in 1704 and was completed in 1718. The view of the Port of Hirado looking down from the castle keep is outstanding, and visitors can obtain a view that includes the virgin forest of Kuroko Island (a Natural Monument) and the Hirado Ohashi Bridge.

This is a smallish castle but with plenty of history. Its a short climb from central Hirado and easily accessible. The main keep has all the displays. Given Hirados history with foreign traders I...

Nagasaki Hirado

Travel / Tourism History / Culture / Tour Castle / Ruins of Castle

Nagasaki Areas

This hidden corner of the country is rural Japan at its best, where underground activity is to thank for active volcanoes and bubbling natural hot springs along the Shimabara Peninsula as well as the crystal clear waters of the Goto Islands off the west coast. Less well known than Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, Nagasaki commemorates its own past at the Nagasaki Peace Park, which sits alongside the charming Meganebashi stone bridge and a mix of religious buildings with beautiful architecture, such as the Zen Buddhist Sofukuji Temple, the Confucian Shrine, and the Oura Christian Church.