Hinoe Castle Ruins: Shimabara Peninsula- Nagasaki Prefecture

One of the more spectacular sites on the Shimabara Peninsular is the leftover ruins of the Hinoe Castle.  It is located in Minamishimabara City on the Shimabara Peninsular. The castle was originally built in the 13th century.  It belonged to the Arima Clan and was the residence of the Christian Diamyo.  

In 1637, during the Shimabara Rebellion, it was burned down by the forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate because the Arima Clan protected the Christians and encouraged their vassals to adopt Christianity thus actively promoting international exchange which ran counter to the Shogunate`s isolation policy of that time.

The castle's ruins can still be seen today as a reminder of the religious turmoil that Japan was going thru during the 15th and 16th centuries.

To see Hinoe Castle Ruins in Nagasaki on a map look below:

Here are a few photos that I found around town which depicts the times and lives of the people at that time.  Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Tensho Embassy

Street view

Feudal Japan

                                             Here are some photos of Hinoe Castle Ruins:

                                                   Click on the pictures below to enlarge:

Not much English

Lookout

This one has English

Retaining Walls

Lots of retaining walls

Ruins located in Minamishimabara City in Nagasaki:

   



Please check out these videos below of the Hinoe Castle: