Shimabara Castle boasts of its beautiful exterior and the breathtaking view from the castle tower, but what is unique about this castle is the experience program that makes full use of Mixed Reality (MR) technology.
This service displays the introduction of Christianity and the Shimabara-Amakusa Revolt (Shimabara Rebellion), with the beautiful young man, Amakusa Shiro, recreated in a three-dimensional hologram (3D image) Using MR (Mixed Reality) technology, he leads visitors through the castle tower.
The tour begins on the first floor with a visit to the Christian archives, and then moves through the history of Nanban culture, the prosperity of Christianity, the Prohibition of Christianity, and the Shimabara Rebellion, in that order.
Visitors can also enjoy the experience of wearing MR equipment and touching and holding 3D objects such as a “Treadmill” and rosary that appear before their eyes through the lens.
The role of Amakusa Shiro is played by voice actor Ishida Akira, well-known for his role as Nagisa Kaworu in the Japanese anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” This content can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, including anime enthusiasts and history buffs.
In addition to a rich collection of Christian historical documents, the museum also exhibits the Matsudaira family’s heirloom sword, armor and furnishings used in the palace, and “Anatomical Drawings of the Human Body”. These drawings were recorded by the palace doctor, Yasuhaku Ichikawa, and others who performed dissections based on the knowledge of Western science which they had learned from Siebold.
The view of Shimabara Castle from the ruins of Ote-gomon Gate is magnificent, with the white castle tower standing out against the blue sky. The stone walls are the work of Shigemasa Matsukura Bungo-mamoru, a master of military tactics and castle construction. The outer wall is a rectangle about 4 km in circumference and is surrounded by walls, with 7 gates and 33 flat turrets.
From the castle tower and the 5th floor observation deck, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree view of Shimabara’s historic cityscape. You can see Shimabara city and Mt. Bizan. Beyond the sea you can see the mountains of Kumamoto as well.
Also, around early February, nearly 300 ume (Japanese apricot) trees with the castle tower in the background are at their best.
At the store, visitors can enjoy local delicacies such as Shimabara’s specialty products, “Kanzarashi,” a sweet with an elegant sweetness, “Rokubee,” a noodle dish made from sweet potato flour, and the famous “cold somen” (cold somen noodles).
The Shimabara Station Tourist Information Center, a 5-minute walk from Shimabara Castle, provides information on sightseeing spots and gourmet foods in the area, such as “Carp Swimming Town” and “Samurai Residence. Why not enjoy sightseeing in Shimabara in combination with this information?
– Basic Information –
Shimabara Castle
Location: 1-1183-1 Jonouchi, Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture
phone number: 0957-62-4766
Open Hours: 9:00 – 17:30 (Admission until 17:00)
Open every day
https://shimabarajou.com/
Photo Credit：長崎県観光連盟（１Page）
