🗺️ Hirado Castle

In 1599 (the 4th year of Keicho), Matsura Takanobu, the 26th head of the Hirado Matsura clan, built Hirado Castle and later set fire to it himself in 1613 (the 8th year of Keicho). After the destruction, for about 100 years until the reconstruction of Hirado Castle, the Matsura clan used the Okan (the current site of the Matsura Historical Museum) as their base. It was during the 29th head, Takanobu (named after his ancestor), and the 30th head, Matsura Munemasa, that the castle began to be rebuilt, and in 1718 (the 3rd year of Kyoho), the 31st head, Matsura Atsunobu, along with Yamaga Sokko, designed and completed Hirado Castle. The current Hirado Castle was restored in 1962 and underwent extensive renovations during the Heisei era, reopening in April 2021. The castle's tenshu (main keep) is a three-story, five-tier structure. The 2nd to 4th floors feature exhibition spaces that introduce the history of Hirado using the latest digital art. Among these are panoramic 3D images on large screens, paintings of the nationally important cultural property "Kantō Tachi," and various items from the Nanban trade. Additionally, there are many historical experience spots that allow visitors to appreciate the charm of Hirado Castle, including the "Stone Wall Puzzle," which uses models to recreate the Otemon gate, the "Gun Emplacement Experience," where visitors can peek outside through gun holes in the castle walls, and the "Calligraphy Painting Hirado Dream Scroll," which offers a digital calligraphy experience using screens. Furthermore, the 5th floor of Hirado Castle features an observation deck with excellent views, allowing visitors to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Hirado Strait, as well as fun experience spots like the "My Tenshu" selfie area, where visitors can take commemorative photos with the tenshu as a backdrop using their smartphones or tablets.

The first floor of the Kinso Tower has an exhibition room, while the second floor features a lounge. Visitors can leisurely enjoy the scenery or take a break. The view from the castle tower is depicted in an ink painting style on the walls of the fifth floor. The video game "Swing Sword to Answer Hirado Puzzles," where players answer questions using toy swords, is very popular among children. The Huirou Tower on the east side of the Ninomaru has a permanent accommodation facility for experiencing "castle stays" (reservation and payment required). The castle retains many buildings such as towers, fences, and stone walls (other lookout towers besides the Kinso Tower are only accessible for external viewing). Additionally, there are rows of Japanese black pines and cherry blossoms, making it perfect for a leisurely stroll.