Hara Castle

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Revision as of 00:54, 30 November 2025 by Furinkazan (talk | contribs) (Created page with "{{Castle |English Name=Hara Castle |Japanese Name=原城 |Romaji Name=Hara-jo |Founder=Arima Takazumi |Year Founded=1496 |Castle Type=Flatland |Castle Condition=Ruins only |Designations=Next 100 Castles, UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Historic Site |Historical Period=Pre Edo Period |Features=trenches, stone walls |Access=Bus stop Harajomae |Visitor Information=Grounds are open year round |Time Required=2 hours |Website=https://kirishitan.jp/components_en/com001 |Ci...")
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I took a bus from Ote bus stop in Shimabara city. The ride to Harajomae ('In front of Hara castle') takes about 1 hour. I got my 'Next 100 meijo stamp' in a shed next to the main bailey entrance. Volunteer guides are present at that spot. The site is 1 of 12 sites called 'Hidden Christian sites in

Harajô (93).JPG

History

The castle was built as a subsidiary castle to Hinoe castle in 1496 by Arima Takezumi. It was a typical Sengoku period castle built on a cliff facing the Ariake sea. During his rule, the Arima clan's territory reached its largest, growing to 210,000 koku and controlling most of Hizen Province. Arima Harunobu fortified the castle from 1599 to 1604. Especially the Honmaru (main bailey) got ishigaki (stone walls) and a tenshu (donjon) was built. In 1616 the Arima were relocated to Nobeoka domain in Hyuga province. Their domain was given to Matsukura Shigemasa. He first took possession of Hinoe Castle, but found it too small, and because of the 'Ikkoku ichijo rei' (one castle per province edict) built Shimabara Castle. Both Hinoe and Hara castles were abandoned. Some of their materials were cannibalised to build Shimabara castle.

In 1637 broke the Shimabara rebellion out. The rebels took refuge in Hara castle and since the ishigaki, walls and some stuctures were still present, the 20000 refugees (mostly Christians) hold out during 4 months against the 120000 men strong Shogunate army. When the castle fell, all the refugees were slaughtered. The remnants of the castle were completely razed. Even the ishigaki were demolished.


Field Notes

I took a bus from Ote bus stop in Shimabara city. The ride to Harajomae ('In front of Hara castle') takes about 1 hour. I got my 'Next 100 meijo stamp' in a shed next to the main bailey entrance. Volunteer guides are present at that spot.

The site is 1 of 12 sites called 'Hidden Christian sites in the Nagasaki region', and are together a World Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO.

There is the Arima Christian Heritage Museum, at about 2Km from the castle ruins. This museum has several artifacts and tells the story about the rebellion of 1637.


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Gallery
  • Amakusa Shiro
  • Map of the castle and area
  • At Harajomae bus stop
  • tunnel ruins
  • Oteguchimon ato
  • Third bailey
  • Ariake sea and honmaru in the background
  • Second bailey
  • Main bailey seen from second bailey
  • Map of main bailey
  • Main gate of honmaru ruins
  • Uzumemon remains
  • Honmarumon remains
  • Second bailey seen from main bailey
  • Honmaru ishigaki remains
  • demolished ishigaki
  • Chausuyama ruins
  • Honmaru seen from Amakusa bailey


Castle Profile
English Name Hara Castle
Japanese Name 原城
Founder Arima Takazumi
Year Founded 1496
Castle Type Flatland
Castle Condition Ruins only
Designations Next 100 Castles, UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Historic Site
Historical Period Pre Edo Period
Features trenches, stone walls
Visitor Information
Access Bus stop Harajomae
Hours Grounds are open year round
Time Required 2 hours
URL Castle Website
Location Minamishimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture
Coordinates 32.62904, 130.25416
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Admin
Added to Jcastle 2025
Contributor Furinkazan
Admin Year Visited Viewer Contributed


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