Hinoe Castle

I didn't prepare for this one. I knew about it, before going to Hara castle. In the bus, going towards Hara castle, I saw a bus stop named Hinoejoririguchi (entrance to Hinoe castle). Since I still had time after visiting Hara castle and the Arima Christian Heritage museum, I decided to get off the

History

Fujiwara Tsunezumi built this castle on a 78m high hill in the 14th Century (another source tells 13th century). There was a second bailey to the east and a third bailey to the west. Tsunezumi changed his name to Arima during this period. By the Sengoku period, the Arima clan had conquered Shimabara peninsula. They made great profits due to their marine transportation, and in 1550 the Portuguese began to trade at Kuchinotsu port next to Hinoe Castle. Arima Harunobu converted to Christianity and expanded Hinoe castle to include a seminary. After the battle of Sekigahara his domain was reduced to about 40000 koku. In 1612 he was ordered to commit seppuku and his son, Arima Naozumi replaced him. In 1614 Naozumi was transferred to Nokeoka domain and Matsukura Shigemasa took over the domain. He found that Hinoe castle was too small and began the constuction of Shimabara castle. Hinoe castle was abandoned in 1616. After the 1637 Shimabara rebellion, the castle was even more demolished, so it could not be anymore used.

Field Notes

I didn't prepare for this one. I knew about it, before going to Hara castle. In the bus, going towards Hara castle, I saw a bus stop named Hinoejoririguchi (entrance to Hinoe castle). Since I still had time after visiting Hara castle and the Arima Christian Heritage museum, I decided to get off the bus to visit Hinoe castle. The bus driver asked me where I was heading, and pointed me the hill where the castle ruins are. I arrived at the east end of the site and walked up the hill. Everything was very overgrown and at one point, where a part of the trail was washed away, and under tarp, I decided to go back to the bus stop. There aren't a lot of buses stopping at this one, but I managed to get the last one of the day. There are other bus stops nearer to the castle.

When putting this profile together, I discovered that there is a west entrance to the castle. Perhaps is this one better maintained. It's only 1 km from the east entrance.

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Gallery

Castle site from afar
Hinoejoiriguchi bus stop
Explanation board
East entrance to the site
Trail to the castle
Explanation of excavations
Remains of stairs
overgrown ishigaki
going up to the main bailey
View towards the south
Trail to the top
Washed away trail
View from the highest point I reached

Castle Profile
English Name	Hinoe Castle
Japanese Name	日野江城
Founder	Fujiwara Tsunezumi
Year Founded	14th Century
Castle Type	Hilltop
Castle Condition	Ruins only
Designations	National Historic Site
Historical Period	Pre Edo Period
Features
Visitor Information
Access	1km from Hinoejoiriguchi (entrance to Hinoe castle) bus stop
Hours	Grounds are open year round
Time Required	1 hour
Location	Minamishimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture
Coordinates	32.6597, 130.25295
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	2025
Contributor	Furinkazan
Admin Year Visited	Viewer Contributed

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