Shimabara Castle

Shimabara Castle was originally built between 1618 and 1624 by Matsukura Shigemasa. The heavy taxation imposed to fund its construction contributed to the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637-38, one of the most significant uprisings in Japanese history, led by the teenage Christian convert Amakusa Shiro. The reconstructed five-story keep houses the Christian History Museum with exhibits on the persecution and hidden faith of Nagasaki's Christians, as well as samurai armor and local history displays. The castle is surrounded by deep moats and impressive stone walls, and the nearby samurai quarter of Teppo-machi preserves several original samurai residences with unique water channels running along the streets.