Hirado Castle — Attraction in Hirado

Hirado Castle (平戸城, Hiradojō) stands on a hill guarding Hirado Port and the Hirado Strait, which used to be part of an important trade route between Japan and the Asian mainland. The original fortress was built in 1599 by the loca matusafa lord however, he destroyed the structure after fighting the Tokugawa on the losing side of the Battle of Sekigahara as a gesture of loyalty to the victor. The Matsura Clan continued ruling Hirado for the next two and a half centuries.

A new castle (also known as Kameoka Castle) was built on the site a hundred years later in 1718 as part of the coastal defenses erected during Japan's self imposed seclusion in...

I went out of my way to see Hirado Castle and don’t regret it! Entry was ¥520, and it’s worth it, for the fantastic tower view and small museum. Going up in the tower you’ll get a great view of the city of Hirado, Hirado Bridge, and the ocean. The castle complex is also really cool. There’s some replica buildings, a small gift shop, and right there in one small area.

If you’re English speaking- be aware that nearly all of the museum is in Japanese. It’s a great museum though and is worth checking out if you’re willing to use GoogleLens. Lastly, bring cash. The gift shop only accepts cash payments and the ticket machine in the tower only...

Only open from 8:30 am to 5 pm, my visit was short lived as I arrived 30 minutes prior. The grounds are vast and only little ground was covered, but from my experience it was a wondrous experience getting to see the beautiful architecture of the walls that barricade around the castle itself. There is a tour offered that provides a rich history background but is an optional offer through the main castle, which I was not able to see myself in this trip. So much was left unseen so another visit seems to be in order for a more...