Hirado Castle, Japanese castle in Hirado, Japan
Hirado Castle is a Japanese fortress on a peninsula in Hirado, surrounded by bay water on three sides. The complex consists of reconstructed buildings and a tower that rises above the treetops and offers a view over the sea.
Matsura Shigenobu began a castle on this site in 1599 and burned it down in 1613. The domain then ruled from a residence across Hirado Port until Matsura Takashi, fourth lord, received shogunate permission in 1703; work began in 1704 and was largely complete by 1707, with no keep, a three-storey turret serving instead. Most buildings were dismantled in 1871.
The museum houses pieces from the Matsura family collection, including a sword from the Asuka period that ranks among the nation's important cultural properties. Visitors can trace how the regional feudal lords lived and exercised power over centuries.
The fortress opens daily from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM between April and September, with shorter hours until 5:00 PM from October to March. The climb to the tower requires several staircases and is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Two components of the original early 18th-century complex remain: the north gate and a watchtower named after the animal sounds heard there at night. The remaining buildings were reconstructed in the second half of the 20th century.
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