[2025 Shimabara Attraction] Travel Guide for Shimabara Castle (Updated Mar)

1. Unzen City, Japan, is located in the southeastern part of the Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is situated at 32°50'07" north latitude and 130°11'15" east longitude, facing the Ariake Sea to the east and Mount Unzen to the south. Part of the city lies within Unzen-Amakusa National Park. 2. Unzen City, Japan, has many tourist attractions worth visiting. Here are some of the main ones: - Natural landscapes - Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell): A famous hot spring area in Japan with about 30 sightseeing spots. It has a large number of sulfurous rocks, hot springs, and swirling smoke, making you feel like you are in "hell." The hot spring temperature at Dai-kyokan Jigoku (Screaming Hell) reaches over 100 degrees Celsius. 3. Mount Unzen: Located in the center of the Shimabara Peninsula, it is an active volcano composed of multiple stratovolcanoes. It has erupted many times and the surrounding scenery is magnificent. You can enjoy the majestic view of Mount Fugen from the observation points at the top of Mount Nita and Mount Myoken. 4. Unzen Ropeway: Take the ropeway to enjoy a panoramic view of the valleys and mountains in the Unzen area. After reaching the top of Mount Myoken, you can also overlook the surrounding mountains and forests from multiple viewing platforms. 5. Hot spring experiences - Unzen Onsen: Located on the southwestern hillside of Mount Unzen, it is divided into three areas: Furuyu (Old Spring), Shin-yu (New Spring), and Kojigoku (Small Hell). At an altitude of 700–800 meters, it is cool in summer and a summer resort. There are more than 30 hot springs here, and the spring water contains minerals such as sulfur, which is good for the skin. 6. Obama Onsen: A hot spring town with a history of 1,300 years. The spring water is a mixture of volcanic chlorine gas, seawater, and groundwater. It is one of the hottest hot springs in Japan and also features Japan's longest flowing footbath, the Obama Onsen Footbath. 7. History and culture - Shimabara Castle: Originally built in 1624, it is a historic castle with a unique architectural style. The interior displays many cultural relics and materials related to local history. There are also beautiful moats and gardens around it. 8. The area between Furuyu and Shin-yu in Unzen is called the Unzen Jigoku area, which is filled with white smoke. Wherever you go, high-temperature steam is ejected, white smoke curls up, sulfurous rocks are everywhere, and the air is filled with the smell of sulfur. The smoky scene is like hell, hence the name Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell). It is a very mysterious place.

Located in the southeastern part of the Shimabara Peninsula in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, Unzen City sits at 32°50′07″N, 130°11′15″E. It faces the Ariake Sea to the east, borders Mount Unzen to the south, and partially lies within Unzen-Amakusa National Park. Unzen City offers many tourist attractions worth visiting. Here are some of the main ones: - Natural Landscapes - Unzen Jigoku (Hells): A famous hot spring area in Japan with about 30 sightseeing spots. Here, you'll find sulfurous rocks, hot springs, and rising steam, making you feel like you're in hell. The hot spring at Daikyokan Jigoku reaches temperatures of over 100°C.  - Mount Unzen: Located in the center of the Shimabara Peninsula, this active volcano is made up of multiple stratovolcanoes. It has erupted many times and offers magnificent surrounding scenery. You can enjoy the majestic view of Mount Fugen from the observation points at Nita Pass and Mount Myoken.  - Unzen Ropeway: Take the ropeway to enjoy panoramic views of the valleys and mountains in the Unzen area. After reaching the top of Mount Myoken, you can overlook the surrounding mountains and forests from multiple viewing platforms. - Unzen Nita Pass: This is an excellent location for admiring Mount Unzen and the surrounding scenery. With a wide-open view, you can see far into the distance on clear days. It's also suitable for hiking, with many nature trails nearby. - Hot Spring Experiences - Unzen Onsen: Located halfway up the southwestern slope of Mount Unzen, it's divided into three areas: Furuyu, Shinyu, and Kojigoku. At an altitude of 700–800m, it offers a cool escape in the summer. There are over 30 hot springs here, and the water contains minerals such as sulfur, which is good for the skin.  - Obama Onsen: A hot spring town with a 1,300-year history. The spring water is a mix of volcanic chlorine, seawater, and groundwater. It's one of the hottest hot springs in Japan and features Japan's longest flowing footbath, "Obama Onsen Footbath HOT FOOT 105."  - History and Culture - Shimabara Castle: Originally built in 1624, this historic castle has a unique architectural style. Inside, you'll find many artifacts and materials related to local history. There's also a beautiful moat and garden surrounding the castle.  - Amakusa Sakitsu Church: Located in the Amakusa area, this church was first built in 1873 after the government lifted the ban on Christianity. It features a Gothic architectural style, contrasting sharply with the surrounding quiet fishing village.

#DomesticTravelRecord During my trip to Nagasaki, I visited Shimabara Castle, a 400-year-old castle. Shimabara Castle is a magnificent restored castle that stands right next to the parking lot. Parking is 500 yen, but unlike most castles, you don't have to go up a hill to the castle tower, and you can see the magnificent castle, which is very appreciated. The admission fee to Shimabara Castle is 700 yen, but inside the castle there are valuable exhibits related to Christianity, armor, Japanese swords, and more, all worth seeing. It's quite a walk to the top floor, but the view from the top was amazing. You can see the Ariake Sea and Mount Unzen, and the view was amazing. This is a place you can't miss when visiting Shimabara!