Visiting the ruins of Hara Castle

In the afternoon, we were visiting the ruins of Hara Castle (原城跡 -jyo ato), in Minamishimabara, Nagasaki. This place is known as the Shimabara rebellion, the greatest riot in Japan's uprising history between December 11, 1637 and April 12, 1638.

The statue of Amakusa Shiro (天草四郎). Amakusa Shiro, which is led by the castle battlements as a christian, was finally caught up by the Shogunate Army of Japan on the last day of the battle.

The holy cross tower.

A view of the central Minamiarima from the Honmaru keep tower.

Old Nabeshima House, Unzen, Nagasaki

On January 21, we had decided to take a drive to the ruin of Hara Castle and Nagasaki. As usual, we bought some "Cock" Chinese New year goods at Min-min boutique shop in Nagasaki Chinatown.

Before going to the Hara Castle, we went to the Old Nabeshima Family Residence (旧鍋島家住宅 kyu-nabeshimake-jyutaku), a traditional Japanese-style house and garden located in the Kojirokuji (神代小路) old town, Unzen. This historical building was built at the site of the official residence of the Nabeshima clan, the owner of the Kojiro territory by Saga domain.

The Nagayamon gate and stone fences. The middle of a long and narrow house like a tenement house is a gate which was built in the Genroku period. 

Passing the above-mentioned Nagayamon gate, pay an admission fee (200 yen per person) to go into the garden.

The Nabeshima house and its garden. It's very impressive garden, with some bonsai arts on the hillside.

A view of the entire building from the slope garden.

Yame-Fukushima

A happy new year to everyone.

I'm posting street views of the Yame-Fukushima (八女福島) historic old town. We visited there on the way to Rengein Tanjo-ji Okunoin.