Shimabara Castle & Christian Rebellion Site

Shimabara Castle (1625) stands on the site of the Shimabara Rebellion (1637–1638) — the largest armed uprising in Edo-period Japan, when 37,000 Christian peasants and masterless samurai revolted against oppressive taxation and religious persecution. The rebellion was crushed after a 3-month siege; all defenders were executed. The castle was rebuilt as a symbol of Tokugawa authority.

The five-story keep contains a museum covering both the rebellion and the castle's later role as administrative center. The most haunting exhibit: Christian artifacts recovered from mass graves, including rosaries, crosses, and children's toys.