Hirado Castle

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 riveting experience.

Beautiful, historic place to visit. We went on a Saturday and it was not very busy. Lots of walking to do around the area where the castle is located.

One of my favorite castles in Japan. It's very pretty, right on the sea, and the inside is fun and interactive. Great for kids, and has explanations in English or a QR code with the English and other languages explanation.

Definitely a must see if you are in the area or within driving distance. This castle is small but very interactive and keeps you entertained. There are games and you can learn about the history as well. On the very top floor of the castle they offer a photograph service that is done via your phone through an app. That was a big plus. I would recommend parking in the shrine area as it is easier to access the castle and this way you can see the shrine as well which is pretty nice and a good size.

1700 Historic Castle of the Matsura clan. Large area to explore and opportunities to take awesome photos of the castle, city and bay area. I had fun wrestling in the sumo area. Free access but 500 yen to go inside the museum and top view area.

Cost is ¥520 for adults, ¥320 for high schoolers, and ¥200 for elementary and junior high schoolers.

Authentic entrance... I thought it was abandoned when we started into the property grounds. Overgrown foliage and the sound of crickets or similar, I felt like I was in an old Indiana Jones movie. Once by the castle, the outside structure was a replica of the original, but the inside was completely modernized and more like a museum. The view from the top was awesome though. Not a fan of the many spiders, but the wildlife around was their territory!!

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 accepts cash.