Top Things to do in Shimabara
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What to do and see in Shimabara, Japan: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Shimabara, Japan including Yusui Garden Shimeisou, Shimabara Castle, Mt. Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall, Shimabara Spring Group, Samurai Houses, Shimabara Castle Town, Shimabara Gaiko Seaport, Shimabaratetsudou Train, Kyusho Ferry, Shimabara Yusui Museum.
Restaurants in Shimabara
1. Yusui Garden Shimeisou
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By Vanessa Y - Tokyo, Japan
It was raining quite hard, so it was a wonderful place to escape to - to relax, to enjoy the rain, and even to soak up a little of the simplicity & beauty of the place ... it was perfect, just to take a moment to breathe deeply. Our lovely host took the time to serve us some delicious green tea (made from using the spring water) and chatted about the house and it's unique garden. She explained the different concepts - the front garden is considered to be "yang"; lively and colourful (with multi-coloured carp), while the back garden is "yin"; quiet and simple (so, even the carp are all just black).
Quite a few visitors came, they took their photo's and went whilst we were there ... the place is free ... yet, it's disheartening to notice that no one offered up any donations to take care of such a beautiful place.
2. Shimabara Castle
Overall Ratings
4 based on 229 reviews
Reviewed By Xin R - Singapore, Singapore
From Shimabara Railway Station, walk straight ahead, then follow the signs to enter Shimabara Castle. The castle is beautiful, though I am unsure how it is compared to other Japanese Castles as this is the first I have visited. Looking at the castle buildings is free. To enter the castle buildings, an admission fee of 520 yen is required per adult. You can probably spend 1.5 to 2 hours here.
The museum on the first floor of the main castle is very intriguing. There are English panels discussing the "Hidden Christians" culture, i.e. the oppression of Japanese Christians in the past. For instance, there are artifacts showing how the Japanese Christians disguised statues of Mary. The Observatory on the fifth floor of the main castle offers gorgeous views, though you will have to brave the strong winds in winter. The museums on other floors and in other buildings have much fewer materials in English, but there are still artifacts to look at.
Outside the main entrance / exit of Shimabara Castle, there is a Japanese restaurant at the main road that opens at 11am. You can try eating the local speciality guzoni, which is a rice cake soup with ingredients like cabbage, lotus roots, mushrooms, chicken and grilled eel.
From Shimabara Castle, you can follow the signs and walk to the Samurai Houses.
3. Mt. Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 82 reviews
What has happened in this area and what has remained from the beginning of Heisei eruption in1990 November till the declaration of ceasing eruption in 1996. We will leave the lesson of the disaster and natural treats for future generations without weathering. We present Exhibitions dividing 11zones which are about volcano and prevention of its disaster beside Heisei eruption theater where you can simulate the experience of pyroclastic debris flow on the great power dome screen. It is only and unique Museum where you can learn about Volcano with simulated experience .
Reviewed By LondonTell - London
The staff are very helpful to foreign visitors making sure you get an audio headset, it's working and chaperoning between the exhibits which have programmed start times. You get an idea of the power of the eruption although some of the video is on the internet which possibility is too frightening to show at the exhibition although reference is made to those in the press who lost their life by staying on plus emergency services. The simulation of the eruption with the shared vibrating ride could be deemed to be in poor taste but probably can be viewed as educational for the people who live in a country under risk of such violent natural occurrences.
The museum also puts into context the previous historic eruptions. Fertility of the land as we know is why humans are quite happy to live in volcanic areas. The memory of past eruptions fades as it pass from one generation to another until it happens again. Quite educational.
4. Shimabara Spring Group
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 61 reviews
Reviewed By Vanessa Y - Tokyo, Japan
It's a very picturesque part of town and it's easy to walk around the small area, after visiting the Yusui Garden Shimeisou. You don't need a lot of time ... unless you'd like to take a rest or go slow. There are a lot of little interesting things to discover (e.g. bottles cooling in the stream, Japanese statues, colourful carp ...) and see along the way. You can even buy a bag of feed for feeding the fish, on the street.
5. Samurai Houses
Overall Ratings
4 based on 90 reviews
Reviewed By Xin R - Singapore, Singapore
This is a quiet row of Meiji-era samurai houses, alongside a canal containing natural spring water. These samurai houses belonged to low-ranking samurai. There are several residences that are open for viewing (free admission) with description panels. Note that you have to take off your shoes before entering the residences. If you are visiting Shimabara Castle, it is worth visiting the samurai houses since they are nearby. Just look out for signs directing you to 武家屋敷.
6. Shimabara Castle Town
Overall Ratings
4 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By trescomania - Hampshire
The building itself is beautiful, but a modern reconstruction, but does have some wonderful artifacts and relics in the showcases, and a great view. In my mind, it was spoilt by the presence of your ladies dressed as Ninja warriors, which gave it a Disney atmosphere
7. Shimabara Gaiko Seaport
Overall Ratings
4 based on 31 reviews
8. Shimabaratetsudou Train
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew M
There are not many private Railways in Japan, and we always take the chance to travel on them when the opportunity presents itself. We had traveled on the "Ninja Train" operated by Iga Railways a few days earlier. You will find this local service to be as Japanese as it gets, with trains usually not having more than two cars and packed. There trains move slowly between rural stations, so you get to enjoy the sights instead of seeing Japan in a bur, as is the case on the Bullet and High Speed Trains.
We had not intended to take this train initially, but was unable to take the ferry across the Shimabara Bay, as due to bad weather both scheduled Ferries were cancelled. We had to take the JR trains around the Ariake Sea to Ishaya, then take the Shimabara railway to Shimabara. The trip took about an hour, and it was very interesting to view the ancient looking stations, mostly built from wood, which was so unlike the modernity of the train stations on the main JR lines.
The Shimabara train is not covered by the JR pass, and we had to purchase tickets for the trip. The tickets were reasonably priced, and the experience was memorable. The most popular route for the train in Shimabara is between the four train stations in town.THe fare to travel in town is 150 yen. The main train station is the Shimabara Railway Station which is at the northern end of town, and within walking distance of the Shimabara Castle.The long distance bus to Hakata , also makes a stop here to pick up passengers.Heading in a southerly direction, the next train station is the Shimatetsuhonsha-Mae Station. This station is within walking distance of the Shimatetsu Bus Stop which provides transport to all areas of Shimabara and also nearby towns. We took buses from here to Unzen, the buried houses area and return trip to Hakata. The next station is Minami-Shimabara, which has a shrine nearby. The final stop on the line is Shimabaragaiko Station, which is a 5 minute walk from the Ferry Terminal building. This is a very convenient stop, as many taxis are found in this location. This is important, as Shimabara taxis do not drive around in search of fares but are rather parked at major transport areas, and if you are away from any of these areas, you will probably have to call a taxi.
9. Kyusho Ferry
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
10. Shimabara Yusui Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By たぬきおやじ - Tokyo, Japan
3月5日（日）迄 【島原城下・雛めぐり】が開催されており あちこちで古い雛人形が展示してありますが こちらでは 一般的な雛人形とともに 《雛掛け軸》が展示してありました。こちらの建物は 国・登録有形文化財（第42-0114：主屋、0115：石柱門及び石塀、0116:煉瓦塀）に指定されており 昭和10年（1935）頃の建物、欄間の透かし彫りも見事ですが この邸宅で一番驚いたのは 部屋の仕切りとして3枚襖があり、その3枚襖がきちんと収まるように 上部の溝を工夫してある点など良質な家づくりが成されており 建築物鑑賞ﾌｧﾝの方に訪問お薦めします。なお こちらの庭園にも 数匹ですが 錦鯉がいます。更に 趣味として作られているそうですが 紙人形の作品は その表情、仕草が良く出来ている上に 島原ならでの作品もあるので 立ち寄られることをお薦めします。
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