The city of Shimabara is located on the eastern tip of the Shimabara Peninsula, in Nagasaki Prefecture. This peninsula was formed thanks to the eruptions of Mount Unzen, the volcano located right at its center. Shimabara is the most important city on the peninsula and it is a truly unique place that I absolutely loved visiting!
One of its main characteristics is the incredible quality of its spring water. The spring water in Shimabara is so clean that Japanese carp can actually live in the city’s canals! This is also how Shimabara earned its title as the “City of Koi Carp” in Japan.
Let’s discover everything you need to know about Shimabara, starting with some practical tips on how to get there and where to stay. We will then continue with the local dishes you should try in Shimabara and the best places to visit.
How to Get to Shimabara ?
To get to Shimabara from Nagasaki city, the most convenient option is to take the train. First, take the JR Nagasaki Line to Isahaya Station. Then transfer to the Shimabara Railway Line and get off at Shimabara Station. The journey takes around 2 hours and costs 1,940 yen.
If you are coming from Fukuoka, it will be easier to take the Highway Bus directly to Shimabara from Hakata Bus Terminal. The trip takes around 3 hours. A one-way ticket costs 3,040 yen and a round-trip ticket costs 4,820 yen.
Where to Stay in Shimabara ?
For your stay in Shimabara, I really recommend booking a room at Hotel Nampuro! It is located by the sea, so you can enjoy beautiful views from your room but also from the onsen.
The onsen at the hotel are actually another great reason to stay there. You will find different types of baths, including indoor baths and outdoor baths, known as rotenburo, with a lovely view of the sea.
The rooms are also very comfortable, with a style that feels both modern and traditional.
Book Here: Hotel Nampuro
The Local Delicacies of Shimabara
Guzoni Soup
One of the great local food specialties of the Shimabara region is Guzoni soup! It is a soup made with around a dozen ingredients, including mochi rice cake, vegetables, burdock root, shiitake mushrooms, fried egg, and chicken. A real delight!
You can order Guzoni soup in many places around Shimabara, but I recommend going to Hime Matsuya (Maps location), a restaurant specialized in this dish.
Castella
Since we are in Nagasaki Prefecture, don’t miss the chance to try Castella, a cake that Portuguese missionaries introduced to Japan in the 16th century. You can find it at Matsui (Maps location), a shop that prepares and sells it directly on site.
The 5 Best Things to Do in Shimabara
1. Shimabara Castle
Shimabara Castle (Maps location) is a beautiful white castle built at the beginning of the Edo period. It was built to protect the local feudal lord at the time, but its construction was extremely expensive. To finance the project, the local government increased taxes, which became one of the reasons why the peasants of Shimabara eventually rose up during the “Shimabara Rebellion.”
The other reason behind this popular uprising was the persecution of Christians, who were quite numerous in this region at the time. Inside the castle, you will actually find old artifacts with Christian references, such as crosses.
2. Shimabara Samurai Residences
Not far from the castle, you will find the former residential district of Shimabara’s samurai (Maps location). They lived close to the castle so they could protect their lord in case of an attack.
Many old samurai houses have been preserved in this beautiful historic neighborhood, and you can even visit the inside of some of them. It gives you a nice idea of how these warriors used to live during the Edo period.
The Samurai District of Shimabara is also a very photogenic place. We actually met a lovely young woman there who was celebrating her 20th birthday wearing a beautiful yellow kimono. This ceremony is called Seijinshiki in Japanese.
3. Seiryu-tei
Ah, we are finally going to talk about the Japanese koi carp! The best place to learn more about them is Seiryu-tei (Maps location), which is a kind of information center. Of course, you will also find koi carp swimming peacefully in the small pond there.
You will learn that the development of koi culture in Shimabara was actually created to draw visitors’ attention to the quality of the city’s spring water. Shimabara’s water is considered one of the 100 best waters in Japan, and you will find natural drinking water springs all around the city.
If you walk along the street just behind Seiryu-tei, you will find the famous Japanese carp swimming freely in the canals. It is really surprising to see!
This is how koi carp became the symbol of Shimabara, and you will see references to them in many local products.
4. Shimeiso Spring Water Garden
Shimeiso is a wonderful traditional Japanese house surrounded by a beautiful garden where spring water flows naturally. It is a place with a very calm and relaxing atmosphere, so I really recommend stopping by and enjoying a matcha tea there, for example. The entrance fee is 310 yen and it’s located here.
If you pay attention, you can also see part of Mount Unzen from Shimeiso. It is a superb photo spot!
5. Gyokuho-ji Temple
Let’s finish this tour of Shimabara with a Za Zen meditation session at Gyokuho-ji Temple (Maps location), located in the southern part of the peninsula. The great thing is that the monk at this temple speaks very good English, so you can ask him anything you want about Buddhism and the practice of Za Zen.
He also organizes breakfasts where you can learn how to eat your meal in the “Zen” style. A truly unique experience!
That’s everything I wanted to share with you about the city of Shimabara. I hope this article made you want to visit this lovely part of Japan.
To continue exploring Nagasaki Prefecture, I also recommend taking a look at Ojika Island.
See you soon for more adventures!
MF