Hirado Castle Hotel
Nagasaki Prefecture's Hirado Castle opened Japan's first "shirohaku" castle stay. It's located in the historic hilltop castle from the 18th century with panoramic views across the Hirado Strait.
In 1599, Matsura Shigenobu, a local warlord, constructed a castle called Hinotake-jō on this site. He then burned it down in 1613. The 5th daimyo of the Hirado domain, Matsura Takashi, rebuilt it until it was abandoned under the Ordinance.
In 1962, the entire castle complex underwent a thorough reconstruction and renovation, including the construction of the main keep, which now serves as a museum with artifacts of the Matsura clan.
After recent and modern renovations, it reopened in April 2021.
Today, you can stay at the castle's Kaiju Yagura Tower, which was transformed into a hotel.
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
The sleek and minimalist suite can sleep up to five people.
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
If you'd like to sample local traditions, you can dress up in traditional Japanese clothes, take part in a 17th-century warrior tea ceremony, or watch an exceptional performance of the "Hirado Kagura" dance.
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
The hotel also offers fine dining.
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
They prepare full-course meals to savor the distinctive tastes of Hirado Island using fresh seafood and local-grown seasonal ingredients. And that's not all.
Staying at a castle is a rare experience, but part of the experience is the after-hours visit to the on-site museum, exclusive to the guests.
Butterfly mural by local artist, Takahide Komatsu
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
The interior is stuffed with Japanese art and design, including the butterfly mural on the dining room wall, which is the work of Kyushu local artist Takahide Komatsu.
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
The two-story Kaiju Yagura tower suite contains a living/dining room adjacent to the entrance and a bedroom on the second floor.
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
Photo by Jimmy Cohrssen
The spectacular bathroom is surrounded by three glass walls, through which you can enjoy the fantastic view overlooking the ocean and the Hirado Bridge.
The castle hotel operator hopes to create a new tourism trend using the symbol of Hirado, and we can see why this is a great idea.
