Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu

Q-⓯ Umi-Yama Scenic Byways in Shimabara Peninsula
Unzen, Shimabara, and Minami Shimabara City (Nagasaki Pref.)－Unzen Volcanic Area Ge-

opark, and Rebellion of Shimabara・Amakusa－
One of the paired peninsulas in the southern part of Nagasaki
Prefecture is the Shimabara Peninsula centered on the Unzen active volcano zone. As shown in the map, the peninsula is 40 km
wide, 150 km long, covering an area of approximately 470 ㎢, andall areas are the “Umi-Yama” Scenic Byway in Shimabara Peninsula. Surrounded by the Ariake Sea, Shimabara Bay and Tachibana Bay, it is composed of three local governments: Unzen City,Shimabara City, and Minami-Shimabara City.
(Access). The main access points from overseas are Nagasaki,Fukuoka and Kumamoto Airports, and the ports in Nagasaki andHakata. Based on them, there are four main access routes to thepeninsula. One of them is the peninsula route. From Nagasaki
Airport or Fukuoka Airport, you arrive at the Isahaya IC on theNagasaki Expressway or Isahaya Station on the JR Nagasaki

Main Line. From there, head National Route 57 south to reachAino’s district ⓵ in Unzen City (See map).
Points of ⓶ and ⓷ on the west coast of the peninsula are toaccess Fukuoka Airport or Kumamoto Airport and to board a boat
from Miike Port, Nagasu Port or Kumamoto Port. Point ⓸ is aferry between Oniike Port on Amakusa Shimoshima andKuchinotsu Port on the south of peninsula.
(Main Route in Road Network and Public Transport).
The main routes in the scenic area are the national routes 57,
251, and 389 that circulate or cross the peninsula. Wide-area agriculture roads, disaster prevention roads and prefectural roads
also complement this road network.
The Shimabara Railway runs between JR Isahaya Station and◎Q-⓯ Umiyama Scenic Byways in Shimabara Peninsula

1City Hall(6) Lava Dome of Mt. Heisei-shinzan(6) Miyama-Kirishima in Unzen-Dake Mountains.

(2) Two Times of Big Eruptions in Unzen-Dake Mountains

Shimabara Port Station as public transportation system, and bus
routes are established along the National Routes and major prefectural roads on the peninsula.
(Main Scenic Resources).
The two main scenic resources of the Shimabara Peninsula are
active volcanoes and the history of hardships of Christianity.
a) Until several millions of years ago, there were only a few small
islands in the sea throughout the Shimabara region. However, theeruption of volcanos started 1 million to 1.5 million years ago, andthe outer ring islands surrounding the Chijiwa Caldera (nowTachibana Bay) was born. Furthermore, the eruption of half a million years ago connected the outer ring islands with the Kyushu
main island, forming a peninsula.
In addition, an earthquake occurred and a graben extending
from east to west was formed in the center of the peninsula due tothe north-south fault. After that, volcanic activity on the mountain and the collapse of the mountainous areas were repeated, andthe present topography of the peninsula was formed. Of these volcanic activities, two major eruptions in 1792 and 1989-1995 arewell known.
In the former case, Mt. Mayu-yama was destroyed by an earthquake caused due to the volcanic eruption of Fugen-dake Mount.
It is said that 15,000 people had died or were missing due to thelarge tsunami that occurred when the collapsed sediment flowed

into Shimabara Bay (see photo (2)).
The latter is the eruption of Heisei-shinzan Mount. A lava dome
was formed around the crater. The pyroclastic flow, which collapsed as it grew, bypassing Mayuyama and flowing to the eastern
slope of the peninsula. As a result, we had many casualties.
Due to the possibility of volcanic activity in the future, the topography of peninsula might be changed further. However, at present, the mountainous area is located in the center of the peninsula, and is composed of more than 20 mountains such as Heisei
Shinzan, forming a steep slope toward Tachibana Bay. In otherareas, small volcanic mountains, pyroclastic flow, and debris flow
deposits are stacked up.
The Shimabara Peninsula with these contents is a part of Unzen Amakusa National Park, and was certified as Japan Geoparkin 2008 and Global Geopark in 2009, focusing on Unzen Volcano.
b) Another scenic spot is associated with a rebellion by farmers onAmakusa Island and Shimabara Peninsula. The ruins are world
culture heritage. Farmers in the area could not tolerate excessive
taxes, famine, and severe oppression for Christians. Therefore,
under the leadership of 16-years-old Amakusa Shiro, the farmers
caused the largest revolt in Japan from 1637 to 1638.
In the Shimabara Peninsula, Arima villager people first killed
their deputy officer (Daikan). Then, the farmers fought in Fukae
village and attacked Shimabara Castle. On the other hand, inAmakusa, the rebels fought at Hondo
Castle and attacked Tomioka Castle.
However, neither castle could beoccupied. Therefore, farmers gathered in the abandoned Hara Castle
and built a base camp there. The
scale is said to have been 37,000
persons (including non-combatants
such as women and children). Incontrast, the shogunate army was
130,000 soldiers.
(3) Trace of Hara Castle (World Culture Heritage, Minami-shimabara (3) Honmaru Ruins of Hara Jo CastleCity2

(2)-1 Shimabara Castle and its Town
The shogunate army attacked the(Shimabara City)
castle several times with overwhelming force, but all failed. So,
About 12 km south of Taira Port, you will
they attacked rebels while cutting
reach the center of Shimabara City. Next tooff food supply, and eventually
Shimabara Station is the Shimabarakilled or let to commit suicide mostClan's Castle and Samurai Residenceof the rebels. This was a tragic hapTown.
pening that we had never experiIn 1616 of the Edo Period, the lord ofenced.
Shimabara replaced Mr. Matsukura clan
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・(Fudai Daimyo), and initially had entered
Our life on the peninsula is toHinoe Castle. However, because the castle
take advantage of the various
was small, a new castle was built in 1624 in(1) Latest Embankment Road in Isahaya Bay
blessings from the volcano. There isthe Shimabara area. After the rebellion ofa magma chamber at the bottom ofShimabara, Mr. Matsukura was let to transTachibana Bay, and heat is
fer and the daimyos continued to change.
transmittedtotheUnzen
Later, during the Meiji era, the domain itself
Peninsula. The entire peninsula is a
was abolished and the castle was demolresort area with hot springs
ished, but it is rebuilt as a museum of mod(Onsen).
ern history in the present times. Samurai
The main ones are Obama,armor, materials related Shimabara rebelUnzen, and Shimabara, each withlion, hidden Christian relics, ancient folk
different quality. Obama Onsen is atools and more are on display.
natural hot spring with a maximum
The southern part of the castle town uses
(1) Nabeshima’s House in Koujiro-Kuji
temperature of over 105 ℃ . At
spring water, and has clean waterways, garUnzen Onsen, 30 fountains and hot
dens with spring water, and a communal
steam spout out, and the hot water
laundry. In addition, Shimabara Onsen
is said to heal wounds. Shimabara
and Shimabara Port are next to it.
Onsen is kind to the skin and is(2)-2 Lava Flow Zone in the Mizunashi
about 40 ℃.
River Basin.
Reference to the two landscaperesources and their placement, theThe area from Shimabara Port to thescenic spots on this route can be
Mizunashi River was directly damaged bygrouped into six zones, as shown inthe collapse of Mayuyama Mount in thethe map.
Edo period and by the lava flow (from 1990
(1) Isahaya Bay Area in Unzen City
(2) Shimabara Castle (Shimabara City)
to 1996) from the Mount of Heisei-Shinzan.
You will reach the Aino district at
Needless to say, this area is the core site of
the base of the peninsula as you proGlobal Geopark.
ceed along National Route 57 whileAs shown in the aerial photograph, thetracing the history of the Isahaya
eastern side of Mayuyama is a cliff, and is
Bay reclamation project that started
followed by small hills. In addition, thefrom the back of the bay and continAriake Sea has many small islands formed
ues to the present. When headingby the debris flow of landslides.
east on Route 251 toward theOn the other hand, the lava of Heisei
Shimabara Railroad's Azuma StaShinzan flowed down at 100 km/h andtion from there, you can see the longspread in the basin of Mizunashi River,straight dike road and locks built by
which is the boundary between Shimabara(2) Spring Garden “Shimeisou” (Shimabara City)
the latest landfill project.
City and Minami-shimabara City. The
Furthermore, taking Nationalbuildings of elementary school and private
Route 251 toward Taira Port, youhouses destroyed by the pyroclastic flow
will find Kunimi Town Historicalare left as memorials for the disaster (SeeCulture Park. It is a town called
photo (2)).
“Koujiro-Kuji”, that is registered as
A facility for displaying volcano-related
an important traditional buildingand disaster-related materials has beengroup preservation district. In thebuilt and is open to the public (Unzendake
Edo period, it was Saga territory (NaDisaster Memorial Museum and Gamabeshima clan), not the Shimabaradasu Dome). At the same time, levees wereclan. When you visit, you can enjoy
built to control the flow of lava debris.
the old townscape. Many relics such(3) Heritages of hidden Christian(2) House buried in Debris Flowas waterways, hedges and stone walls
In the center of Minami-shimabara City, ruins ofare lined up neatly. Nabeshima Residence
themedieval
Hinoe
Castle and heritage related to hidden
and its garden are important cultural assets of the country.
Christians during the Edo period can be seen.
3rocks) erupted half million years ago,
and the first layer of Unzen Volcano(Ryuishi Coast). (See photos (3) and(4)).
(5) Region of Obama Spa Town andTachibana Bay(5) Source of Hot Water in Obara Onsen (spa town)(5) Hot Spring for Foot in Obama Onsen(6) Unzen Jigoku (Spout of Hot Water or Steam)This scenic area is the rift valley
facing Tachibana Bay, the northernboundary of which is the Chijiiwa fault,
and the southern side is theKanehama Fault. In particular, theChijiiwa Fault has a long stretch in theeast-west direction, with a fall of 300 to
450m in 300 thousand years, and thebottom of the southern slope issubducting at a rate of 1 to 1.5mm /year.
Obama Onsen is one of the 3 major
hot springs on the Shimabara
Peninsula and is located at the foot ofMt.Unzendake. The temperature of
hot water is 105 ℃, and the amount ofheat radiation (water amount × hotwater temperature) is the highest inJapan. The foot bath “HOT FOOT 105”
installed on the beach was named after
this fact. The sunset over Tachibana
Bay while bathing in hoto water is awonderful view.

(3) Tatsuishi Coast(4) Futago-iwa (rock)(6) Catholic Martyrdom Monument(6) Region in Unzen Volcano and Unzen Spa

You can climb the Unzendake Mountains through National Route 57 fromObama Onsen and Shimabara City.
The main scenic spots are Unzen hot
springs, Unzen Jigoku (Hell) Tour, andUnzen Active Volcano. Mt. Unzendakeis a general term for active volcanoes
such as Heisei Shinzan (1483m),Fugen-dake (1359m), and Myokendake (1333m). When you want to climb
these volcanoes easily, you can also(6) Officials urging Residents to abandon Christianity(4) Dolphin Watching in Shimabara Bay
take a bus or taxi from Unzen Onsen
The biggest spot is the remains of Hara Castle (World Culturalto Nita Pass and take a ropeway.
Heritage), the last battlefield of Shimabara Amakusa's rebellion.
・・・・・・・・・・・・
Farmers involved in the riots had a hard time collecting andThe seas surrounding the peninsula have its unique charactereating seaweed from under the cliff, but in the end they wereistics. The Ariake Sea in the eastern side has a wide tidal flat, withdefeated and it is said that rebels except one spy have been killed
a well-developed lagoon where crabs, rockfish, puffers, prawns,
or committed suicide. After that, Christians underwent moreand kelp gather. Tachibana Bay on the west is Caldera Bay, andsevere oppression, but continued their faith secretly. The hidden
there are many steep cliffs on the coast. In addition, about 300
Christian relics and materials are preserved and exhibited in thedolphins settle at the southern end of the Shimabara peninsula,
Arima Christian Heritage Memorial Hall.
and you can see a powerful dolphin show that swims in groups
from the boat.
(3) & (4) Geosites in Minami-Shimabara CityIn short, this route area is a region of attractive scenic byways
You can visit prehistoric geo-sites at the southern end of thethat ties the surrounding sea (Umi) to the central volcano (Yama).
Shimabara Peninsula, which are registered with the UNESCO
In this sense, "Umi-Yama" has been added to the course name.
Global Geopark. In other words, you can see the oldest layer of 4.3
Publishing and Copy right: Promotion Conference of Kyushu Scenic
million years ago (Hayasaki Peninsula), the andesite (Futagoiwa
Byways ○c (Copy right 2020. All rights reserved)

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