Shimabara Castle was built by Matsukura Bungonokami Shigemasa over a period of about seven years starting in 1618. It was a magnificent castle that adopted the castle construction style of the Azuchi-Momoyama period, with a five-story castle tower at its core and large and small turrets placed at strategic points.

However, when the Shimabara Rebellion broke out in 1637 (Kanei 14), Shimabara Castle was besieged by farmers and Christians from the Shimabara Peninsula who were dissatisfied with the rule of the Shimabara clan. Shimabara Castle fell after more than 50 days of fierce fighting, and the Matsukura clan was destroyed.

After the Meiji era, the castle was disposed of and the buildings were removed, and now the castle tower, turrets, and long walls have been restored to the main enclosure, making it a castle ruins park.

The castle tower was restored in 1964 using RC construction.