What other travelers are saying about Hirado Dutch Trading Post
It was interesting to learn the beginning of Dutch trading in Hirado before moving to the Dutch village in Deijima.
it's a small clean museum but super easy to interpret the displays.
What a beautiful building and little museum. 310 yen entrance fee. Could be more English but use your translator and see the brochures attached.
In 1609, the Dutch EastIndia Company (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie, VOC) received permission from the Tokugawa shogunate to establish a trading post in Hirado,Nagasaki Prefecture that marked the beginning of the Netherlands’ official trade presence in Japan. In 1641 they were relocated to the small, man-made island of Dejima in Nagasaki Harbor, where they were contained and strictly monitored.
A reconstructed Dutch warehouse from 1639. The original was destroyed only a year later as the anno 1639 marker was deemed too Christian. The museum features a lot of cool artifacts, including a suit of European medieval armor, a beautiful imported Indian chair shown to be the same model as that acquired by the Matsura clan. I enjoyed the interactive globe tool that shows the development of the East India Company over time, its colonies and trade posts, ship routes with cargo info; it was my favorite part of the museum. Unfortunately, there is only partial information in English.
Cool glimpse into history. Mini museum set up in a minimalist sense. Easy pedestrian access and they sell combo tickets for the Matsura museum.
The current warehouse building is a faithful reconstruction completed in 2011. The original Dutch trading post was dismantled after operations ceased in 1641, and only foundation stones remained. Archaeologists and historians used detailed Dutch East India Company records, architectural drawings, and excavated materials to recreate the building as authentically as possible, incorporating the original foundation stones discovered at the site.
Visitors can explore the two-story reconstructed warehouse, which now operates as a museum displaying Dutch ceramics, historical trade documents, and artifacts from the trading era. The interior features recreated trading rooms showing how Dutch merchants conducted business with Japanese counterparts. The site also offers scenic views of Hirado Port from the upper floor, and visitors can see the original foundation stones preserved within the building.
Most visitors spend approximately 60 to 90 minutes at the Hirado Dutch Trading Post museum. This allows sufficient time to view the exhibits, explore both floors, and appreciate the harbor views. If you plan to visit nearby attractions such as Hirado Xavier Memorial Church and Hirado Castle, which are within walking distance, you should allocate at least half a day for the historic district area.
From Fukuoka, take an express bus from Fukuoka Airport or Hakata Bus Terminal directly to Hirado, which takes approximately 2.5 hours. Alternatively, take the JR train to Sasebo Station, then transfer to a bus heading to Hirado, which adds about 90 minutes. From Nagasaki, travel to Sasebo first and then take the bus. Having a rental car provides more flexibility for exploring Hirado and the surrounding Nagasaki Prefecture coastline.
