Moritake was one of the hummocky hills created by the collapse of Mt. Manuyama thousands of years ago. From 1618, Matsukura Shigemasa spent 7 years to build the Shimabara Castle by cutting this hill and constructing stone walls and a moat there. The burden of heavy tax for building such an inappropriately large castle was imposed on the local people, and it led to the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion of 1637. The main gate of the castle also became a site of battles with rebels. The castle tower is now used to exhibit historical documents related to Christians as well as local and folk materials from the feudal age.