List of Historic Sites of Japan (Okinawa)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This list is of the Historic Sites of Japan located within the Prefecture of Okinawa.[1] Much of the heritage of the Ryūkyū Kingdom and Islands was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa. The mausoleum complex of Tamaudun, Shuri Castle, Katsuren Castle, Nakagusuku Castle, Nakijin Castle, Zakimi Castle, Sefa-utaki, and Sonohyan-utaki all form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.[2]
National Historic Sites
As of 1 December 2025, forty-four Sites have been designated as being of national significance.[3][4][5]
| Site | Island | Municipality | Comments | Image | Coordinates | Type | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furusutobaru Castle フルスト原遺跡 Furusutobaru iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | C13-C15 gusuku-style fortifications, domestic buildings, utaki, and tombs extending for 12.3 ha on the Ryūkyū limestone (琉球石灰岩) hills overlooking Miyara Bay; said to have been used by Oyake Akahachi and suppressed by the forces of Shō Shin in 1500; finds include local pottery, white porcelain and celadon from China, and the bones of horses and cows[6][7] |  | 24°21′04″N 124°11′42″E | 2 | |
| Agena Castle ruins 安慶名城跡 Agena-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma | gusuku fortified in the fifteenth century[8] |  | 26°22′51″N 127°51′01″E | 2 | |
| Iha Shell Mound 伊波貝塚 Iha kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Uruma | Jōmon site discovered in 1920; finds include shells, fish bones, animal borns, earthenware, stoneware, and goods made of horn[8][9] |  | 26°25′14″N 127°49′15″E | 1 | |
| Ireibaru Site 伊礼原遺跡 Ireibaru iseki | Okinawa Island | Chatan | early Jōmon site; goods of jade and obsidian are evidence of early maritime trade |  | 26°19′28″N 127°45′31″E | 1 | |
| Uegusuku Castle ruins 宇江城城跡 Uegusuku-jō ato | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | of uncertain date, but probably razed at the time of assimilation into the Ryūkyū Kingdom c.1500; finds include Chinese ceramics and fish bones; the view extends over the entire island[10] | 26°22′37″N 126°46′12″E | 2 | ||
| Uzahama Site 宇佐浜遺跡 Uzahama iseki | Okinawa Island | Kunigami | Yayoi site on the northern tip of the island[11] | 26°51′58″N 128°15′37″E | 1 | ||
| Urasoe Castle ruins 浦添城跡 Urazoe-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | fortifications date back to C13/C14; incurred heavy damage during the Battle of Okinawa[12] |  | 26°14′47″N 127°43′56″E | 2 | |
| Enkaku-ji Site 円覚寺跡 Enkaku-ji ato | Okinawa Island | Naha | founded in 1492 by Shō Shin; the wooden temple buildings were destroyed during the war, an ornately carved stone bridge (ICP) survives[13] | 200703.jpg) | 26°13′06″N 127°43′11″E | 3 | |
| Ogidō Shell Mound 荻堂貝塚 Ogidō kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Kitanakagusuku | Jōmon period, with a 1.2 m thick deposit of shells[14] | 26°17′36″N 127°47′55″E | 1 | ||
| Shimotabaru Castle ruins 下田原城跡 Shimotabaru-jō ato | Hateruma Island | Taketomi |  | 24°04′10″N 123°46′45″E | 2 | ||
| Tamagusuku Castle ruins 玉城城跡 Tamagusuku-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō |  | 26°08′39″N 127°46′50″E | 2 | ||
| Tamaudun 玉陵 Tamaudun | Okinawa Island | Naha | royal mausoleum complex constructed in 1501; World Heritage Site |  | 26°13′06″N 127°42′53″E | 7 | |
| Gushibaru Shell Mound 具志原貝塚 Gushibaru kaizuka | Iejima | Ie | variety of shells and Jōmon and Yayoi earthenware[15] | 26°42′30″N 127°48′03″E | 1 | ||
| Gushikawa Castle ruins 具志川城跡 Gushikawa-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Itoman | C13-C15 Chinese ceramics found during excavations; thirteen-year restoration project between 2000 and 2012[16] |  | 26°04′49″N 127°39′52″E | 2 | |
| Gushikawa Castle ruins 具志川城跡 Gushikawa-jō ato | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | same name but distinct from the castle in Itoman | 26°23′05″N 126°45′07″E | 2 | ||
| Kunigami Hōsei Kaidō 国頭方西海道 Kunigami hōsei kaidō | Okinawa Island | Onna | historic route on the west coast of the island[17] |  | 26°26′05″N 127°47′23″E | 6 | |
| Nakijin Castle ruins 今帰仁城跡 附シイナ城跡 Nakijin-jō ato tsuketari Shiina-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nakijin | sacked in 1432; World Heritage Site; designation includes the site of Shiina Castle (シイナ城)[18] |  | 26°41′28″N 127°55′47″E | 2 | |
| Zakimi Castle ruins 座喜味城跡 Zakimi-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Yomitan | constructed c. 1420 by Gosamaru; World Heritage Site[19] |  | 26°24′30″N 127°44′30″E | 2 | |
| Sefa-utaki 斎場御嶽 Seifa-utaki | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | shrine; excavated artefacts including magatama are an ICP; World Heritage Site[20] | .jpg) | 26°10′24″N 127°49′38″E | 3 | |
| Yamada Castle ruins 山田城跡 Yamada-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Onna | Home of Gosamaru. Partially deconstructed to build Zakimi Castle |  | 26°25'53.8"N 127°46'57.4"E | 2 | |
| Itokazu Castle ruins 糸数城跡 Itokazu-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | damaged during the war[21] |  | 26°09′06″N 127°45′46″E | 2 | |
| Shuri Castle 首里城跡 Shuri-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Naha | palace of the Ryūkyū Kings; the main hall was repurposed as the haiden of Okinawa Shrine; reconstructed after near-total destruction during the war; World Heritage Site |  | 26°13′01″N 127°43′09″E | 2 | |
| Katsuren Castle ruins 勝連城跡 Katsuren-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma | C15 fortified residence of Amawari; World Heritage Site[8] |  | 26°19′50″N 127°52′43″E | 2 | |
| Sakishima Beacons 先島諸島火番盛 Sakishima-shotō hibanmui | Sakishima Islands | Miyakojima, Ishigaki, Tarama, Taketomi, Yonaguni | beacon network established in 1644 by the Ryūkyū Kings, under the influence of the Satsuma Domain, to monitor shipping in relation to the policy of sakoku[22] |  | 24°40′21″N 124°42′17″E | 2 | |
| Kabira Shell Mound 川平貝塚 Kabira kaizuka | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | inland to the northwest of Kabira Bay | 24°28′01″N 124°07′58″E | 1 | ||
| Ōyama Shell Mound 大山貝塚 Ōyama kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Ginowan | .jpg) | 26°16′25″N 127°44′42″E | 1 | ||
| Yamato Spring 大和井 Yamato gā | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | constructed c.1720 and mentioned in Yōsei-kyūki (雍正旧記) (1727); reserved for official use[23] (see also Water supply in Miyakojima) |  | 24°48′40″N 125°17′09″E | 8 | |
| Chinen Castle ruins 知念城跡 Chinen-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | repaired in C18 by Shō Kei[24] | 26°09′38″N 127°48′41″E | 2 | ||
| Nakagusuku Castle ruins 中城城跡 Nakagusuku-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Kitanakagusuku | built by Gosamaru of Zakimi Castle to defend against Amawari of Katsuren Castle; World Heritage Site[25][26] |  | 26°17′02″N 127°48′05″E | 2 | |
| Nakagami Hōsei Kaidō - Futenma Pilgrimage Route 中頭方西海道及び普天間参詣道 Nakagami hōsei kaidō oyobi Futenma sankei michi | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | 26°14′45″N 127°43′19″E | 6 | |||
| Nakabaru Site 仲原遺跡 Nakabaru iseki | Ikeijima Island | Uruma | C5 BC settlement with eleven sunken stone hearths[8] |  | 26°23′30″N 127°59′39″E | 1 | |
| Nakadomari Site 仲泊遺跡 Nakadomari iseki | Okinawa Island | Onna | cave dwellings and shell mound[27] |  | 26°26′07″N 127°47′28″E | 1 | |
| Shimashīi-Ōzato Castle ruins 島添大里城跡 Shimashīōzato-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | captured by Shō Hashi in the early C15; excavations have uncovered Chinese ceramics and items of iron and bronze[28] |  | 26°08′26″N 127°46′07″E | 2 | |
| Uchimaudūn 内間御殿 Uchimaudūn | Okinawa Island | Nishihara | centre for veneration of the Ryūkyū Kings, founded on the site of the residence of Shō En before he became king; damaged during the war |  | 26°13′42″N 127°46′05″E | 3 | |
| Sueyoshi-gū Site 末吉宮跡 Sueyoshigū ato | Okinawa Island | Naha | shrine to Kumano Gongen dating to the time of Shō Taikyū, destroyed during the war[29] |  | 26°13′47″N 127°42′50″E | 3 | |
| Mekaru Tomb Cluster 銘苅墓跡群 Mekaru haka ato gun | Okinawa Island | Naha | group of 330 C14/15 tombs with a large C18 turtle-back tomb; includes the Izenadunchi Tomb (伊是名殿内の墓)[30] |  | 26°13′50″N 127°41′51″E | 7 | |
| Momenbaru Site 木綿原遺跡 Momenbaru iseki | Okinawa Island | Yomitan | includes a burial with a stone sarcophagus and Yayoi ceramics[31] | 26°22′12″N 127°44′06″E | 1 | ||
| Sashiki Castle ruins 佐敷城跡 Sashiki-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō |  | 26°09′58″N 127°47′14″E | 2 | ||
| Nakagusuku Hanta Road 中城ハンタ道 Nakagusuku Hanta michi | Okinawa Island | Nakagusuku |  | 26°16′46″N 127°47′46″E | |||
| Kitadaitōjima Phosphorus Mining Site 北大東島燐鉱山遺跡 Kitadaitō-jima rinkōzan iseki | Kitadaitōjima Island | Kitadaitō |  | 25°57′14″N 131°17′06″E | 6 | ||
| Binnu Utaki 弁之御嶽 Binnu utaki | Okinawa Island | Naha | 26°13′04″N 127°43′53″E | 3, 8 | |||
| Shiraho Saonetabaru Cave Ruins 白保竿根田原洞穴遺跡 Shiraho Saonetabaru dōketsu iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | 24°22′57″N 124°12′21″E | 1 | |||
| Chatan Castle ruins 北谷城跡 Chatan-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Chatan |  | 26°18′35″N 127°46′06″E | 2 | ||
| Sōgen-ji Site 崇元寺跡 Sōgenji ato | Okinawa Island | Naha |  | 26°13′14″N 127°41′26″E | 3 | ||
Prefectural Historic Sites
As of 1 May 2025, fifty-six Sites have been designated as being of prefectural importance.[5][32]
| Site | Island | Municipality | Comments | Image | Coordinates | Type | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryūtan and its Surroundings 龍潭及びその周辺 Ryūtan oyobi sono shūhen | Okinawa Island | Naha |  | 26°13′12″N 127°43′02″E | for all refs see | ||
| Sonohyan-utaki 園比屋武御嶽 Sonohyan utaki | Okinawa Island | Naha | World Heritage Site |  | 26°13′05″N 127°43′02″E | ||
| Noguni Sōkan Grave 野国総官の墓 Noguni Sōkan no haka | Okinawa Island | Kadena | 26°20′56″N 127°44′43″E | ||||
| German Emperor's Tributary Monument ドイツ皇帝博愛記念碑 Doitsu kōtei hakuai kinen hi | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima |  | 24°48′24″N 125°16′45″E | |||
| Nakasone Toyomiya Grave 仲宗根豊見親の墓 Nakasone Toyomiya no haka | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima |  | 24°48′32″N 125°16′45″E | |||
| Uehiyayama Site 上比屋山遺跡 Uehiyayama iseki | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | 24°43′43″N 125°21′04″E | ||||
| Noborudake Spirit Stones 野原岳の霊石 Noborudake no tamaishi | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | 24°45′54″N 125°19′27″E | ||||
| Nakazato Magiri Kuramoto Site 仲里間切蔵元跡 Nakazato magiri kuramoto ato | Kume Island | Kumejima | 26°21′17″N 126°48′29″E | ||||
| Misakion 美崎御嶽 Misakion | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki |  | 24°20′07″N 124°09′30″E | |||
| Yagaji Untenbaru Sabaya Shell Mound 屋我地運天原サバヤ貝塚 Yagaji Untenbaru Sabaya kaizuka | Yagaji Island | Nago | 26°40′20″N 128°00′16″E | ||||
| Noguni Shell Mound Cluster 野国貝塚群 Noguni kaizuka-gun | Okinawa Island | Kadena | 26°21′01″N 127°44′47″E | ||||
| Sachihijā Shell Mound 崎樋川貝塚 Sachihijā kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Naha | 26°14′15″N 127°41′00″E | ||||
| Henna Shell Mound 平安名貝塚 Henna kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Uruma | 26°19′05″N 127°53′17″E | ||||
| Komesu Shell Mound 米須貝塚 Komesu kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Itoman | 26°05′19″N 127°42′04″E | ||||
| Kumejima Ōhara Shell Mound 久米島大原貝塚 Kumejima Ōhara kaizuka | Kume Island | Kumejima | 26°21′01″N 126°43′38″E | ||||
| Shimotabaru Shell Mound 下田原貝塚 Shimotabaru kaizuka | Hateruma Island | Taketomi | 24°04′13″N 123°46′39″E | ||||
| Nakama No.1 Shell Mound 仲間第一貝塚 Nakama daiichi kaizuka | Iriomote Island | Taketomi | 24°16′31″N 123°52′58″E | ||||
| Nakama No.2 Shell Mound 仲間第二貝塚 Nakama daini kaizuka | Iriomote Island | Taketomi | 24°16′50″N 123°53′23″E | ||||
| Binishi Shell Mound 平西貝塚 Binishi kaizuka | Iriomote Island | Taketomi | 24°19′33″N 123°55′02″E | ||||
| Iejima Deer Fossils 伊江島鹿の化石 Iejima shika no kaseki | Iejima Island | Ie | 26°44′08″N 127°48′49″E | ||||
| Izena Tamaudun 伊是名玉御殿 Izena Tamaudun | Izena Island | Izena |  | 26°54′57″N 127°57′06″E | |||
| Izena Castle Site 伊是名城跡 Izena-jō ato | Izena Island | Izena | 26°54′53″N 127°57′09″E | ||||
| Birthplace of King Shō En 尚円王生誕地屋敷内「みほそ所」 Shō En ō seitanchi yashiki nai (Mihoso-dokoro) | Izena Island | Izena |  | 26°56′00″N 127°57′00″E | |||
| Sashiki Yodore 佐敷ようどれ Sashiki yōdore | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | family mausoleum of Shō Shishō, father of Shō Hashi; relocated from Sashiki Nishiuehara in 1764[33] |  | 26°09′44″N 127°47′20″E | ||
| Large Stones of Nakashima 仲島の大石 Nakashima no ōishi | Okinawa Island | Naha |  | 26°12′41″N 127°40′37″E | |||
| Nakijin Village Nakahara Baba 今帰仁村仲原馬場 Nakijin-son Nakahara baba | Okinawa Island | Nakijin |  | 26°41′17″N 127°57′56″E | |||
| Nishitō-utaki 西塘御嶽 Nishitō-utaki | Taketomi Island | Taketomi |  | 24°19′46″N 124°05′06″E | |||
| Kuramoto Site 蔵元跡 Kuramoto ato | Taketomi Island | Taketomi |  | 24°19′09″N 124°04′38″E | |||
| Kakinohana Castle Site 垣花城跡 Kakinohana-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō |  | 26°08′52″N 127°47′32″E | |||
| Iso Castle Site 伊祖城跡 Iso-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | 26°15′26″N 127°43′22″E | ||||
| Iha Castle Site 伊波城跡 Iha-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma |  | 26°25′18″N 127°49′05″E | |||
| Ishikinawa Castle Site 伊敷索城跡 Ishikinawa-jō ato | Kume Island | Kumejima | also pronounced Chinaha Castle | 26°20′33″N 126°45′46″E | |||
| Shurikinjō-chō Ishidatami-michi 首里金城町石畳道 Shurikinjō-chō ishidatami-michi | Okinawa Island | Naha | also a Prefectural Place of Scenic Beauty |  | 26°12′58″N 127°42′55″E | ||
| Kaiketsu Haneji River Monument 改決羽地川碑記 Kaiketsu Haneji-gawa hiki | Okinawa Island | Nago | 26°37′11″N 128°00′58″E | ||||
| Yamashita No.1 Cave 山下町第一洞穴 Yamashita-chō daiichi dōketsu | Okinawa Island | Naha | 26°12′03″N 127°40′24″E | ||||
| Urasoe Shell Mound 浦添貝塚 Urasoe kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | 26°15′18″N 127°43′31″E | ||||
| Kogachi Ware Kiln Site 古我知焼窯跡 Kogachi-yaki kama ato | Okinawa Island | Nago | 26°37′37″N 127°59′28″E | ||||
| Hamasaki Shell Mound 浜崎貝塚 Hamasaki kaizuka | Iejima Island | Ie | 26°42′47″N 127°49′44″E | ||||
| Utida Stones ウティダ石 Utida ishi | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | 26°22′50″N 126°46′52″E | ||||
| Taramajima Ntabaru Tōyumya Myāka 多良間島の土原豊見親のミャーカ Taramajima no Ntabaru Tōyumya no myāka | Taramajima Island | Miyako | 24°40′17″N 124°42′04″E | ||||
| Terayama Site 寺山の遺跡 Terayama no iseki | Taramajima Island | Miyako | 24°40′13″N 124°42′17″E | ||||
| Hamamoto Sachipin Shell Mound 浜元サチビン貝塚 Hamamoto Sachipin kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Motobu | 26°40′16″N 127°53′24″E | ||||
| Yamakawa Minatobaru Site 山川港原遺跡 Yamakawa Minatobaru iseki | Okinawa Island | Motobu | 26°40′48″N 127°52′56″E | ||||
| Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen Cave Site 山川垣内権現洞穴遺跡 Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen dōketsu iseki | Okinawa Island | Motobu | 26°40′45″N 127°53′05″E | ||||
| Sumaryā Myāka スムリャーミャーカ Sumaryā Myāka | Kurima Island | Miyako | 24°43′26″N 125°15′19″E | ||||
| Minton Gusuku ミントングスク Minton gusuku | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | 26°08′43″N 127°47′30″E | ||||
| Iejima Gohezu Cave Site 伊江島のゴヘズ洞穴遺跡 Iejima no Gohezu dōketsu iseki | Iejima Island | Ie | 26°43′25″N 127°46′55″E | ||||
| Shimoji-chō Ikeda Bridge 下地町の池田矼 Shimoji-chō no Ikeda-bashi | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima |  | 24°45′12″N 125°17′08″E | |||
| Hirae Arasuku Village Site 平得アラスク村遺跡 Hirae Arasuku-mura iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | 24°21′23″N 124°10′37″E | ||||
| Kusatobaru Shell Mound 久里原貝塚 Kusatobaru kaizuka | Iheyajima Island | Iheya |  | 27°02′31″N 127°58′31″E | |||
| Tōzato Onda Site 桃里恩田遺跡 Tōzato Onda iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | 24°25′38″N 124°14′46″E | ||||
| Takausu Castle Site 高腰城跡 Takausu-jō ato | Miyakojima Island | Miyako | 24°47′17″N 125°22′28″E | ||||
| Kokugaku - Shuri Seibyō Stone Wall 国学・首里聖廟石垣 Kokugaku・Shuri Seibyō ishigaki | Okinawa Island | Naha | 26°13′09″N 127°43′05″E | ||||
| Dana Castle Site 田名城跡 Dana-jō ato | Iheya Island | Iheya |  | 27°03′50″N 127°59′14″E | |||
| Undersea Cable Shore Landing Site (Telegraph Station) 海底電線陸揚室跡(電信屋) Kaitei densen rikuage shitsu ato (denshinya) | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | 24°25′15″N 124°05′10″E | ||||
| Thirty-Second Army Headquarters Tunnels (Shuri Headquarters Tunnels) 第32軍司令部壕(首里司令部壕跡) Dai Sanjūni-gun shireibu-gō (Shuri shireibu-gō ato) | Okinawa Island | Naha | .png) | 26°13′06″N 127°43′04″E | |||
Municipal Historic Sites
As of 1 May 2025, a further three hundred and nineteen Sites have been designated as being of municipal importance,[5][34] including:
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Registered Historic Sites
As of 3 January 2026, three Monuments have been registered (as opposed to designated) as Historic Sites at a national level.[5][35][36]
| Site | Island | Municipality | Comments | Image | Coordinates | Type | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okinawa Prefectural Railways Yonabaru Station Site 沖縄県鉄道与那原駅跡 Okinawa-ken tetsudō Yonabaru-eki ato | Okinawa Island | Yonabaru |  | 26°11′59″N 127°45′18″E | |||
| Heshikiya Sugar Refining Site 平敷屋製糖工場跡 Heshikiya seitō kōjō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma | 26°22′45″N 127°51′26″E | ||||
| Agariō-Oki Site 東奥武沖遺跡 Agariō-Oki iseki | Ōha Island | Kumejima | 26°20′13″N 126°50′36″E | ||||
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to National historic sites in Okinawa prefecture.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prefectural Historic Sites in Okinawa Prefecture.
- Cultural Properties of Japan
- Ryūkyū Kingdom
- List of Important Cultural Properties of Japan (Okinawa: structures)
- List of Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan (Okinawa)
- List of Cultural Properties of Japan - paintings (Okinawa)
- Okinawa Prefectural Museum
- Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict