History · Okinawa · Japan
8 historic sites to see in Okinawa
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: ChiefHira, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Shuri Castle, Tsuboya Yachimun Street and Okinawa Peace Memorial Park. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 10–10 hours across 5 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 10–10 hours
- Areas
- Naha (Kokusai-dori), Nanjo and the south and Okinawa City (Koza)
Historic sites in Okinawa
Castle · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
1.Shuri Castle
Its vermilion main hall burned in 2019 and has been undergoing reconstruction scheduled for completion around 2026; the restored gates, including Shureimon, the stone ramparts and views over Naha remain open, and parts of the rebuilding have been shown to visitors.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Street · Naha (Kokusai-dori)
2.Tsuboya Yachimun Street
A stone-paved lane of about 400 m is lined with studios and shops selling yachimun (Okinawan pottery), and the Tsuboya Pottery Museum explains the craft.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- History
- Art
- Free
Historic site · Nanjo and the south
3.Okinawa Peace Memorial Park
The Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum covers the battle and its impact on civilians with clarity and restraint.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Views
Museum · Nanjo and the south
4.Himeyuri Peace Museum
It uses survivors' testimonies, photographs and a recreated cave.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
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Religious site · Nanjo and the south
5.Sefa-utaki
Its famous triangular rock passage frames a view of Kudaka Island, the island of the gods. It is UNESCO-listed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Nature
Castle · Okinawa City (Koza)
6.Nakagusuku Castle
From the walls you can see both the East China Sea and the Pacific. It is UNESCO-listed.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Architecture
Castle · Motobu Peninsula
7.Nakijin Castle
Early-blooming cherry trees colour the approach from late January.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Photo spot
Castle · Yomitan
8.Zakimi Castle
The grounds are free and quiet, with views over Yomitan to the sea.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Views
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Naha (Kokusai-dori) | Shuri Castle and Tsuboya Yachimun Street | 2 hours + 1 hour |
| Nanjo and the south | Okinawa Peace Memorial Park, Himeyuri Peace Museum and Sefa-utaki | 2 hours + 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Okinawa City (Koza) | Nakagusuku Castle | 1 hour |
| Motobu Peninsula | Nakijin Castle | 1 hour |
| Yomitan | Zakimi Castle | 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 5 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Shuri Castle; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Naha (Kokusai-dori)): Shuri Castle → Tsuboya Yachimun Street, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Nanjo and the south): Okinawa Peace Memorial Park → Himeyuri Peace Museum → Sefa-utaki, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Okinawa City (Koza), Motobu Peninsula and Yomitan): Nakagusuku Castle → Nakijin Castle → Zakimi Castle, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- November: highs of 25°C (77°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Pleasant, dry and warm, with low prices; the sea is cooling but snorkelling is still comfortable for many.
- December: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild and breezy, good for castles, walks and day trips; busy again over New Year.
- February: highs of 20°C (68°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Similar to January, with cherry blossom in the north early in the month and professional baseball spring training camps across the island.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Naha (Kokusai-dori) — City base on the monorail with Kokusai-dori, the markets and late-night izakaya
- Yomitan — Quiet west-coast villages with potters, Zakimi Castle and Cape Zanpa
- Motobu Peninsula — Northern peninsula with the aquarium, Bise's tree-lined lanes and island bridges
- Okinawa City (Koza) — Former base town of live-music bars, Gate 2 Street and Eisa drumming
- Nanjo and the south — Cliff-top cafés, sacred sites and war memorials south-east of Naha
More of Okinawa
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Okinawa?
Shuri Castle. The hilltop palace of the Ryukyu kings is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
+Which of these are free in Okinawa?
Tsuboya Yachimun Street, Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and Zakimi Castle.