List of Historic Sites of Japan (Okinawa)

This list is of the Historic Sites of Japan located within the Prefecture of Okinawa. 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.

National Historic Sites

As of 1 December 2014, thirty-nine sites have been designated as being of national significance.

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	150px		2	[1]
Agena Castle Site 安慶名城跡 Agena-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Uruma	gusuku fortified in the fifteenth century			2	[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			1	[3]
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			1	[4]
Uegusuku Castle Site 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			2	[5]
Uzahama Site 宇佐浜遺跡 Uzahama iseki	Okinawa Island	Kunigami	Yayoi site on the northern tip of the island			1	[6]
Urazoe Castle Site 浦添城跡 Urazoe-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Urasoe	fortifications date back to C13/C14; incurred heavy damage during the Battle of Okinawa	150px		2	[7]
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	150px		3	[8]
Ogidō Shell Mound 荻堂貝塚 Ogidō kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Kitanakagusuku	Jōmon period, with a 1.2 m thick deposit of shells			1	[9]
Shimotabaru Castle Site 下田原城跡 Shimotabaru-jō ato	Hateruma Island	Taketomi				2	[10]
Tamagusuku Castle Site 玉城城跡 Tamagusuku-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nanjō		150px		2	[11]
Tamaudun 玉陵	Okinawa Island	Naha	royal mausoleum complex constructed in 1501; World Heritage Site	150px		7	[12]
Kushibaru Shell Mound 具志原貝塚 Kushibaru kaizuka	Ie Island	Ie	variety of shells and Jōmon and Yayoi earthenware			1	[13]
Gushikawa Castle Site 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	150px		2	[14]
Gushikawa Castle Site 具志川城 Gushikawa-jō ato	Kumejima Island	Kumejima	same name but distinct from the castle in Itoman			2	[15]
Kunigami Hōsei Kaidō 国頭方西海道 Kunigami hōsei kaidō	Okinawa Island	Onna	historic route on the west coast of the island			6	[16]
Nakijin Castle Site 今帰仁城跡 附シイナ城跡 Nakijin-jō ato Tsuketarishiina-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nakijin	sacked in 1432; World Heritage Site	150px		2	[17]
Zakimi Castle Site 座喜味城跡 Zakimi-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Yomitan	constructed c. 1420 by Gosamaru; World Heritage Site	150px		2	[18]
Sefa-utaki 斎場御嶽	Okinawa Island	Nanjō	shrine; excavated artefacts including magatama are an ICP; World Heritage Site	150px		3	[19]
Yamada Castle Site 山田城跡 Yamada-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Onna	Home of Gosamaru. Partially deconstructed to build Zakimi Castle.			2	[20]
Itokazu Castle Site 糸数城跡 Itokazu-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nanjō	damaged during the war	150px		2	[21]
Shuri Castle Site 首里城跡 Shuri-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Naha	palace of the Ryūkyū Kings; reconstructed after near-total destruction during the war; World Heritage Site			2	[22]
Katsuren Castle Site 勝連城跡 Katsuren-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Uruma	C15 fortified residence of Amawari; World Heritage Site	150px		2	[23]
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	150px		2	[24]
Kabira Shell Mound 川平貝塚 Kabira kaizuka	Ishigaki Island	Ishigaki	inland to the northwest of Kabira Bay			1	[25]
Ōyama Shell Mound 大山貝塚 Ōyama kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Ginowan				1	[26]
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 (see also Water supply in Miyakojima)	150px		8	[27]
Chinen Castle Site 知念城跡 Chinen-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nanjō	repaired in C18 by Shō Kei			2	[28]
Nakagusuku Castle Site 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	150px		2	[29]
Nakagami Hōsei Kaidō 中頭方西海道及び普天間参詣道 Nakagami hōsei aidō oyobi Futenma sankeimichi	Okinawa Island	Urasoe				6	[30]
Nakabaru Site 仲原遺跡 Nakabaru iseki	Ikeijima Island	Uruma	C5 BC settlement with eleven sunken stone hearths			1	[31]
Nakadomari Site 仲泊遺跡 Nakadomari iseki	Okinawa Island	Onna	cave dwellings and shell mound	150px		1	[32]
Shimashīi-Ōzato Castle Site 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			2	[33]
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			3	[34]
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	150px		3	[35]
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			7	[36]
Momenbaru Site 木綿原遺跡 Momenbaru iseki	Okinawa Island	Yomitan	includes a burial with a stone sarcophagus and Yayoi ceramics			1	[37]
Sashiki Castle Site 佐敷城跡 Sashiki-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nanjō				2	[38]
Nakagusuku Hanta Road 中城ハンタ道 Nakagusuku Hanta michi	Okinawa Island	Nakagusuku					[39]

This list is complete and up-to-date as of December 2014.

Prefectural Historic Sites

As of 1 May 2014, fifty-four sites have been designated as being of prefectural importance.

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					[40]
Sonohyan-utaki 園比屋武御嶽 Sonohyan utaki	Okinawa Island	Naha	World Heritage Site				[41]
Noguni Sōkan Grave 野国総官の墓 Noguni Sōkan no haka	Okinawa Island	Kadena					[42]
German Emperor's Tributary Monument ドイツ皇帝博愛記念碑 Doitsu kōtei hakuai kinen hi	Miyakojima Island	Miyakojima					[43]
Nakasone Toyomiya Grave 仲宗根豊見親の墓 Nakasone Toyomiya no haka	Miyakojima Island	Miyakojima		150px			[44]
Uehiyayama Site 上比屋山遺跡 Uehiyayama iseki	Miyakojima Island	Miyakojima					[45]
Noborudake Spirit Stones 野原岳の霊石 Noborudake no tamaishi	Miyakojima Island	Miyakojima					[46]
Nakazato Warehouse Overseer Site 仲里間切蔵元跡 Nakazato magiri kuramoto ato	Kumejima Island	Kumejima					[47]
Misakion 美崎御嶽 Misakion	Ishigaki Island	Ishigaki					[48]
Yagaji Untenbaru Sabaya Shell Mound 屋我地運天原サバヤ貝塚 Yagaji Untenbaru Sabaya kaizuka	Yagaji Island	Nago					[49]
Noguni Shell Mound Cluster 野国貝塚群 Noguni kaizuka-gun	Okinawa Island	Kadena					[50]
Sachihijā Shell Mound 崎樋川貝塚 Sachihijā kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Naha					[51]
Henna Shell Mound 平安名貝塚 Henna kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Uruma					[52]
Komesu Shell Mound 米須貝塚 Komesu kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Itoman					[53]
Kumejima Ōhara Shell Mound 久米島大原貝塚 Kumejima Ōhara kaizuka	Kumejima Island	Kumejima					[54]
Shimotabaru Shell Mound 下田原貝塚 Shimotabaru kaizuka	Hateruma Island	Taketomi					[55]
Nakama No.1 Shell Mound 仲間第一貝塚 Nakama daiichi kaizuka	Iriomote Island	Taketomi					[56]
Nakama No.2 Shell Mound 仲間第二貝塚 Nakama daini kaizuka	Iriomote Island	Taketomi					[57]
Binishi Shell Mound 平西貝塚 Binishi kaizuka	Iriomote Island	Taketomi					[58]
Iejima Deer Fossils 伊江島鹿の化石 Iejima shika no kaseki	Iejima Island	Ie					[59]
Bengadake 弁ケ嶽 Bengadake	Okinawa Island	Naha					[60]
Izena Tamaudun 伊是名玉御殿 Izena Tamaudun	Izena Island	Izena					[61]
Izena Castle Site 伊是名城跡 Izena-jō ato	Izena Island	Izena					[62]
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					[63]
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				[64]
Large Stones of Nakashima 仲島の大石 Nakashima no ōishi	Okinawa Island	Naha		150px			[65]
Nakijin Village Nakahara Baba 今帰仁村仲原馬場 Nakijin-son Nakahara baba	Okinawa Island	Nakijin		150px			[66]
Nishitō-utaki 西塘御嶽 Nishitō-utaki	Taketomi Island	Taketomi		150px			[67]
Kuramoto Site 蔵元跡 Kuramoto ato	Taketomi Island	Taketomi					[68]
Kakinohana Castle Site 垣花城跡 Kakinohana-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nanjō					[69]
Iso Castle Site 伊祖城跡 Iso-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Urasoe					[70]
Iha Castle Site 伊波城跡 Iha-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Uruma					[71]
Ishikinawa Castle Site 伊敷索城跡 Ishikinawa-jō ato	Kumejima Island	Kumejima	also pronounced Chinaha Castle				[72]
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	150px			[73]
Kaiketsu Haneji River Monument 改決羽地川碑記 Kaiketsu Haneji-gawa hiki	Okinawa Island	Nago					[74]
Yamashita No.1 Cave 山下町第一洞穴 Yamashita-chō daiichi dōketsu	Okinawa Island	Naha					[75]
Urasoe Shell Mound 浦添貝塚 Urasoe kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Urasoe					[76]
Kogachi Ware Kiln Site 古我知焼窯跡 Kogachi-yaki kama ato	Okinawa Island	Nago					[77]
Hamasaki Shell Mound 浜崎貝塚 Hamasaki kaizuka	Iejima Island	Ie					[78]
Utida Stones ウティダ石 Utida ishi	Kumejima Island	Kumejima					[79]
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					[80]
Terayama Site 寺山の遺跡 Terayama no iseki	Taramajima Island	Miyako					[81]
Hamamoto Sachipin Shell Mound 浜元サチビン貝塚 Hamamoto Sachipin kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Motobu					[82]
Yamakawa Minatobaru Site 山川港原遺跡 Yamakawa Minatobaru iseki	Okinawa Island	Motobu					[83]
Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen Cave Site 山川垣内権現洞穴遺跡 Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen dōketsu iseki	Okinawa Island	Motobu					[84]
Sumaryā Myāka スムリャーミャーカ Sumaryā Myāka	Kurima Island	Miyako					[85]
Minton Gusuku ミントングスク Minton gusuku	Okinawa Island	Nanjō					[86]
Iejima Gohezu Cave Site 伊江島のゴヘズ洞穴遺跡 Iejima no Gohezu dōketsu iseki	Iejima Island	Ie					[87]
Shimoji-chō Ikeda Bridge 下地町の池田矼 Shimoji-chō no Ikeda-bashi	Miyakojima Island	Miyakojima		150px			[88]
Hirae Arasuku Village Site 平得アラスク村遺跡 Hirae Arasuku-mura iseki	Ishigaki Island	Ishigaki					[89]
Kusatobaru Shell Mound 久里原貝塚 Kusatobaru kaizuka	Iheyajima Island	Iheya					[90]
Tōzato Onda Site 桃里恩田遺跡 Tōzato Onda iseki	Ishigaki Island	Ishigaki					[91]
Takausu Castle Site 高腰城跡 Takausu-jō ato	Miyakojima Island	Miyako					[92]
Kokugaku - Shuri Seibyō Stone Wall 国学・首里聖廟石垣 Kokugaku・Shuri Seibyō ishigaki	Okinawa Island	Naha					[93]

This list is complete and up-to-date as of December 2014.

Municipal Historic Sites

As of 1 May 2014, a further two hundred and ninety-six sites have been designated as being of municipal importance.

See also

• 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

External links

• (Japanese) Cultural Properties in Okinawa Prefecture
• (Japanese) List of Cultural Properties in Okinawa Prefecture