CONTRIBUTED BY HOLLY BATES
It is no secret that Okinawa is littered with castle ruins of long ago. You need only drive ten minutes from Kadena to see one. They spread far and wide from the southern most part of the island to the north. One of these northern sites is the Nakijin Castle Ruins and if you are up for a little road trip, it’s definitely worth it.
A beautiful drive (between 45 minutes to an hour from Kadena) to the north of Motobu in the Nakijin Village, lies a fortress that is recognized as an UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site. This fortress was the capital of the Hokuzan principality, one of three principalities that made up the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Once you get to the castle, you will park and walk up to a small square. There are a few food vendors and shops. Food is cheap and pretty good as far as snacks and a light lunch. There are also souvenir stores nearby. If you keep walking you will veer to the left and begin to see the outlying wall of the castle. You will notice that there are still areas of the castle being excavated and studied. Some of the artifacts found during these excavations may be seen in the three story museum that is included in your admission fee.
The walk will take you anywhere from 20-30 minutes. There is a beautiful view from the top and all of the major historical plaques provide English translations. Afterward, head over to the museum and view all of the artifacts that have been collected over the years. The collection is quite extensive. There is also an opportunity to sit in on a presentation and to view videos, although most of them are in Japanese.
It is a great park, very informative and well maintained. A great day trip for a family or to go solo. There are beautiful beaches and things to do within a 10-15 minute drive from the park. Easily accessible and surrounded by the forest, its definite “to do” during your stay on the island.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. ~ 6:00 p.m. (Last Entry)
*Hours may be extended seasonally
*Sections of the facilities may be closed without prior notice due to unavoidable reasons.
Phone: 0980-56-5767
Payment: Parking is free
Adults: ¥400
Elementary through high school: ¥300
Children not yet in school: Free
Address: 5110, Imadomari, Nakjin Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 905-0428
Coordinates: 26.6916548, 127.9273023
Website: http://nakijinjo.jp/english/