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 August 2019, forty-one Sites have been designated as being of national significance.| Site | Island | Municipality | Comments | Image | Coordinates | Type | Ref. |
| Furusutobaru Castle Furusutobaru iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | C13-C15 gusuku-style fortifications, domestic buildings, utaki, and tombs extending for 12.3 ha on the Ryūkyū limestone 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 | 2 | |||
| Agena Castle Site Agena-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma | gusuku fortified in the fifteenth century | 2 | |||
| Iha Shell Mound 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 | |||
| Ireibaru Site Ireibaru iseki | Okinawa Island | Chatan | early Jōmon site; goods of jade and obsidian are evidence of early maritime trade | 1 | |||
| Uegusuku Castle Site 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 | |||
| Uzahama Site Uzahama iseki | Okinawa Island | Kunigami | Yayoi site on the northern tip of the island | 1 | |||
| Urasoe Castle Site Urazoe-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | fortifications date back to C13/C14; incurred heavy damage during the Battle of Okinawa | 2 | |||
| Enkaku-ji Site 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 survives | 3 | |||
| Ogidō Shell Mound Ogidō kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Kitanakagusuku | Jōmon period, with a 1.2 m thick deposit of shells | 1 | |||
| Shimotabaru Castle Site Shimotabaru-jō ato | Hateruma Island | Taketomi | 2 | ||||
| Tamagusuku Castle Site Tamagusuku-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | 2 | ||||
| Tamaudun Tamaudun | Okinawa Island | Naha | royal mausoleum complex constructed in 1501; World Heritage Site | 7 | |||
| Kushibaru Shell Mound Kushibaru kaizuka | Ie Island | Ie | variety of shells and Jōmon and Yayoi earthenware | 1 | |||
| Gushikawa Castle Site Gushikawa-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Itoman | C13-C15 Chinese ceramics found during excavations; thirteen-year restoration project between 2000 and 2012 | 2 | |||
| Gushikawa Castle Site Gushikawa-jō ato | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | same name but distinct from the castle in Itoman | 2 | |||
| Kunigami Hōsei Kaidō Kunigami hōsei kaidō | Okinawa Island | Onna | historic route on the west coast of the island | 6 | |||
| Nakijin Castle Site Nakijin-jō ato tsuketari Shiina-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nakijin | sacked in 1432; World Heritage Site; designation includes the site of Shiina Castle | 2 | |||
| Zakimi Castle Site Zakimi-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Yomitan | constructed c. 1420 by Gosamaru; World Heritage Site | 2 | |||
| Sefa-utaki Seifa-utaki | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | shrine; excavated artefacts including magatama are an ICP; World Heritage Site | 3 | |||
| Yamada Castle Site Yamada-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Onna | Home of Gosamaru. Partially deconstructed to build Zakimi Castle | 2 | |||
| Itokazu Castle Site Itokazu-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | damaged during the war | 2 | |||
| Shuri Castle Site 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 | 2 | |||
| Katsuren Castle Site Katsuren-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma | C15 fortified residence of Amawari; World Heritage Site | 2 | |||
| Sakishima Beacons 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 | 2 | |||
| Kabira Shell Mound Kabira kaizuka | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | inland to the northwest of Kabira Bay | 1 | |||
| Ōyama Shell Mound Ōyama kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Ginowan | 1 | ||||
| Yamato Spring Yamato gā | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | constructed c.1720 and mentioned in Yōsei-kyūki ; reserved for official use | 8 | |||
| Chinen Castle Site Chinen-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | repaired in C18 by Shō Kei | 2 | |||
| Nakagusuku Castle Site Nakagusuku-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Kitanakagusuku | built by Gosamaru of Zakimi Castle to defend against Amawari of Katsuren Castle; World Heritage Site | 2 | |||
| Nakagami Hōsei Kaidō Nakagami hōsei aidō oyobi Futenma sankeimichi | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | 6 | ||||
| Nakabaru Site Nakabaru iseki | Ikeijima Island | Uruma | C5 BC settlement with eleven sunken stone hearths | 1 | |||
| Nakadomari Site Nakadomari iseki | Okinawa Island | Onna | cave dwellings and shell mound | 1 | |||
| Shimashīi-Ōzato Castle Site 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 | |||
| Uchimaudūn 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 | |||
| Sueyoshi-gū Site Sueyoshigū ato | Okinawa Island | Naha | shrine to Kumano Gongen dating to the time of Shō Taikyū, destroyed during the war | 3 | |||
| Mekaru Tomb Cluster Mekaru haka ato gun | Okinawa Island | Naha | group of 330 C14/15 tombs with a large C18 turtle-back tomb; includes the | 7 | |||
| Momenbaru Site Momenbaru iseki | Okinawa Island | Yomitan | includes a burial with a stone sarcophagus and Yayoi ceramics | 1 | |||
| Sashiki Castle Site Sashiki-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | 2 | ||||
| Nakagusuku Hanta Road Nakagusuku Hanta michi | Okinawa Island | Nakagusuku | |||||
| Kitadaitōjima Phosphorus Mining Site Kitadaitō-jima rinkōzan iseki | Kitadaitōjima Island | Kitadaitō | |||||
| Binnu Utaki Binnu utaki | Okinawa Island | Naha |
Prefectural Historic Sites
As of 1 May 2018, fifty-four Sites have been designated as being of prefectural importance.| Site | Island | Municipality | Comments | Image | Coordinates | Type | Ref. |
| Ryūtan and its Surroundings Ryūtan oyobi sono shūhen | Okinawa Island | Naha | for all refs see | ||||
| Sonohyan-utaki Sonohyan utaki | Okinawa Island | Naha | World Heritage Site | ||||
| Noguni Sōkan Grave Noguni Sōkan no haka | Okinawa Island | Kadena | |||||
| German Emperor's Tributary Monument Doitsu kōtei hakuai kinen hi | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | |||||
| Nakasone Toyomiya Grave Nakasone Toyomiya no haka | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | |||||
| Uehiyayama Site Uehiyayama iseki | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | |||||
| Noborudake Spirit Stones Noborudake no tamaishi | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | |||||
| Nakazato Magiri Kuramoto Site Nakazato magiri kuramoto ato | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | |||||
| Misakion Misakion | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | |||||
| Yagaji Untenbaru Sabaya Shell Mound Yagaji Untenbaru Sabaya kaizuka | Yagaji Island | Nago | |||||
| Noguni Shell Mound Cluster Noguni kaizuka-gun | Okinawa Island | Kadena | |||||
| Sachihijā Shell Mound Sachihijā kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Henna Shell Mound Henna kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Uruma | |||||
| Komesu Shell Mound Komesu kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Itoman | |||||
| Kumejima Ōhara Shell Mound Kumejima Ōhara kaizuka | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | |||||
| Shimotabaru Shell Mound Shimotabaru kaizuka | Hateruma Island | Taketomi | |||||
| Nakama No.1 Shell Mound Nakama daiichi kaizuka | Iriomote Island | Taketomi | |||||
| Nakama No.2 Shell Mound Nakama daini kaizuka | Iriomote Island | Taketomi | |||||
| Binishi Shell Mound Binishi kaizuka | Iriomote Island | Taketomi | |||||
| Iejima Deer Fossils Iejima shika no kaseki | Iejima Island | Ie | |||||
| Bengadake Bengadake | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Izena Tamaudun Izena Tamaudun | Izena Island | Izena | |||||
| Izena Castle Site Izena-jō ato | Izena Island | Izena | |||||
| Birthplace of King Shō En Shō En ō seitanchi yashiki nai | Izena Island | Izena | |||||
| Sashiki Yodore Sashiki yōdore | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | family mausoleum of Shō Shishō, father of Shō Hashi; relocated from Sashiki Nishiuehara in 1764 | ||||
| Large Stones of Nakashima Nakashima no ōishi | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Nakijin Village Nakahara Baba Nakijin-son Nakahara baba | Okinawa Island | Nakijin | |||||
| Nishitō-utaki Nishitō-utaki | Taketomi Island | Taketomi | |||||
| Kuramoto Site Kuramoto ato | Taketomi Island | Taketomi | |||||
| Kakinohana Castle Site Kakinohana-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | |||||
| Iso Castle Site Iso-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | |||||
| Iha Castle Site Iha-jō ato | Okinawa Island | Uruma | |||||
| Ishikinawa Castle Site Ishikinawa-jō ato | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | also pronounced Chinaha Castle | ||||
| Shurikinjō-chō Ishidatami-michi Shurikinjō-chō ishidatami-michi | Okinawa Island | Naha | also a Prefectural Place of Scenic Beauty | ||||
| Kaiketsu Haneji River Monument Kaiketsu Haneji-gawa hiki | Okinawa Island | Nago | |||||
| Yamashita No.1 Cave Yamashita-chō daiichi dōketsu | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Urasoe Shell Mound Urasoe kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | |||||
| Kogachi Ware Kiln Site Kogachi-yaki kama ato | Okinawa Island | Nago | |||||
| Hamasaki Shell Mound Hamasaki kaizuka | Iejima Island | Ie | |||||
| Utida Stones Utida ishi | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | |||||
| Taramajima Ntabaru Tōyumya Myāka Taramajima no Ntabaru Tōyumya no myāka | Taramajima Island | Miyako | |||||
| Terayama Site Terayama no iseki | Taramajima Island | Miyako | |||||
| Hamamoto Sachipin Shell Mound Hamamoto Sachipin kaizuka | Okinawa Island | Motobu | |||||
| Yamakawa Minatobaru Site Yamakawa Minatobaru iseki | Okinawa Island | Motobu | |||||
| Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen Cave Site Yamakawa Kakiuchi Gongen dōketsu iseki | Okinawa Island | Motobu | |||||
| Sumaryā Myāka Sumaryā Myāka | Kurima Island | Miyako | |||||
| Minton Gusuku Minton gusuku | Okinawa Island | Nanjō | |||||
| Iejima Gohezu Cave Site Iejima no Gohezu dōketsu iseki | Iejima Island | Ie | |||||
| Shimoji-chō Ikeda Bridge Shimoji-chō no Ikeda-bashi | Miyakojima Island | Miyakojima | |||||
| Hirae Arasuku Village Site Hirae Arasuku-mura iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | |||||
| Kusatobaru Shell Mound Kusatobaru kaizuka | Iheyajima Island | Iheya | |||||
| Tōzato Onda Site Tōzato Onda iseki | Ishigaki Island | Ishigaki | |||||
| Takausu Castle Site Takausu-jō ato | Miyakojima Island | Miyako | |||||
| Kokugaku - Shuri Seibyō Stone Wall Kokugaku・Shuri Seibyō ishigaki | Okinawa Island | Naha |
Municipal Historic Sites
As of 1 May 2019, a further three hundred and six Sites have been designated as being of municipal importance, including:| Site | Island | Municipality | Comments | Image | Coordinates | Type | Ref. |
| Maeda Ichirizuka Maeda no ichirizuka | Okinawa Island | Onna | for all refs see | ||||
| Nanzan Castle Site Nanzan-gusuku ato | Okinawa Island | Itoman | |||||
| Tonnaha Castle Site Tonnaha-gusuku ato | Kumejima Island | Kumejima | |||||
| Tamagusuku Chōkun Tomb Tamagusuku Chōkun no haka | Okinawa Island | Urasoe | |||||
| Perry's Banner Rock Perī no hata-tate iwa | Okinawa Island | Nakagusuku | |||||
| Naminoue Naminoue | Okinawa Island | Naha | also a Municipal Place of Scenic Beauty | ||||
| Sakiyama Utaki Sakiyama-utaki | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Ginowan Udun Tombs Ginowan-udun no haka oyobi boiki | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Takushi Uekata Tomb Takushi Uekata no haka | Okinawa Island | Naha | |||||
| Amamichū Tomb Amamichū no haka | Hamahiga Island | Uruma | |||||
| Uni-Ufugusuku Tomb Uni-Ufugusuku no haka | Okinawa Island | Okinawa |