Nakagusuku Castle, Okinawa Island

Name: Nakagusuku Castle
Address: 503 Ogusuku, Okinawa Island, 901-2314, Japan
Telephone: +81 98-935-5719

#1 among attractions in Okinawa Island

Top attraction, Forts and castles, Unesco

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Facts and practical information

Nakagusuku Castle is a gusuku in the village of Kitanakagusuku, Okinawa, Japan. It is one of a number of castles built on the island of Okinawa by the Ryukyu Kingdom now in ruins. The legendary Ryukyuan commander, Gosamaru, built the fortress in the early 15th century to defend against attacks from the east by Lord Amawari of Katsuren Castle. Amawari attacked the castle in 1458 and defeated Gosamaru shortly before his own castle was attacked by Uni-Ufugusuku. The castle was visited by Commodore Matthew C. Perry in 1853, who noted that the walls seemed to be designed to absorb cannon fire. The six courtyards of this fortress with stacked stone walls make it a prime example of a gusuku. It was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000. It is regarded as one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. Less than 50 metres away from the castle is the Nakagusuku Hotel ruins. ()

Local name: 中城城 Built: 1440 (584 years ago)Unesco: from 2000Area: 0.69 mi²Coordinates: 26°17'2"N, 127°48'4"E

Address

503 OgusukuOkinawa Island 901-2314 Japan

Contact

+81 98-935-5719

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Okinawa Island

Day trips

Nakagusuku Castle – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Katsuren Castle, Urasoe Art Museum, Urasoe yōdore, Urasoe Castle.

5.8 miNE
Historical place, Forts and castles,
Katsuren Castle, Uruma
150 min walk • Katsuren Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Uruma, Okinawa. In 2000, Katsuren Castle was designated as a World Heritage Site, as a part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.
5.6 miSW
Museum, Art museum
Urasoe Art Museum, Naha
143 min walk • Urasoe Art Museum opened in 1990 in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The collection has a particular focus upon Ryukyu lacquerware.
5 miSW
Mausoleum
Urasoe yōdore, Naha
127 min walk • Urasoe yōdore is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom, along with Tamaudun at Shuri Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena, Okinawa. It is located in Urasoe, Okinawa, in a cave on a cliff to the northeast of Urasoe Castle.
5 miSW
Forts and castles, Historical place
Urasoe Castle, Naha
128 min walk • Urasoe Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku which served as the capital of the medieval Okinawan principality of Chūzan prior to the unification of the island into the Ryukyu Kingdom, and the moving of the capital to Shuri.
5.5 miN
Forts and castles
Chibana Castle, Okinawa City
140 min walk • Chibana Castle, also known as Goeku Castle was a Ryukyuan gusuku on Okinawa Island. In the Chibana district of Okinawa City, the castle site sits on a hill and is surrounded by jungle.
5.7 miSW
City, Area
Urasoe, Naha
145 min walk • Urasoe is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south, Ginowan to the north, and Nishihara to the east.
4.7 miSW
Town, Area
Nishihara, Naha
119 min walk • Nishihara is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. In the Okinawan language, nishi means "north", as Nishihara was north of the historical Ryukyuan capital of Shuri.
4.2 miW
Music and shows, Theater, Nightlife
Okinawa Convention Center, Ginowan
108 min walk • The Okinawa Convention Center is a multi-purpose convention center in the city of Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. They opened in 1987. It has a capacity of 5,000. It is the former home arena of the Ryukyu Golden Kings basketball team.
5.7 miNE
Forts and castles
Kyan Castle, Uruma
145 min walk • Kyan Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Uruma, Okinawa. It was controlled by the Ōgawa Aji of Agena Castle until it was destroyed by the Ryukyu Kingdom.
4.7 miNW
Locality
Ryukyu Islands, Okinawa Island
119 min walk • The Ryukyu Islands are, depending on definitions, the whole or part of a chain of Japanese islands that stretch southwest from Kyushu to Taiwan.
4.3 miW
26°16'51"N • 127°43'55"E
Tropical beach Ginowan, Ginowan
109 min walk • Beach, Park, Outdoor activities