What to know
The Nakijin Castle Ruins (今帰仁城跡, Nakijinjōato) sit on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Honto and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gusuku sites of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Unlike other Okinawan castles, Nakijin is set in a sparsely populated area of lush forests, giving the ruins a unique and tranquil atmosphere.
Built in the late 1200s, Nakijin Castle served as the seat of the Hokuzan king during the Sanzan Period (1322-1429), when Okinawa Honto was split into three kingdoms: Hokuzan (north), Chuzan (central), and Nanzan (south). It was later taken over by Chuzan as they unified the island and established the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Next to the castle ruins, the Nakijin Village History and Culture Center houses a small museum with artifacts unearthed on site, including Chinese pottery, coins, and documents. Exhibits also cover daily life and culture in Nakijin Village.
The Nakijin Castle Ruins are located on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Honto, about 90 kilometers from Naha and a ten-minute drive from Ocean Expo Park.
The Yanbaru Express bus directly connects Naha's airport and city center with Nakijin Castle. Get off at Nakijinjō-seki (今帰仁城跡) stop, right next to the ruins. The one-way trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs 2000-2100 yen. Buses run every 1-2 hours. In central Naha, the bus stops at the Prefectural Office (県庁北口, Kenchō Kitaguchi) and Tomari Port, among other locations.
From Nago Bus Terminal, the Yanbaru Express runs to Nakijinjō-seki stop every 1-2 hours (35 minutes, 800 yen one way).
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 8:00 to 19:00 (until 18:00 from September to April)
- Closed
- No closing days
- Admission
- 1000 yen (~$6.4)
- English name
- Original name
- Nakijin Castle Ruins
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.