What to know
The Zakimi Castle Ruins (座喜味城跡, Zakimijō-ato) sit on a hill in central Okinawa Honto, not far from Cape Zampa. Only the stone walls remain, but visitors can climb them for excellent views over the ruins and surrounding area, all the way to Shuri Castle and Naha Port in the distance. The castle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom."
Zakimi Castle was built in the early 1400s by the Chuzan Kingdom, which ruled central Okinawa Honto. It served as a defense against rebels in the north after the Chuzan Kingdom defeated the Hokuzan Kingdom and eventually unified the island into the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The nearby Yuntanza Museum displays local folkcraft and history. While it does not focus specifically on the castle, it offers a general perspective on the local community, including exhibits on archaeological relics, dwellings, funerary customs, and the war.
Zakimi Castle is located in central Okinawa Honto, about 25 kilometers north of Naha.
Take bus number 28 from Naha Bus Terminal to Takashiho Iriguchi (高志保入口, 80 minutes, 1220 yen, 2-4 buses per hour), from where the castle ruins are a 20-30 minute walk.
By car, it takes about one hour to reach the castle ruins from central Naha.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- Always open
- Closed
- No closing days
- Admission
- Free
- English name
- Original name
- Zakimi Castle Ruins
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