Southern Okinawa

Students from two girls' schools, together called Himeyuri, were mobilized to work as field nurses during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. This memorial museum documents, from a personal perspective, their lives before and during the battle, in which many of them died. Exhibits are labeled in English. The museum gives voice to the victims and provides real stories and faces that help give the victims some humanity as opposed to being statistics.

Quiet ruins near Cape Kyan. It is unknown who built the castle, but excavation results indicate it was used from the end of the 12th century to the mid-15th century.

This park has a beautiful view overlooking the ocean, and features several open-air memorials including the Cornerstone of Peace, wave-like walls of granite on which are engraved the names of those who died in the battle on the front as well as the back. It is a very interesting park.

Museum describes the Battle of Okinawa.

A separate memorial, marked by a high tower, with the Peace Memorial Statue and exhibitions of Japanese artists.

Also called Sefa Utaki, Rock formations including a natural corridor through a giant boulder leading to a point overlooking Kudaka Island. "Utaki" are natural places of spiritual significance in the native Okinawan religion, and Seifa Utaki was the holiest. Back when there were practitioners, only priestesses could visit the site, because it was believed that only women could speak with the gods. Men were forbidden to enter the site with the exception of male royal family members. When male royals came, they were required to wear priestess garbs. It no longer serves as a holy site but has been preserved for its historic value, so anyone can enter.

The southern most point of Okinawa Island.