Nakijin Castle Ruins: A UNESCO Heritage site in Okinawa

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Nakijin Castle is an ancient structure built in the 14th century in the tropical prefecture of Okinawa.

With the stone walls still standing among the ruins on a hill near the western coast, visitors will get a stunning glimpse across the Motobu region and the bright ocean below.

With clear markings of where the various buildings of Nakijin Castle once were, today stands only ruins.

You can visit the castle and admire the craftsmanship of the ancient structures. Along with the breathtaking view across the tropical coastline below.

Country:	Japan
Currency:	Japanese Yen / JPY
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.

Location of Nakijin Castle

Location: 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0428

Make sure you download and activate your eSIM before starting your journey so you can easily get around the island and stay connected while navigating.

The castle ruins are located in the town of Nakijin on northwestern Okinawa Island. The best way to get around the island is by driving, however, if you are unable to drive you can use the local bus services, although this is not a popular route.

• The closest big city to the castle is Nago which is 35 minutes away by car or 1 and a half hours away by bus.
• If travelling from Naha (Okinawa’s capital) it can take 2 hours 20 minutes by car or 3 hours and 25 minutes by bus.

If you need to rent a car in Okinawa to visit Nakijin Castle, please be aware you will need to have an International Driving Permit with you in order to drive in Japan. Two of my favourite car rental companies that I have used since being here are: Rental Cars and Klook Rentals, both of which can be booked online in advance.

opening hours & Admission Fees

Nakijin Castle grounds are open 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

Every morning, the castle ruins and surrounding property sites open at 8 am, but the closing time depends on the season.

Season	Opening times
January – April	8 am – 6 pm
May – August (Summer)	8 am – 7 pm
September – December	8 am – 6 pm

You can purchase tickets at the ticket office on the day of arrival for the following costs:

Adults: 600 JPY (3.12 GBP)

Junior & high school children: 450 JPY (2.34 GBP)

Elementary children & under: FREE

You can purchase your tickets at the ticket office with cash or card.

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Check out some more castles in Okinawa!

Nakijin Castle ruins UNESCO rating

Nakijin Castle and its remaining structure ruins are one of 9 UNESCO Heritage sites located in Okinawa.

The castle received UNESCO status in the year 2000 when it joined the list of “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”.

It is one of the many castles on the island that were used during the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still has much of its structure standing today.

In case you’re not aware, the UNESCO World Heritage lists are created to highlight and protect culturally important sites around the world. The status is given to places that need to be protected so that locals and future visitors can admire the site for many years to come.

Preservation is often at the forefront of the UNESCO concept.

History of the Nakijin Castle ruins

Nakijin Castle was built during the 14th century before the Ryukyu Kingdom was founded. At the time the castle was built, there was a common trade route between the islands and China.

This was also during a time when 3 rival groups were living on the island and each had a king ruling their respective regions. The king of Hokuzan resided in this castle for a while, followed by the king of Chuzan, before the island united as one to create the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Once the Ryukyu Kingdom was formed, Nakjin Castle became a temporary residence for various government officials.

Behind Shuri Castle, Nakijin Castle was the second biggest in the Kingdom at the time, however in modern-day Okinawa, all that stands here is ruins. The castle was built with Paleozoic limestone that came from under the Earth in the local area of the castle grounds and unlike a few other castles across the island, much of the castle walls are still in one piece.

When should you visit Nakijin Castle Ruins?

Nakijin Castle and its surrounding ruins can be visited 365 days a year. But are there times that you should visit the castle more than others? In my opinion, yes!

The spring season is one of the best times to visit as you will be able to see the cherry blossom trees in all their glory, adding a spot of pink throughout the castle grounds which is a welcome contrast to the grey stone walls.

The cherry blossom festival takes place from late January until early February for 7-14 days (this changes slightly each year). In 2025 the festival took place from the 25th of January to the 2nd of February.

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If you want to visit during a different season, there may not be any festivals or events taking place but there is still plenty to see and do.

In the Summer months be aware that the temperature and humidity are often extremely high and there is no shade coverage at the castle site. Please use caution and bring enough water for your visit or purchase a drink from outside the grounds next to the cultural centre.