What other travelers are saying about Katsuren Castle Ruins
If you want to explore all the castle ruins in Okinawa, I think you should start here! (before going to the others.)
On site there is a museum telling stories about Okinawa Ryukyu kingdom and its kings/heroes. So you have achance to learn about the owners/builders of these castles. Thr ruins is on top of the nearby hill - you can walk or ask for a golf cart to take you up to the middle of the way up. Up there you have a good view of the nearby towns. The tourist office/souvinior shop on site is very nice, yet quite small.
So you learn a bit plus a good stretch, highly recommended.
Katsuren Castle Ruins offers an indoor museum area and the actual outdoor ruins across the street. Indoor, visited first, provides an introduction to the Ryukyu history in general and the castle in particular. Especially worth seeing is an impressive miniature model of the site, which helps a lot to understand the setting when afterwards going outside. The ruins can be climbed up via mostly well maintained stairs along the four original levels with signs well-written also in English. The topmost level offers great views across the sea and coastline. Definitely worth the 600 Yen entrance fee.
(visited on a weekday at 5 pm)
Extraordinary place. Not only do you get to explore the ruins which have magnificent views, there is a museum with interactive consoles, a short movie that explains the history and many displays. Highly recommend!
Definitely upgraded since the last 4 years. There is a musuem and 2 gift shops on premises. There is a fee to go to castle. Less than 500¥ an adult.
Musuem: awesome history of the castle with fantastic models. Signs in Japanese and English in the mail part. Love the 3d town. Really impressed with the new musuem.
You can get a free shuttle [think large gold cart] ride to the base of the castle. [The dirt parking lot at the base of the castle is no longer available].
Castle has 3 layers to see and offers amazing views. Signs in Japanese and English.
Inexpensive ticket for entry and plenty of parking. The museum at the beginning is very cool and contains loads of interactive information. The walk up to the ruins is beautiful and seeing everything up close was amazing. The view at the top is gorgeous, if you're in the area I highly recommend stopping by.
