What other travelers are saying about Urasoe Castle Ruins
Historical site of Okinawa war. Actual site of hacksaw ridge. Free to visit, nearest metro station Urasoe Maeda. Walk toward police station, turn left to car park and walk upwards. Alternative alight at last station and take taxi, cost around 800
After watching the movie "Hacksaw Ridge," visiting the actual site can be very impactful. It's hard to imagine how the U.S. forces managed to attack from the beach and the sheer number of casualties on this land. Here, you can also see the tunnels left by the Japanese forces. As for the ruins of the city, most of it was also destroyed during the war.
As you walk up the steep hill towards the castle ruins, you quickly begin to feel the historical importance of this place.
A serene, quiet, and harrowing experience, with great views, generous information panels, and a lot to take in.
The castle has a panoramic view of Okinawa as it is perched up on a hill. What is most interesting though, is not it's history as an active castle but more recent history as the site of the battle of Okinawa. It is peppered with information about the battle and we saw American troops getting their history lessons at the site too. It is a solemn yet stark reminder of a piece of dark history.
