9 World Heritage Sites in Okinawa
A total of nine Okinawa World Heritage Sites were registered with UNESCO in 2000 as “Gusku and related heritage groups of the Ryukyu Kingdom” that are Gusuku of Shuri Castle, Nakagusuku Castle Ruins, Zakimi Castle Ruins, Katsuren Castle Ruins, Nakijin Castle Ruins, Sefa Utaki, Shikinaen, Sonohyan-utakiishimon, and Tamaudon of the related heritage.
The first of the World Heritage sites introduced in this article is “Zakimi Castle Ruins”.
When / Who / Where were they made?
It is said that it was built in the early 15th century by “Yuntanzaaji-Gosamaru”, which was then known as a castle master.
Zakimi Castle is located in the hills at an altitude of about 120m in Yomitanson in central Okinawa.
People can climb the castle ruins, and from the highest point you can see not only the views of Yomitanson, but also Naha and the Kerama Islands.
Theaters and light-up events are also held in the hall, so not only tourists but also many local people visit.
The following is from the signboard inside the castle ruins.
It is said that Zakimi Castle was built by Gosamaru, who is also famous as a castle-builder in the early 15th century.
Gosamaru was originally in Yamada Gusuku, about 4 km northeast of Zakimi.
He participated in the capture of Hokuzan castle in Chuzansyouhasi in 1416 (Others say it was in 1422), and after capturing Hokuzan, he was said to have temporarily stayed at Hokuzan castle for post-war processing.
Meanwhile, it is said that he started building a castle in Zakimi.
The castle ruins are built around a small hill on the north side of Zakimi, a land made of Nago layer at an altitude of more than 120m, surrounded by “ashlar masonry” on lime rock.
The castle is a Renkaku-style form consisting of two vallums.
The area inside the castle is about 4,012.15 square meters, which is a medium-sized gusuku in Okinawa.
The castle has one vallum and two vallums, each with an arch gate.
The sphene is fitted on the part where the arch stone engages and on the front and back of the gate. There is no example in other gusukus.
For this reason, the arch stone gate of Zakimi Castle is considered to be the oldest existing arch in Okinawa.
The site of Zakimi Castle was designated as a National Historic Site with the return to the mainland in 1972.
In October of the following year, for the first time in Okinawa, a historic site maintenance project was started with the support of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and the prefecture.
A relic excavation survey was conducted in connection with the maintenance project, and the results were successful.
The relics that came out were a small amount of Gusuku pottery and Sukie, Chinese ceramics and old coins.
The most common of these excavated items were Chinese celadon and pottery.
Judging from these Chinese pottery, there are things from the 15th to the 16th century,
It is thought that Zakimi Castle was used even after Gosamaru moved to Nakagusuku Castle in 1440.
Regarding relic, a stone group with a width of 16.58 m and a depth of 14.94 m was excavated on the north side of vallum, and it seems that a building was built inside.
However, since no tiles were excavated, it is estimated that the roof was a building with thatched roof or thatched roof.
In the southern part of one vallum, a group of pillars before the formation of the wall was also found, and although there was not much time difference from the excavated relics, the remains of two periods were confirmed in one vallum.
During the Second World War, a Japanese anti-aircraft gun position was set up in one vallum at the castle ruins, and a U.S. military radar station was built after the war, but it was returned the year after maintenance began.
The walls were restored in 1982.
Standing on the castle wall, it is located at a point of great strategic importance where you can see the Shuri / Naha, the western peninsula of the main island, the Kerama Islands / Kumejima / Iejima / Iheya Islands floating in the East China Sea.
座間見遺跡 詳細情報
名称／座喜味城跡
電話番号／098-958-3141
住所／沖縄県中頭郡読谷村字座喜味７０８−６
* It seems that the route that is usually guided has been closed due to construction.
Check the Yomitanson Tourism Association website for detailed routes.
Website／https://www.vill.yomitan.okinawa.jp/facilities/post-14.html
free entrance/Parking Available
