Urasoe Castle

Architecture, patrimoine et histoire · Préfecture d'Okinawa

Perched on a limestone ridge about 130 metres above sea level, north of Naha, Urasoe Castle is one of the most important gusuku in the history of Ryukyu. Before Shuri became the seat of power, the rulers of Chuzan, the central principality of Okinawa, reigned here. King Eiso, who ruled in the second half of the 13th century, is closely associated with the site: his tomb, the Urasoe yodore, is cut into the north-west cliff and contains stone sarcophagi of Chinese origin. Stretching nearly 380 metres, the site combined natural cliffs, coral limestone ramparts, palisades and a moat. Partly dismantled to build Shuri, restored in 1509 and burned during the Satsuma invasion of 1609, it was again the scene of fierce fighting during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Excavations have yielded more than 30,000 objects and revealed a ceremonial path, an artificial pond and noble residences. Designated a National Historic Site in 1989, it now offers a panorama over the island's west coast.