Splendor of Okinawa Bonus: Nakijin Castle, World Heritage Site
Nakijin Castle Ruins Among Okinawa’s several World Heritage sites is Nakijin Castle Ruins on the north side of Motobu Peninsula. In Ryukyuan it is called Nachijin Gusuku. A gusuku was originally a hilltop site for religious rites, but since the same hilltops often served as excellent forts, gusuku came to refer to castles as well. (Nakijin Castle Front Wall) Nakijin Castle was built over such an ancient site. The museum at Nakijin Castle contains artifacts from the origins of the site, including Chinese coins from prior to 110 BC, indicating trade in the area with China, well before the birth of Christ. The castle was the seat of the Hokuzan (Northern Mountains) Kingdom, whose Lords ruled for 3 generations from the early 14th Century until its last lord, Hanaji, was defeated in 1416 by Hashi (c.1370-1438), Lord of Chuzan (Central Mountains). The defeated Hanaji and his retainers committed suicide and are said to be interred in a cave on a bluff overlooking Unten Port, to the east...