* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Nakijin Castle (Hokuzan Castle)
今帰仁城（北山城）
Nakijin Castle (Hokuzan Castle) is a historic castle in Kyūshū dating from the Built in the 13th–14th century; incorporated into the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1416, whose lord was King of Hokuzan / First Sho Dynasty (Ryukyu Kingdom).
Overview
Nakijin Castle (Nakijin Gusuku) is a gusuku (castle) from the Ryukyu Kingdom era, located in Nakijin Village in northern Okinawa Prefecture. It functioned as the capital of the "Hokuzan (Northern Mountain) Kingdom," which ruled the northern portion of Okinawa Island from the 14th to 15th centuries. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 as part of the "Gusuku Sites and Related Ruins of the Ryukyu Kingdom," it is one of Okinawa's most representative castle ruins.
The etymology of "gusuku" remains debated, but it generally means "castle" and represents the culmination of Okinawa's unique stone-building architecture culture, which differs completely from mainland Japanese fortifications. Nakijin Castle's walls skillfully combine two techniques—"nunonuchimi" (layered coursing) and "midarezumi" (random coursing)—built from Ryukyu limestone. The gracefully curved stone walls demonstrate the highest technical standard among Okinawan gusuku.
The castle stands on a hill approximately 100 meters above sea level and is encircled by walls extending roughly 1.5 kilometers, making it one of Okinawa's largest gusuku. The panoramic views of the East China Sea and eastern mountains from the Heilao Gate (平郎門) at the summit are magnificent, evoking the former authority of the Hokuzan king. In the early 15th century, Sho Hashi (尚巴志) of the First Shoni Dynasty, who unified the Ryukyu Kingdom, destroyed the Hokuzan Kingdom (1416) and utilized Nakijin Castle as a regional administrative base for the unified Ryukyu Kingdom.
Within the castle ruins stands the Nakijin Castle Ruins Rest House, displaying artifacts excavated during investigations of the site. Visitors can view trade goods from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, as well as daily-use implements from that era. In spring, kanhi-zakura (Taiwan cherry) blooms beautifully along the castle walls and is nationally renowned as Japan's earliest sakura.
Connection to Swords
Nakijin Castle's connection to swords is rooted in the Ryukyu Kingdom's role as an East Asian maritime trading hub. Japanese swords (nihontō) were among the most prized exports passing through Ryukyu's entrepôt trade from the 14th to 16th centuries, flowing from Japan to China and Southeast Asia via Ryukyuan merchants. The Hokuzan kingdom maintained active trade with Satsuma in southern Kyushu, through which Satsuma-forged blades likely reached Nakijin. Iron artifacts excavated at the site hint at this weapons-related exchange. Before Satsuma imposed arms restrictions on Ryukyu after the 1609 invasion, swords were used in Gusuku-era combat; the subsequent arms ban gave rise to the weaponless martial art "ti" (the ancestor of karate).
Highlights
- UNESCO World Heritage limestone walls — approximately 1.5 km of dry-stone Ryukyuan masonry at its finest
- Hirarō Gate and East China Sea views — spectacular panorama of sea and mountains from the summit
- Kanhi-zakura cherry blossoms — Japan's earliest sakura (January–February), crimson against the stone walls
- Nakijin Castle Rest House — excavated trade ceramics and artifacts from China, Japan, and Southeast Asia
- Nighttime illumination events — dramatic lighting of the World Heritage walls
- Nakijin Village Gusuku Festival — traditional performing arts and fire festival in January–February
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.