List of Historic Sites of Japan (Okinawa)
National Historic Sites
Table:
Site	Island	Municipality	Comments	Type	Ref

Furusutobaru Castle フルスト原遺跡 Furusutobaru iseki	Ishigaki Island	Ishigaki	C13-C15 gusuku -style fortifications , domestic buildings , utaki , and tombs extending for 12.3 ha on the Ryūkyū limestone ( 琉球石灰岩 ) hills overlooking Miyara Bay ; said to have been used by Oyake Akahachi and suppressed by the forces of Shō Shin in 1500 ; finds include local pottery , white porcelain and celadon from China , and the bones of horses and cows	2	[ 1 ]

Agena Castle Site 安慶名城跡 Agena-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Uruma	gusuku fortified in the fifteenth century	2	[ 2 ]

Iha Shell Mound 伊波貝塚 Iha kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Uruma	Jōmon site discovered in 1920 ; finds include shells , fish bones , animal borns , earthenware , stoneware , and goods made of horn	1	[ 3 ]

Ireibaru Site 伊礼原遺跡 Ireibaru iseki	Okinawa Island	Chatan	early Jōmon site ; goods of jade and obsidian are evidence of early maritime trade	1	[ 4 ]

Uegusuku Castle Site 宇江城城跡 Uegusuku-jō ato	Kumejima Island	Kumejima	of uncertain date , but probably razed at the time of assimilation into the Ryūkyū Kingdom c.1500 ; finds include Chinese ceramics and fish bones ; the view extends over the entire island	2	[ 5 ]

Uzahama Site 宇佐浜遺跡 Uzahama iseki	Okinawa Island	Kunigami	Yayoi site on the northern tip of the island	1	[ 6 ]

Urasoe Castle Site 浦添城跡 Urazoe-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Urasoe	fortifications date back to C13/C14 ; incurred heavy damage during the Battle of Okinawa	2	[ 7 ]

Enkaku-ji Site 円覚寺跡 Enkaku-ji ato	Okinawa Island	Naha	founded in 1492 by Shō Shin ; the wooden temple buildings were destroyed during the war , an ornately carved stone bridge ( ICP ) survives	3	[ 8 ]

Ogidō Shell Mound 荻堂貝塚 Ogidō kaizuka	Okinawa Island	Kitanakagusuku	Jōmon period , with a 1.2 m thick deposit of shells	1	[ 9 ]

Shimotabaru Castle Site 下田原城 跡 Shimotabaru-jō ato	Hateruma Island	Taketomi	2	[ 10 ]

Tamagusuku Castle Site 玉城城跡 Tamagusuku-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nanjō	2	[ 11 ]

Tamaudun 玉陵 Tamaudun	Okinawa Island	Naha	royal mausoleum complex constructed in 1501 ; World Heritage Site	7	[ 12 ]

Kushibaru Shell Mound 具志原貝塚 Kushibaru kaizuka	Ie Island	Ie	variety of shells and Jōmon and Yayoi earthenware	1	[ 13 ]

Gushikawa Castle Site 具志川城跡 Gushikawa-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Itoman	C13-C15 Chinese ceramics found during excavations ; thirteen-year restoration project between 2000 and 2012	2	[ 14 ]

Gushikawa Castle Site 具志川城 Gushikawa-jō ato	Kumejima Island	Kumejima	same name but distinct from the castle in Itoman	2	[ 15 ]

Kunigami Hōsei Kaidō 国頭方西海道 Kunigami hōsei kaidō	Okinawa Island	Onna	historic route on the west coast of the island	6	[ 16 ]

Nakijin Castle Site 今帰仁城跡 附シイナ城跡 Nakijin-jō ato tsuketari Shiina-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Nakijin	sacked in 1432 ; World Heritage Site ; designation includes the site of Shiina Castle ( シイナ城 )	2	[ 17 ]

Zakimi Castle Site 座喜味城跡 Zakimi-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Yomitan	constructed c. 1420 by Gosamaru ; World Heritage Site	2	[ 18 ]

Sefa-utaki 斎場御嶽 Seifa-utaki	Okinawa Island	Nanjō	shrine ; excavated artefacts including magatama are an ICP ; World Heritage Site	3	[ 19 ]

Yamada Castle Site 山田城跡 Yamada-jō ato	Okinawa Island	Onna	Home of Gosamaru . Partially deconstructed to build Zakimi Castle	2	[ 20 ]

By analysing the accompanying table plus the passages provided.

Give the answer to the question: What airport provides service for the city that is home to Furusutobaru Castle ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Base your answer solely on the given information.

Furusutobaru Castle ( フルスト原城 , Furusutobaru jō ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Ishigaki , Okinawa . It is located on Ishigaki Island next to Miyara Bay . It was listed as one of the Historic Sites of Japan in 1978 .
Ishigaki Island ( 石垣島 , Ishigaki-jima , Yaeyama : Ishanagï , Okinawan : Ishigachi ) , also known as Ishigakijima , is a Japanese island south-west of Okinawa Hontō and the second-largest island of the Yaeyama Island group . It is located approximately 411 kilometers south-west of Okinawa Hontō . It is within the City of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture . The city functions as the business and transport center of the archipelago . The island is served by New Ishigaki Airport , the largest airport in the Yaeyamas . Much of the island and surrounding waters including Mount Omoto and Kabira Bay are protected as part of Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park . Ishigaki Island , like the rest of Okinawa , is culturally influenced by both Japan and Taiwan due to its location , about 300 km off the north eastern coast of Taiwan .
Ishigaki ( 石垣市 , Ishigaki-shi , Yaeyama : Isïgaksï , Ishanagzï ) is a city in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . It includes Ishigaki island and the disputed Senkaku Islands territory . The city is the political , cultural , and economic center of the Yaeyama Islands . New Ishigaki Airport serves the city . As of December 2012 , the city has an estimated population of 48,816 and a population density of 213 persons per km2 . The total area is 229.00 km2 . It is also the location of the past-disputed Senkaku Islands ( see below in the Geography section ) .
Gusuku ( グスク , 城 , Okinawan : gushiku ) often refers to castles or fortresses in the Ryukyu Islands that feature stone walls . However , the origin and essence of gusuku remain controversial . In the archaeology of Okinawa Prefecture , the Gusuku period refers to an archaeological epoch of the Okinawa Islands that follows the shell-mound period and precedes the Sanzan period , when most gusuku are thought to have been built . Many gusuku and related cultural remains on Okinawa Island have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites under the title Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu .
Utaki ( 御嶽 ) is an Okinawan term for a sacred place , often a grove , cave , or mountain . They are central to the Ryukyuan religion and the former noro priestess system . Although the term utaki is used throughout the Ryukyu Islands , the terms suku and on are heard in the Miyako and Yaeyama regions respectively . Utaki are usually located on the outskirts of villages and are places for the veneration of gods and ancestors . Most gusuku have places of worship , and it is theorized that the origins of both gusuku and utaki are closely related .
Oyake Akahachi ( 遠弥計赤蜂 ) was a Ryukyuan lord ( aji ) of Ishigaki Island who led a rebellion against the Ryukyu Kingdom in 1500 .
Shō Shin ( 尚眞 , 1465-1527 ; r. 1477-1527 ) was a king of the Ryukyu Kingdom , the third of the line of the Second Shō Dynasty . Shō Shin 's long reign has been described as the Great Days of Chūzan , a period of great peace and relative prosperity . He was the son of Shō En , the founder of the dynasty , by Yosoidon , Shō En 's second wife , often referred to as the queen mother . He succeeded his uncle , Shō Sen ' i , who was forced to abdicate in his favor .
Celadon is a term for pottery denoting both wares glazed in the jade green celadon color , also known as greenware ( the term specialists now tend to use ) , and a type of transparent glaze , often with small cracks , that was first used on greenware , but later used on other porcelains . Celadon originated in China , though the term is purely European , and notable kilns such as the Longquan kiln in Zhejiang province are renowned for their celadon glazes . Celadon production later spread to other parts of East Asia , such as Japan and Korea as well as Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand . Eventually , European potteries produced some pieces , but it was never a major element there . Finer pieces are in porcelain , but both the color and the glaze can be produced in stoneware and earthenware . Most of the earlier Longquan celadon is on the border of stoneware and porcelain , meeting the Chinese but not the European definitions of porcelain . For many centuries , celadon wares were highly regarded by the Chinese Imperial court , before being replaced in fashion by painted wares , especially the new blue and white porcelain under the Yuan dynasty . The similarity of the color to jade , traditionally the most highly valued material in China , was a large part of its attraction . Celadon continued to be produced in China at a lower level , often with a conscious sense of reviving older styles . In Korea the celadons produced under the Goryeo Dynasty ( 918-1392 ) are regarded as the classic wares of Korean porcelain . The celadon colour is classically produced by firing a glaze containing a little iron oxide at a high temperature in a reducing kiln . The materials must be refined , as other chemicals can alter the color completely .
Monuments ( 記念物 , kinenbutsu ) is a collective term used by the Japanese government 's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties to denote Cultural Properties of Japan [ note 1 ] as historic locations such as shell mounds , ancient tombs , sites of palaces , sites of forts or castles , monumental dwelling houses and other sites of high historical or scientific value ; gardens , bridges , gorges , mountains , and other places of great scenic beauty ; and natural features such as animals , plants , and geological or mineral formations of high scientific value .
Agena Castle ( 安慶名城 , Agena jō , Okinawan : Agina Gushiku or Aginaa Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku located in the north of Agena district of Uruma , Okinawa , in former Gushikawa City . It was built on a base of Ryukyuan limestone and occupies 8,000 square metres ( 86,000 sq ft ) . Agena Castle sits at an altitude of 49 metres ( 161 ft ) , and is naturally protected by the Tengan River to the north .
Okinawa Island ( 沖縄本島 , Okinawa-hontō , alternatively 沖縄島 Okinawa-jima ; Okinawan : 沖縄/うちなー Uchinaa or 地下/じじ jiji ; Kunigami : ふちなー Fuchináa ) is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu ( Nansei ) Islands of Japan in the Kyushu region . It is the smallest and least populated of the five main islands of Japan . The island is approximately 66 miles ( 106 km ) long and an average 7 miles ( 11 km ) wide , and has an area of 1,206.98 square kilometers ( 466.02 sq mi ) . It is roughly 640 kilometres ( 400 mi ) south of the main island of Kyushu and the rest of Japan . It is 500 km ( 300 mi ) north of Taiwan . The total population of Okinawa Island is 1,384,762 . The Greater Naha area has roughly 800,000 residents while the city itself has about 320,000 people . Naha is home to the prefectural seat of Okinawa Prefecture on the southwestern part of Okinawa Island . It has a humid subtropical climate . Okinawa is part of the Kyushu region . Okinawans are among the longest living peoples in the world . Okinawans have less cancer , heart disease and dementia than residents in other parts of the world , while Okinawan women live longer than anywhere else on Earth .
Uruma ( うるま市 , Uruma-shi ) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The modern city of Uruma was established on April 1 , 2005 , when the cities of Gushikawa and Ishikawa were merged with the towns of Katsuren and Yonashiro ( both from Nakagami District ) . As of May 1 , 2013 , the city has an estimated population of 118,330 and a population density of 1,400 persons per km² . The total area is 86.00 km² . The city covers part of the east coast of the south of Okinawa Island , the Katsuren Peninsula , and the eight Yokatsu Islands . The Yokatsu Islands include numerous sites important to the Ryukyuan religion , and the city as a whole has numerous historical sites , including : Katsuren Castle , Agena Castle , and Iha Castle and the Iha Shell Mound . It is home to the largest venue for Okinawan bullfighting . The Mid-Sea Road , which crosses the ocean and connects the Yokatsu Islands to the main island of Okinawa , is now a symbol of Uruma . Uruma is noted for its role in hosting large-scale refugee camps and the initial organization of local government of Okinawa immediately after the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 . As such the city is considered the home of the starting point of the restoration of civil life in Okinawa immediately after the end of World War II . United States maintains four military bases in Uruma , some of which span other municipalities in Okinawa : Kadena Ammunition Storage Area , Camp McTureous , Camp Courtney , and White Beach Naval Facility . The bases cover 12.97% of the total area of the city .
The Iha Shell Mound ( 伊波貝塚 , Iha Kaidzuka ) is the site of the remains of an ancient settlement on Okinawa Island . Located in the Iha district of Uruma City , South of Ishikawa , the site sits on a large limestone fault slope , and dates from the late Shellmound period of Okinawan archaeology , coinciding with the late Jōmon period , ca . 2500 - 1000 BC . The shell mound is approximately 60 centimetres ( 24 in ) thick and covers an area of 150 square metres ( 1,600 sq ft ) . The site was first discovered in 1920 by Ōyama Kashiwa , confirming that Okinawa was settled by ancient peoples , and is one of only a few fully excavated shell mounds in Okinawa . The site includes remains of fish and animal bones , earthen and stoneware , and goods made out of horn .
The Jōmon period ( 縄文時代 , Jōmon jidai ) is the time in Japanese prehistory , traditionally dated between c. 14,000-300 BCE , recently refined to about 1000 BCE , during which Japan was inhabited by a hunter-gatherer culture , which reached a considerable degree of sedentism and cultural complexity . The name cord-marked was first applied by the American zoologist and orientalist Edward S. Morse , who discovered sherds of pottery in 1877 and subsequently translated it into Japanese as jōmon . The pottery style characteristic of the first phases of Jōmon culture was decorated by impressing cords into the surface of wet clay and is generally accepted to be among the oldest in East Asia and the world . The Jōmon period was rich in tools and jewellery made from bone , stone , shell and antler ; pottery figurines and vessels ; and lacquerware . It is often compared to pre-Columbian cultures of the North American Pacific Northwest and especially to the Valdivia culture in Ecuador because in these settings cultural complexity developed within a primarily hunting-gathering context with limited use of horticulture .
Chatan ( 北谷町 , Chatan-chō , Okinawan : Chatan ) is a town located in Nakagami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of October 2016 the town had an estimated population of 28,578 and the density of 2,100 per km² . The total area of Chatan is 13.62 square kilometres ( 5.26 sq mi ) . 53.5% of the land area of the town is covered by United States military bases .
Jade refers to an ornamental mineral , mostly known for its green varieties . It can refer to either of two different minerals : nephrite , a silicate of calcium and magnesium , or jadeite , a silicate of sodium and aluminium . Jade is featured prominently in ancient Asian art , but also has an important place in many other cultures .
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock . Obsidian is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimal crystal growth . It is commonly found within the margins of rhyolitic lava flows known as obsidian flows , where the chemical composition ( high silica content ) causes a high viscosity , which , upon rapid cooling , results in a natural glass forming from the lava . The inhibition of atomic diffusion through this highly viscous lava explains the lack of crystal growth . Obsidian is hard , brittle , and amorphous ; it therefore fractures with sharp edges . In the past , it was used to manufacture cutting and piercing tools , and it has been used experimentally as surgical scalpel blades .
Uegusuku Castle ( 宇江城城 , Uegusuku jō , Okinawan : Wiigushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Kumejima , Okinawa , on Kume Island . It was the home to the Aji of Kume Magiri before the 16th century . It is now a ruined castle .
Kumejima ( 久米島町 , Kumejima-chō , Okinawan : Kumishima ) is a town located in Shimajiri District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The town consists of the islands of Kume , Ōjima , Ōhajima , Torishima , and Iōtorishima . Among the islands , only Kumejima and Ōjima are populated . Kumejima is located approximately 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) west of Naha . The town can be accessed by the New Kumejima Ferry , Japan Transocean Air , or Ryukyu Air Commuter . Kumejima Airport serves the island . As of 2016 [ update ] , the town had an estimated population of 7,647 and a population density of 120 persons per km² . The total area is 63.50 km² . Kume Island is often said to be one of the most beautiful of the Okinawa Islands . It is well known for its textiles , called Kumejima-tsumugi which are designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property . The town is also known for its Kumesen Awamori ( Okinawan sake ) and deep sea water . Kumejima 's main industries are sugar cane ( sato-kibi ) , tourism , and deep seawater products .
Kumejima ( 久米島町 , Kumejima-chō , Okinawan : Kumishima ) is a town located in Shimajiri District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The town consists of the islands of Kume , Ōjima , Ōhajima , Torishima , and Iōtorishima . Among the islands , only Kumejima and Ōjima are populated . Kumejima is located approximately 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) west of Naha . The town can be accessed by the New Kumejima Ferry , Japan Transocean Air , or Ryukyu Air Commuter . Kumejima Airport serves the island . As of 2016 [ update ] , the town had an estimated population of 7,647 and a population density of 120 persons per km² . The total area is 63.50 km² . Kume Island is often said to be one of the most beautiful of the Okinawa Islands . It is well known for its textiles , called Kumejima-tsumugi which are designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property . The town is also known for its Kumesen Awamori ( Okinawan sake ) and deep sea water . Kumejima 's main industries are sugar cane ( sato-kibi ) , tourism , and deep seawater products .
The Ryukyu Kingdom ( Okinawan : 琉球國 Ruuchuu-kuku ; Japanese : 琉球王国 Ryūkyū Ōkoku ; Middle Chinese : Ljuw-gjuw kwok ; historical English name : Lewchew , Luchu , and Loochoo ) was an independent kingdom that ruled most of the Ryukyu Islands from the 15th to the 19th century . [ note 1 ] The kings of Ryukyu unified Okinawa Island and extended the kingdom to the Amami Islands in modern-day Kagoshima Prefecture , and the Sakishima Islands near Taiwan . Despite its small size , the kingdom played a central role in the maritime trade networks of medieval East and Southeast Asia , especially the Malacca Sultanate .
Kunigami ( 国頭村 , Kunigami-son , Kunigami : Kunzan , Okinawan : Kunjan ) is a village in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . It occupies the north tip of Okinawa Island , with the East China Sea to the west , Pacific Ocean to the east , and villages of Higashi and Ōgimi to the south . As of 2015 , the village has a population of 4,908 and a population density of 25.20 persons per km2 . The total area is 194.80 km2 .
The Yayoi period ( 弥生時代 , Yayoi jidai ) , dated 300 BC - 300 AD , started at the beginning of the Neolithic in Japan , continued through the Bronze Age , and towards its end crossed into the Iron Age . Since the 1980s , scholars have argued that a period previously classified as a transition from the Jōmon period should be reclassified as Early Yayoi . The date of the beginning of this transition is controversial , with estimates ranging from the 10th to the 6th centuries BC . The period is named after the neighborhood of Tokyo where archaeologists first uncovered artifacts and features from that era . Distinguishing characteristics of the Yayoi period include the appearance of new Yayoi pottery styles and the start of an intensive rice agriculture in paddy fields . A hierarchical social class structure dates from this period and has its origin in China . Techniques in metallurgy based on the use of bronze and iron were also introduced from China over Korea to Japan in this period . The Yayoi followed the Jōmon period ( 14,000-1,000 BC ) and Yayoi culture flourished in a geographic area from southern Kyūshū to northern Honshū . Archaeological evidence supports the idea that during this time , an influx of farmers ( Yayoi people ) from the Asian continent to Japan overwhelmed and displaced the native hunter-gatherer population . Modern Japanese are descendants of the Yayoi people with only very small influence from the former Jōmon hunter-gatherers .
Urasoe Castle ( 浦添城 , Urasoe jō , Okinawan : Urashii Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku which served as the capital of the medieval Okinawan principality of Chūzan prior to the unification of the island into the Ryukyu Kingdom , and the moving of the capital to Shuri . In the 14th century , Urasoe was the largest castle on the island , but today only ruins remain .
Urasoe ( 浦添市 , Urasoe-shi , Okinawan : Urashii ) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south , Ginowan to the north , and Nishihara to the east . As of November 2012 , the city has an estimated population of 113,718 and a population density of 5,956.9 persons per km2 . The total area is 19.09 km2 . United States Marine Corps base Camp Kinser is located on the city 's coast .
Enkaku-ji ( 円覚寺 , Okinawan : ウフティラ ufutira , lit . the great temple ) was a Rinzai Buddhist temple and royal bodaiji of the Ryūkyū Kingdom , located in Naha , Okinawa . The temple was erected during the reign of King Shō Shin ( r. 1477-1526 ) , the first abbot was Kaiin Shōko ( 芥隠承琥 ) . It also used as bodaiji of Ryukyuan kings . Ryukyuan kings should visit Enkaku-ji , Tennō-ji and Tenkai-ji after their genpuku and investiture . Enkaku-ji was recognized as a national treasure of Japan in 1933 , but it was destroyed in the 1945 battle of Okinawa . Only the sōmon ( general gate ) and Hōjō Bridge ( 放生橋 ) were reconstructed in 1968 because of lack of historical records . The government of Okinawa Prefecture began plans to reconstruct its sanmon in 2014 . It is scheduled to be completed in 2018 .
Naha ( 那覇市 , Naha-shi , Japanese : [ naꜜha ] , Okinawan : Nāfa or Nafa ) is the capital city of the Okinawa Prefecture , the southernmost prefecture of Japan . As of 1 June 2019 , the city has an estimated population of 317,405 and a population density of 7,939 persons per km² . The total area is 39.98 km² . Naha is a city on the East China Sea coast of the southern part of Okinawa Island , the largest of Okinawa Prefecture . The modern city was officially founded on May 20 , 1921 . Before that , Naha had been for centuries one of the most important and populous sites in Okinawa . Naha is the political , economic and education center of Okinawa Prefecture . In the medieval and early modern periods , it was the commercial center of the Ryūkyū Kingdom .
This list is of the Cultural Properties of Japan designated in the category of structures ( 建造物 , kenzōbutsu ) for the Prefecture of Okinawa .
Kitanakagusuku ( 北中城村 , Kitanakagusuku-son , Okinawan : キタナカグシク , romanized : Kitanakagushiku ) is a village located in Nakagami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2016 [ update ] , the village has an estimated population of 16,040 and the density of 1,400 persons per km² . The total area is 11.53 km² . It is home to Nakagusuku Castle and the Nakagusuku Hotel ruins .
Hateruma ( 波照間島 ; Hateruma-jima ; Yaeyama : Patirooma , Hateruma dialect : Besїma our island , Okinawan : Hatiruma ) is an island in the Yaeyama District of Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Part of the town Taketomi , it is the southern-most inhabited island in Japan at 24°225 north latitude , 123°4716 east longitude . Hateruma is one of the Yaeyama Islands , and is located 24 kilometres ( 15 mi ) south of Iriomote-jima , the largest of the island group . Hateruma , which is composed of corals , has 12.7 km² of area and approximately 600 inhabitants . The primary products of the island include sugarcane , pineapple , refined sugar , and Awanami , a highly prized type of the alcoholic beverage awamori . Its southern location makes it one of the few places in Japan where the Southern Cross can be observed .
Taketomi ( 竹富町 , Taketomi-chō , Yaeyama : Teedun , Okinawan : Dakidun ) is a town located in Yaeyama District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The town includes all of the islands in the Yaeyama Islands excluding Ishigaki , Yonaguni , and the Senkaku Islands . This includes the islands of Iriomote , Taketomi , Kohama , Kuroshima , Hateruma , and Hatoma . Although Ishigaki is not part of the town of Taketomi , the town hall is located there . As of October 2016 , the town has an estimated population of 4,050 and the density of 12 persons per km2 ( 31/sq mi ) . The total area is 334.02 km2 ( 128.97 sq mi ) .
Tamagusuku Castle ( 玉城城 , Tamagusuku jō , Okinawan : Tamagushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō , Okinawa . It is the oldest castle on Okinawa ; Chūzan Seikan says it was built by Amamikyu , the creation goddess of the Ryukyuan religion . It was the home of the Aji of Tamagusuku Magiri . It is located about 700 meters north of Tamagusuku village . The castle is almost a complete ruin and is visited as a sacred grove
Nanjō ( 南城市 , Nanjō-shi , Okinawan : Nangushiku ) is a city located in the southern part of Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . Translated literally , the name Nanjō means southern castle . Many castle ruins , called gusuku in the Okinawan language , can be found throughout the city . The modern city of Nanjō was established on January 1 , 2006 , from the merger of the town of Sashiki , and the villages of Chinen , Ōzato and Tamagusuku ( all from Shimajiri District ) . Nanjō has an area of 49.69 km² and , on the date of its inception , a population of 41,305 , and a density of 831.25 per km² . Of the eleven cities in Okinawa Prefecture , Nanjō has the smallest population . It does not have a separate police station nor a high school . For those services , citizens have to refer to the neighbouring towns of Yonabaru and Yaese . The city hosts a fire station responsible for Chinen , Ōzato and Tamagusuku and parts of Yaese , while Sashiki is served by a separate station . The city 's main economical activities are agriculture and tourism . Important crops include sugarcane , for sugar and vinegar production , and turmeric , a popular medicinal herb in Okinawa . Several turmeric processing plants are based in the city , producing semi-processed goods to be used by industries on the mainland or consumer products like tea and dietary supplements .
Tamaudun ( 玉陵 ) is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom , along with Urasoe yōdore at Urasoe Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena , Okinawa . The mausoleum is located in Shuri , Okinawa , and was built for Ryūkyūan royalty in 1501 by King Shō Shin , the third king of the Second Shō Dynasty a short distance from Shuri Castle .
The Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu ( 琉球王国のグスク及び関連遺産群 , Ryūkyū ōkoku no gusuku oyobi kanren'isangun ) is an UNESCO World Heritage Site which consists of nine sites all located in the Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The heritage sites include two utaki ( or sacred sites , one a gate and the other a grove ) , the Tamaudun mausoleum , one garden , and five gusuku castles sites , four of which are ruins and one of which is a reconstruction . The sites were inscribed based on the criteria that they were a fine representation of the Ryūkyū Kingdom 's culture , whose unique blend of Japanese and Chinese influence made it a crucial economic and cultural junction between several neighboring states .
Iejima ( 伊江島 , Iejima , Okinawan : Ii shima ) , previously romanized in English as Ie Shima , is an island in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan , lying a few kilometers off the Motobu Peninsula on Okinawa Island . The island measures 20 kilometres ( 12 mi ) in circumference and covers 23 square kilometres ( 8.9 sq mi ) . As of December 2012 the island had a population of 4,610 . Ie Village , which covers the entire island , has a ferry connection with the town of Motobu on Okinawa Island . Iejima is generally flat . The most notable geographic feature is a peak called Mount Gusuku ( or Tatchuu in Kunigami ) at a height of 172 meters . The mountain resembles a volcano but is actually an erosion artifact . Alternately called Peanut Island , for its general shape and peanut crop , or Flower Island , for its abundant flora and more sizeable crop , Iejima draws tourists by ferry , especially during late April when the Ie Lily Festival begins . The Youth Excursion Village accommodates campers for 400 yen a person and includes access to a good beach . The YYY Resort and Hotel located just east of the ferry port is available for those who do not wish to camp .
Ie ( 伊江村 , Ie-son , Kunigami : Ii , Okinawan : Ii ( 伊江 ) ) is a village located in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The village lies on the island of Iejima . As of October 2016 , the village has an estimated population of 4,192 and the density of 180 persons per km² . Ie is in a period of sustained population loss , and has the highest rate of population loss in Okinawa Prefecture . The total area of the village is 22.75 square kilometres ( 8.78 sq mi ) . Iejima Airport serves the village .
Gushikawa Castle ( 具志川城 , Gushikawa jō , Okinawan : Gushichan Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Itoman , Okinawa .
Itoman ( 糸満市 , Itoman-shi , Okinawan : イチマン Ichiman or イチュマン Ichuman ) is a city located in Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . The city occupies the southern tip of Okinawa Island . As of April 2013 , the city has an estimated population of 59,605 and a population density of 1,335.53 persons per km² . The total area is 46.63 km² .
Gushikawa Castle ( 具志川城 , Gushikawa jō , Okinawan : Gushichaa Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Kumejima , Okinawa , on Kume Island . It was built in the 15th century . The Miifugaa rock formation can be seen from the castle .
Kume Island ( 久米島 , Kumejima , Okinawan : クミジマ Kumijima ) is an island , part of the Okinawa Islands and administratively part of the town of Kumejima , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . It has an area of 59.11 square kilometres ( 636,300,000 sq ft ) . The island had a population of 8,713 ( 2010 ) . Kume Island is a volcanic island . Its principal economic activities are the production of sugarcane and tourism .
Onna ( 恩納村 , Onna-son , Okinawan : Unna ) is a village located in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2013 , the village had an estimated population of 10,443 and a population density of 210 persons per km² . The total area is 50.77 square kilometres ( 19.60 sq mi ) . Unlike other areas of Japan , Onna has been in an sustained period of population growth in the post-war period . In 1965 the population of the village was 8,471 , and by 2003 had grown to over 10,000 residents . Onna is the site of the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology , a research institute turned graduate university .
Nakijin Castle ( 今帰仁城 , Nakijin Gusuku , Kunigami : Nachijin Gushiiku , Okinawan : Nachijin Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku located in Nakijin , Okinawa . It is currently in ruins . In the late 14th century , the island of Okinawa consisted of three principalities : Nanzan to the south , Chūzan in the central area , and Hokuzan in the north . Nakijin was the capital of Hokuzan . The fortress includes several sacred Utaki groves , reflecting the castle 's role as a center of religious activity . It is today known for the Hikan cherries which bloom in northern Okinawa between mid-January and early February , providing the first cherry blossoms each year in Japan .
Nakijin ( 今帰仁村 , Nakijin-son , Kunigami : Nachizin , Okinawan : Nachijin ) is a village located in Kunigami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan . As of 2003 , the village has an estimated population of 9,529 and a population density of 239.00 persons per km² . The total area is 39.87 km² .
Zakimi Castle ( 座喜味城 , Zakimi jō , Okinawan : Zachimi Gushiku ) is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Yomitan , Okinawa . It is in ruins , but the walls and foundations have been restored .
Yomitan ( 読谷村 , Yomitan-son , Okinawan : Yuntan ) is a village located in Nakagami District , Okinawa Prefecture , Japan .
Gosamaru ( 護佐丸 , d. 1458 ) was a Ryukyuan Lord ( Aji ) of Yomitanzan and , later , Nakagusuku . He was also known as Seishun ( 盛春 ) , and by the Chinese name Mao Guoding ( 毛國鼎 , J : Mō Kokutei ) . He supported Shō Hashi , first king of the Ryukyu Kingdom , in his conquest of Hokuzan and unification of Okinawa Island . He committed suicide in 1458 during a battle with the Katsuren Aji , Amawari .
Sefa-utaki ( 斎場御嶽 , Okinawan : シェーファウタキ Seefa-utaki ) , meaning purified place of Utaki , is a historical sacred space , overlooking Kudaka Island , that served as one of the key locations of worship in the native religion of the Ryukyuan people for millennia . Later as a part of assimilation of Okinawa by Japan , it was shifted to serve as a Shinto Shrine . It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu in Nanjō , Okinawa . Sefa Utaki is on the Chinen Peninsula , and has been recognized as a sacred place since the earliest period of Ryukyuan history . According to Chūzan Seikan , this was the spot where Amamikyu , goddess of creation , made landfall on Okinawa . The shrine area itself comprises a number of caves and overhanging ledges opening to the east and south among towering rock formations of a high promontory over the sea . All buildings have been destroyed , but the outer and inner precincts can still be traced .
Magatama ( 勾玉 , less frequently 曲玉 ) are curved , comma-shaped beads that appeared in prehistoric Japan from the Final Jōmon period through the Kofun period , approximately ca . 1000 BCE to the sixth century CE . The beads , also described as jewels , were made of primitive stone and earthen materials in the early period , but by the end of the Kofun period were made almost exclusively of jade . Magatama originally served as decorative jewelry , but by the end of the Kofun period functioned as ceremonial and religious objects . Archaeological evidence suggests that magatama were produced in specific areas of Japan and were widely dispersed throughout the Japanese archipelago via trade routes .
An Important Cultural Property ( 重要文化財 , jūyō bunkazai ) [ note 1 ] is an item officially classified as Tangible Cultural Property by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and judged to be of particular importance to the Japanese people .
Yamada Castle ( 山田城 , Yamada jō , Okinawan : Yamada Gushiku ) was a Ryukyuan gusuku during the Gusuku Period of Ryukyuan history . It is famous for being the birthplace of the Ryukyuan general Gosamaru . Gosamaru led the army of the castle 's magiri against Nakijin Castle in 1416 , helping the King of Chūzan to conquer Hokuzan . In return for his loyalty , Gosamaru was given land in Yomitanzan and allowed to build a new gusuku . He used materials from Yamada Castle to build Zakimi Castle in 1420 . The ruins of Yamada Castle are in present-day Onna , Okinawa , in the Yamada district .