Battle of Okinawa: WWII Sites Around Okinawa to Visit
When you think of Okinawa, you probably think of beautiful beaches, lush landscapes, and its unique culture. Today, Okinawa is a peaceful sub-tropical island that was once involved in one of the most intense battles of WWII. For visitors that love history or have a deep fascinations and passion about WWII, there are many WWII Sites Around Okinawa that are a must visit, some easier to explore then others.
I am by no means an expert when it comes to Okinawa’s WWII history, there are others in Okinawa that are far more qualified to talk about the history and sites around Okinawa. But I love exploring all things Okinawa, which includes its WWII history. Whether you are visiting Okinawa for the first time or just want to get out and explore, here are some of the main WWII sites around Okinawa that are a must visit.
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The Battle of Okinawa was a major WWII battle that took place between April and June of 1945. The Battle of Okinawa was one of the most pivotal yet bloodiest battles in the Pacific.
The Battle of Okinawa was one of the final battles in the Pacific. If Okinawa was captured, then the U.S. troops would secure the airbases and have better success storming mainland Japan.
The land assault was launched on April 1, 1945 when soldiers landed on the Kerama Islands just off the coast of the main island of Okinawa.
After taking the Kerama Islands, U.S. troops landed on the beaches of Okinawa facing little to no resistance by the Japanese Army. This was all part of the plan as the Japanese Imperial Army was waiting in Southern Okinawa where present day Shuri Castle is.
The Japanese Army had several strongholds set up as defenses between the northern beaches and Shuri Castle, one being Hacksaw Ridge. The Japanese Army used the landscape and terrain to their advantage as the U.S. troops slowly progressed toward the south.
Shuri Castle eventually was overrun by U.S. forces and fell on June 1. By June 6, the airfield in Naha was under control of the U.S.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense website, The Battle of Okinawa was officially declared over on June 22, 1945. More then 12,000 U.S. soldiers were killed and around 90,000 Japanese soldiers. Sadly, more then 150,000 civilians also lost their lives.
WWII Sites to Visit Around Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, fought in 1945, is considered to be one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific. Today, visitors to Okinawa can explore a range of historic sites related to the war.
From memorials to battlefields, here are a few of the WWII sites around Okinawa that played a significant role in the war and are easy to visit.
Visiting these WWII sites are perfect for those touring Okinawa with limited time or just want to explore a couple of the main sites around Okinawa that are related to the war.
Hacksaw Ridge
One of the more famous WWII Sites Around Okinawa has to be Hacksaw Ridge. Hacksaw ridge, officially, Maeda Escarpment is a ridge with dramatic cliffs that was the setting for one of the most intense battles.
Hacksaw Ridge became famous because of the 2016 movie, Hacksaw Ridge. The movie told the story of Desmond Doss, a combat medic who refused to carry any weapons because of his beliefs but he was responsible for saving the lives of 75 soldiers.
The Maeda Escarpment was a defense line for the Japanese military to protect the 32nd Army Headquarters located at Shuri.
Hacksaw Ridge is a 400 ft cliff that plateau’s on top. The United States approached Hacksaw Ridge on April 26 and an intense battle unfolded for 11 days.
The Japanese were defending the escarpment, meanwhile the U.S. forces pushed forward up Hacksaw Ridge. Fighting was mainly in close quarters. The U.S. troops successfully gained control of Hacksaw Ridge on May 6, 1945.
In total, about 2,500 American soldiers were killed at Hacksaw Ridge.
Address: 2 Chome- 53 Nakama, Urasoe, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.2468072, 127.7297201
The Battle at Kakazu Ridge
One Ridge after another. The Battle at Kakazu Ridge was one of the bloodiest during the Battle of Okinawa. Kakazu Ridge was one of the ridges where Japanese forces were set up to protect Shuri in the south.
According to signage at Kakazu Ridge, this area was littered with mines set by Japanese forces. Japanese Forces heavily attacked the U.S. Forces here with heavy weapons to include anti-tank guns and mortars.
On April 19, U.S. Forces lost twenty-two tanks. Both sides suffered huge loses in terms of injuries and causalities. Many civilians lost their lives during the battle as well.
When visiting Kakazu Ridge today, there are many memorials, remnants of the battle, bunkers, and even a Tochka (pictured above). A Tochka is a Russian word and is used to describe thick concrete blocks with gun ports.
Address: 1 Chome-5-7-3 Kakazu, Ginowan, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.2583568, 127.7355609
Peace Memorial Park and Museum
The Peace Memorial Park and Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum in Southern Okinawa is a must see site when visiting Okinawa.
Whether you are touring the WWII sites around Okinawa or just visiting Okinawa as a tourist I highly recommend visiting the Peace Memorial Park.
The Peace Memorial Park isn’t just an attraction in Southern Okinawa. There is a Memorial Museum, the Cornerstone of Peace, and memorials from Prefectures around Japan.
The Cornerstone of Peace is a somber reminder of all the lives lost during the Battle of Okinawa. These granite walls list all the names of the lives lost during the Battle of Okinawa.
The museum is well worth visiting. The museum was full of information related to the Battle of Okinawa.
I stated this in my Battle Site Tour Post, but the museum was nicely done as it did not point fingers or blame any ides. It provided first hand accounts from people affected by the war. There were amazing displays and tragic stories.
Address: 444 Mabuni, Itoman, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.0949888, 127.7236577
Ie Shima
Ie Shima is a small island located off the coast of the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa.
U.S. forces, in particular the U.S. Army’s 77th division, landed on the shores of Ie Shima on April 16, 1945. Heavy fighting between U.S. troops and Japanese forces took place here until it was secured by the U.S. forces on April 21, 1945.
A famous journalist and War Correspondent, Ernie Pyle was shot and killed on Ie Shima on April 18, 1945.
Ernie Pyle was a beloved and very respected War Correspondent during WWII. He covered battles in in both Europe and Asia and was known for covering stories of ordinary soldiers fighting on the front lines.
As a tribute to Ernie Pyle, the 77th Infantry Division placed a monument on the site of where he was shot and killed. This monument is still there today.
On the monument, there is a plaque that says:
“At This Spot The 77th Infantry Division Lost a Buddy, Ernie Pyle.”
There are other sites around Ie Shima that are related to the Battle of Okinawa. One of the more famous buildings is the Municipal Pawnshop which is located in the middle of town.
The plaque at the Municipal Pawnshop states:
“During World War II, a fierce battle took place on Ie Shima and around 1,500 local villagers and 2,000 Japanese soldiers lost their lives. Almost all buildings were destroyed. The pawnshop was damaged but maintained its original shape.
The featured photo of this post is of the Municipal Pawnshop on Ie Shima.
Address: Kawahira, Ie, Kunigami District, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.7108868, 127.7954151
Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
Not far from Naha and a must visit if interested in the WWII sites around Okinawa is the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters.
The Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters served as the underground command center for the Japanese Navy. Rear Admiral Ota Minoru was the Commanding Officer.
The Underground Headquarters is a network of tunnels and rooms located about 20 meters deep. There are about 450 meters of tunnels. During the Battle of Okinawa, the headquarters was able to house around 4,000 soldiers.
Rear Admiral Ota Minoru and six other officers committed suicide in the Underground Headquarters on June 13, 1945.
Today, visitors can explore the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters. I recommend visiting the small museum first prior to entering the tunnels.
The entrance to the tunnels involves going down 105 stairs. You can freely walk around the tunnels, see the operations rooms, living quarters, and signal rooms.
The Officer’s Room which you walk through is covered in holes that were caused by the detonation of a had-grenade.
Address: 236 Tomigusuku, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.186248, 127.6763201
Tomori Stone Lion
One of my favorite WWII sites in Okinawa is the Tomori Stone Lion. Although not as significant as some of the other sites, the iconic photo of the soldiers at the base of the statue whether staged or real is a venerated site.
The Tomori Stone Lion, technically a Shisa, dates back to 1689 and still stands today. The statue was placed here by local villagers to protect the town from evil spirits.
The Shisa survived the Battle of Okinawa with only a few bullet holes to show, which still can be seen today.
Type in the Tomori Stone Lion in Google Images, you will see the iconic photo where troops are at the base of the statue looking through binoculars. I thought it would be fun to recreate the photo by myself.
Address: 22 Tomori, Yaese, Shimajiri District, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.1335766, 127.7217049
Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner
Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr. was the highest-ranking United States military officer killed during WWII.
Lieutenant General Buckner was the commanding general of the 10th Army. He was killed three days before the Japanese surrendered in Okinawa.
He was visiting a forward observation post, here he was killed by enemy artillery fire.
Today, there is a Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner placed at the location where he was killed.
At this same location, there is a memorial for Claudius M. Easley, Brigadier General, who also lost his life during the Battle of Okinawa on June 19, 1945.
There is another memorial for Edwin T. May, Colonel of the 383rd Inf. Regt. who also died at this location on June 5, 1945.
There is a set of stairs that lead to the memorials on top of a hill. There is a small pull off for vehicles to park.
Address: 615 Maezato, Itoman, Okinawa
Coordinates: 26.1146274, 127.6802595
Caves of Okinawa
I took a Tunnel Rats Tour in Okinawa that explored various caves around Okinawa related to the Battle of Okinawa.
Many of the caves around Okinawa are open to the public and accessible while others are blocked off or dangerous and entering is not advised, so please use common sense and do your research before entering any cave in Okinawa.
During the Tunnel Rat Tour I took, we visited the Shimuku Gama Cave otherwise known as “Happy Cave.” The second cave was Garabigama in the Shimajiri District in Southern Okinawa.
Todoroki Cavern is another cave I personally explored on my own.
According to a sign posted at Todoroki Cavern, locals fled to this cave during air raids in March of 1945.
Around June 15th, around 20 Japanese Imperial Forces arrived at the cave and placed themselves at the entrance, of course this mix of Japanese Forces and civilians did not bode well.
On June 18th U.S. forces threw drums of gasoline and explosives into the cave in a “clearing operation.” killing and injuring many of the civilians. On June 25th, around 500-600 civilians were able to leave the cave.
Conclusion
The Battle of Okinawa was a bloody yet significant battle between U.S. and Japanese forces that took place in various locations around the island of Okinawa and the surrounding seas.
Visiting WWII Sites around Okinawa can be a moving experience. From visiting the Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters to the beautiful Peace Memorial Park, each site is a reminder of the what took place here between April and June of 1945.
The Battle Sites of Okinawa is unfortunately part of the islands history. It’s a constant reminder of the past but also provides us living today with a deeper appreciation for peace.
Whether you are here visiting Okinawa to take in the tourist sites or truly interested in its WWII history I hope this posts inspires you to get out and explore some of the WWII sites around Okinawa.
Again, there are so many sites related to the Battle of Okinawa on the island. The ones covered in this post are some of the more famous sites and easily reachable. I don’t claim to be an expert in this topic but I love exploring Okinawa and learning everything I can about it’s history.
If you know other sites related to the Battle of Okinawa, let me know in the comments and I will make sure to pay them a visit.
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