This time, we're visiting the Katsuren Castle ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Uruma City, Okinawa. Katsuren Castle ruins were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 and are the oldest World Heritage site in Okinawa.
Transportation to Katsuren Castle Ruins
You can use the following methods to go to:
- Driving: There is free parking at the entrance of the museum
- Public Transportation: Take bus No. 52 from Naha Bus Terminal and get off at Katsurenjo Castle Ruins stop. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Katsuren Castle Ruins Ticket Price
Katsuren Castle Ruins actually consists of two parts: the museum + Katsuren Castle Ruins. The adult ticket is 600 yen and the child ticket is 400 yen.
Tickets.
Introduction to Katsuren Castle Ruins
Next to the parking lot is the Katsuren Castle Museum, a wealthy building with a very stylish design.
Map of the Katsuren Castle Ruins. The museum is the red building in the picture, and it's about a 10-minute walk to the Katsuren Castle Ruins.
Information desk and self-service ticket machines.
The permanent exhibition area of the museum introduces the history of Katsuren Castle, which is divided into three areas: South Castle, Inner Castle, and North Castle. It was built around the beginning of the 14th century and is over 700 years old.
Some relics of the Ryukyu Kingdom found in the Katsuren Castle ruins are on display.
In the 15th century, the feudal lord Amawatoshi brought unprecedented prosperity to the Katsuren region through trade with neighboring countries. However, Amawatoshi later rebelled against the Shuri royal court, but was ultimately defeated. The museum displays models of merchant ships from that period.
The museum has exciting live events. Please refer to the table below for program and performance times.
| Program Name | Weekday performance times | Weekend performance times |
| A Victory! The New Legend of the Heroes Amawari | 9:15, 10:45, 12:15, 13:45, 15:15, 16:45 | 9:15, 11:40, 13:40, 15:40, 16:45 |
| Katsuren Poetry Collection - Amawari Chapter - | 9:40, 11:10, 12:40, 14:10, 15:40, 17:10 | 9:40, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00, 17:10 |
| Historical Background: The Birth of the Ryukyu Kingdom and the Prosperity of Katsuren: A Timed Light Tour | 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 14:30, 16:00, 17:30 | 10:00, 17:30 |
| Shengliansong Poetry Collection ~ Baidu Tayang Chapter ~ | 10:20, 11:50, 13:20, 14:50, 16:20 | 10:20, 12:20, 14:20, 16:20 |
What the rich man saw this time was: Katsuren's Poetry Collection ~Amawari Chapter~.
The performers were full of energy and the sound and light effects were great.
The rich man recorded a short performance.
The permanent exhibition is small and can be visited in about 30 minutes. You can walk along the long corridor to the Katsuren Castle ruins.
It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the outdoor exhibition area. You can see the Katsuren Castle ruins in front of you. It seems very far away and you still have to climb a mountain. Huh~
Hey~ Don't worry, there's a shuttle bus available, which saves some energy. On that day, there weren't many visitors to the Castle Ruins, so we waited a bit for a bus. I wonder if there will be long lines on a holiday?
I got off the bus before I could even get comfortable. It only took about 2 minutes to reach the entrance of Katsuren Castle Ruins.
The clockwise stone staircase was specially designed to prevent enemy intrusion. By increasing the angle of the stone steps, it effectively depleted the enemy's physical strength, allowing for an attack from the other side of the city wall. This made it easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it easy to annihilate the enemy. The graceful curves of the staircase embody the wisdom of the ancients.
Katsuren Castle, a four-story castle with walls that wind their way through the terrain, is a truly iconic medieval castle in Okinawa. The wealthy man found the stone steps difficult to navigate, so he used the walls for support. Traveling with elderly relatives should be careful, as it was drizzling that day and the steps were a bit slippery.
There are also some stairs with handrails, but there are also difficult stone steps.
There are only a few steps, and it takes about 10 minutes to reach the second kuwa. It is said that this was once the residential area of Katsuren Castle. The pieces in the picture are the remains of the building pillars. Based on the tiles excavated nearby, it is estimated that the tiled roof buildings that can only be seen in Shuri Castle and Urasoe Castle were built here.
The third qulun is used for ceremonies. In the past, it was here that Ama and Li gave orders to their subordinates.
Finally, we reached the highest point in Katsuren Castle, the kuwa. From here, we enjoy a 360-degree view of the surrounding islands, the northern peaks of the main island, and the Chinen Peninsula to the south. We can also monitor Nakajo Castle, home to our arch-enemy, Gosamaru. The artifacts excavated here are all high-quality items acquired through overseas trade, leading scholars to believe that a structure similar to the Treasure Hall once existed on the first kuwa.
The scenery viewed from the commanding heights of Shengliancheng.
The Katsuren Castle ruins are located on a towering limestone hill, overlooking the nearby Minamihazehara coast.
There was no car available on the way back (laughs), so I slowly walked back to the parking lot.
rich man experience
Katsuren Castle Ruins is Okinawa's oldest World Heritage Site. I think the overall planning is excellent, and parking is convenient. It's worth a visit, and I recommend it to anyone collecting World Heritage sites. Also, more World Heritage sites in Okinawa: Shuri Castle Ruins, Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate, Tamaudun Mausoleum, Nakijin Castle Ruins, Zakimi Castle Ruins, Nakajo Castle Ruins, and Shikina-en Garden.
Katsuren Castle Ruins Information
Official website:https://www.katsuren-jo.jp/english-1/
Address: 3908 Katsurennanfuhara, Katsuren City, Okinawa Prefecture
Opening hours: 09:00~18:00
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