The attractive beauty of the curving castle walls
One hour away from Naha Airport by car, Nakagusuku Castle has the largest number of remains among the 300-odd castles found in the prefecture, and they were designated as a World Heritage site under the title of Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The castle was built between the 14th and 15th centuries when the Ryukyus thrived due to overseas trade, but only the front and rear gates remain now along the ridge on the cliff and steep slope, a construction that was characteristic of the Warring States Era which was easy for protection and difficult for invasion. The special features of the castle revolve around the lovely curvature of the castle walls making use of the natural topography and the 3 types of stonework involved. According to a field survey, Commodore Perry who had come onto the island in 1853 also praised the beauty of the stone construction.
A wonderful view
Nakagusuku Castle is a mountain castle which extends basically in a straight line from northeast to southwest on the top of a hill. The Pacific Ocean and the East China Sea can be viewed to the east while the Katsuren Peninsula in the north and the Chinen Peninsula in the south can be seen, and on a good day, even the Kerama Islands can be seen far off in the distance. The sunrise can be seen in the plaza along the outer wall of the enclosure facing the east, and on New Year’s Day, many people flock to the site to celebrate the first sunrise of the year when the viewing times are started earlier.
The lovely contrast of the yellow flowers blooming in winter
The castle is also famous for being a site for the yellow blossoms of Japanese silverleaf (tsuwabuki), and as such, it has been selected as one of the Top 100 Famous Sites in Churashima and Okinawa for Flowers and Plants. The peak time to observe the blossoms is from mid-November to mid-January, with the flowers in full bloom attracting many tropical butterflies and wild birds. At the end of December, there is the Nakagusuku Castle Tsuwabuki Festival where you can enjoy the traditional entertainment of Okinawa which includes Ryukyuan dance performances and demonstrations of the shamisen and taiko drums.