About Nanjo City | For First-Time Visitors

Nanjo City lies in the southern part of Okinawa's main island. The present city was formed in 2006 through the merger of the town of Sashiki and the villages of Chinen, Tamagusuku, and Ozato. While its administrative name is new, this region carries far older layers: the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom, beliefs woven around the sea, gusuku (castle) sites, village life, and generations of farming and fishing.

Seen as a gateway for travelers, Nanjo reveals several distinct faces. Around Chinen and Kudeken are Sefa-utaki, Chinen Misaki Park, and Azama Port, from which the ferry route departs for Kudaka Island. Around Tamagusuku are the Tamagusuku Castle Ruins, the Itokazu Castle Ruins, the Itokazu Abuchiragama cave, Gangala Valley, Okinawa World, and the beaches of Mibaru and Hyakuna. On Ou Island, a harbor and a lively food scene await across the bridge, while the Ozato and Sashiki areas hold the city's everyday life and its transport hubs.

In Nanjo, these places do not exist for tourism alone. The sacred sites remain places of prayer today, the gusuku are cultural properties, and village life continues right beside the shore. That is precisely why visitors, as invited guests, should spend their time here with an understanding of each place's circumstances.

This site presents Nanjo City as a bright and welcoming destination, while holding equal respect for the culture and daily life that sustain that brightness. Whether this is your first visit or one of many, we hope to help you see the map of Nanjo a little more deeply.