Itokazu Castle Ruins

Itokazu Castle Ruins, in the Tamagusuku area of Nanjo City, are a nationally designated historic site. This old fortress made use of a sheer cliff and was encircled by walls built in both rough-piled and cut-stone masonry. Walking here, you come to understand that a gusuku (castle) was never a mere pile of stone walls, but a structure for reading the terrain, defending it, and surveying it. The cliff to the west, the gate to the east, the height of the stonework, the sweep of the view — simply following the lines of the walls, you begin to sense the tension of an earlier age.

According to the Nanjo City Cultural Affairs Division, Itokazu Gusuku is thought to have been built in the early fourteenth century as the western defense of Tamagusuku Gusuku, and it is described as the largest castle site in the southern part of the main island. That scale, together with the cliff-and-wall construction recorded by Cultural Heritage Online, preserves to this day the site's role as a key stronghold of its time.

When visiting, put the preservation of the cultural property first. Do not climb on the stone walls, keep away from crumbling sections, and check the condition of the grass and the ground underfoot. Places of prayer can be found both inside and around the gusuku, so a restrained approach to photography and access is essential. The paths can be slippery after rain and the summer sun is strong, so bring comfortable walking shoes and water.

Itokazu Castle Ruins lie close to Tamagusuku Castle Ruins and Itokazu Abuchiragama. If you plan to visit a site of wartime memory on the same day, however, we recommend allowing time and space to shift your frame of mind.