In the spring of 1945, the Battle of Okinawa — called the "Typhoon of Steel" — became the largest ground battle of the Pacific War. Over 82 days, approximately 240,000 lives were lost, including roughly 94,000 Okinawan civilians — one-quarter of the island's population. Southern Okinawa is home to concentrated memorial sites honoring these victims and praying for peace. This is not sightseeing — it's a "peace pilgrimage."
The Battle of Okinawa — 82 Days of the "Typhoon of Steel"
On April 1, 1945, approximately 183,000 American troops landed on Okinawa's central coast. The Japanese military chose a "delay strategy" to buy time for the defense of mainland Japan, turning Okinawa into a shield. Fighting pushed southward for 82 days until June 23, when Japanese commander General Ushijima committed suicide, ending organized resistance.
The toll was devastating: ~94,000 Japanese soldiers, ~12,520 American troops, and ~94,000 Okinawan civilians perished. Among civilian casualties were victims of "forced mass suicide" (shudan jiketsu) compelled by the Japanese military — a testament to the unfathomable depths of wartime tragedy.
Cornerstone of Peace — 240,000 Names
The centerpiece of Peace Memorial Park is the Cornerstone of Peace. Erected in 1995 for the 50th anniversary, this monument bears the names of everyone who died in the Battle of Okinawa — regardless of nationality, military or civilian status. Approximately 241,593 names, including Korean and Taiwanese victims, are engraved on black granite tablets, with newly confirmed names added each year.
The tablets are arranged in concentric arcs facing the sea. The design intent is to "look back at past war and face toward a peaceful future beyond the ocean." Standing before each tablet, you feel the weight of every name — each one a person who once breathed, laughed, and loved.
Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum
The Peace Memorial Museum within the park documents the reality of the Battle of Okinawa. Unlike typical war museums, it tells the story from the perspective of civilians. The permanent exhibition traces Okinawa's history chronologically from the Ryukyu Kingdom era through the postwar American occupation to the 1972 reversion to Japan.
The most powerful space is the "Testimony Room." Video and audio testimonies from Okinawan survivors are presented with subtitles in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. The terror inside the shelters, the grief of losing family, the coercion of "mass suicide" — these raw memories leave a profound impact on every visitor.
Visitor info: Admission 300 yen (adults), free for junior high and under. Open 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:30). Free multilingual audio guides available.
Himeyuri Tower — Girls at War
Himeyuri is the combined name for the Okinawa Normal School Women's Division and Okinawa Prefectural First Girls' High School. In March 1945, 222 female students aged 15–19 and 18 teachers were mobilized as the "Himeyuri Student Corps" to nurse wounded soldiers at the Army hospital in Haebaru.
On June 18, the Japanese military abruptly issued a disbandment order. Cast into the battlefield with no protection, the girls perished from shelling, starvation, and suicide. 136 students and 11 teachers died — most within days of the disbandment order.
The Himeyuri Peace Museum displays survivor testimonies, students' photographs and letters, and a reconstruction of the cave hospital. The fact that these were girls your daughter's age delivers war's cruelty with devastating directness.
Former Navy Underground Headquarters — 450m Below Ground
Located in Tomigusuku, Naha, the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters consists of approximately 450 meters of tunnels dug by the Japanese Navy in 1944. It served as the command center for the Okinawa Naval Forces, and on June 13, 1945, Commander Ota Minoru and approximately 4,000 personnel committed suicide inside.
Today about 300 meters are open to the public, and you can walk through the narrow, dark corridors. The commander's room still bears shrapnel scars from hand grenades. Commander Ota's final telegram to Tokyo — "The Okinawan people have fought like this. I implore you to give the people of Okinawa special consideration in the future" — remains one of the most quoted phrases symbolizing Okinawan sacrifice.
Hacksaw Ridge — Maeda Escarpment
The Maeda Escarpment, made world-famous by Mel Gibson's 2016 film "Hacksaw Ridge," is located in Urasoe City. In April–May 1945, Japanese and American forces fought fierce close-quarters combat on this 150-meter-high cliff.
The film's real-life hero, Private First Class Desmond Doss, was a conscientious objector who refused to carry a weapon yet single-handedly rescued 75 wounded soldiers by lowering them down the cliff with a rope. He became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor in U.S. Army history.
Today the ruins of Urasoe Castle stand atop the escarpment, offering panoramic views of the East China Sea. For film fans, standing on the actual cliff where Doss performed his extraordinary acts of courage is a deeply moving experience.
June 23 Memorial Day & Visitor Guide
Every June 23 is observed as "Irei no Hi" (Memorial Day) in Okinawa, marking the end of the Battle of Okinawa. The Okinawa Memorial Ceremony is held at Peace Memorial Park, attended by the Prime Minister, dignitaries, and bereaved families. At noon, a one-minute silence is observed, and a "Poem of Peace" read by an elementary school student moves the audience to tears each year.
Recommended Pilgrimage Route (1 Day)
- 9:00 AM — Former Navy Underground HQ (Tomigusuku, Naha, ~40 min)
- 10:30 AM — Himeyuri Tower & Peace Museum (Itoman, ~90 min)
- 12:30 PM — Lunch at Itoman Fish Port Market (machigwa) for fresh seafood
- 2:00 PM — Peace Memorial Park: Cornerstone of Peace → Museum (~2 hours)
- 4:30 PM — Sunset meditation at Mabuni Hill
Visitor Tips
- Transport: Bus #89 from Naha Bus Terminal to Peace Memorial Park (~1 hour). Rental car recommended
- Duration: Full course takes one day; Peace Memorial Park alone 2–3 hours
- Attire: Comfortable walking shoes; hat and water essential in summer
- Etiquette: Maintain silence at memorial sites; observe a moment of silence at Himeyuri Tower
- June 23: Irei no Hi is an Okinawa prefectural holiday. The park gets crowded around the ceremony
