Soak Up the Spiritual Past of Okinawa
The Tamagusuku Castle Ruins are a breath of fresh air for those favouring the more off-the-beaten-path approach to travel.
The ruins feature an arch traditionally found in Gusuku—Okinawa-style castles. The characteristic of these ruins is that they are hollowed out from natural rocks.
The Tamagusuku Castle Ruins are one example of a quasi-spiritual spot located in the southeast of the main island of Okinawa.
Built before the establishment of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it is the oldest castle on Okinawa, and legend says that the god Amamikiyo built it herself.
According to legend, Amamikiyo is the god who came from beyond the sea to create Okinawa.
While there are only ruins left in the present, the hike up the hill that the castle was built on does offer some great views of the area.
It also presents a good contrast to the opulent Shuri Castle, showcasing a more traditional “Gusuku” castle.
A site deemed sacred, located within the castle. The exact age of the castle is unknown.
A castle wall that draws a curved form, perfectly aligned to the terrain.
Tamagusuku Castle Ruins
444, Tamagusuku, Nanjo-city, Okinawa
TRENDING
-
Hiroshi Nagai's Sun-Drenched Pop Paintings, an Ode to California
Through his colourful pieces, the painter transports viewers to the west coast of America as it was in the 1950s.
-
A Craft Practice Rooted in Okinawa’s Nature and Everyday Landscapes
Ai and Hiroyuki Tokeshi work with Okinawan wood, an exacting material, drawing on a local tradition of woodworking and lacquerware.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
‘Shojo Tsubaki’, A Freakshow
Underground manga artist Suehiro Maruo’s infamous masterpiece canonised a historical fascination towards the erotic-grotesque genre.
-
‘Seeing People My Age or Younger Succeed Makes Me Uneasy’
In ‘A Non-Conformist’s Guide to Surviving Society’, author Satoshi Ogawa shares his strategies for navigating everyday life.
