Katsuren Castle [勝連城]
Katsuren Castle
View from Katsuren Castle
Katsuren Castle ("Katsuren-gusuku", "Katsuren-jô" in Japanese) is the castle of Ryukyu Kingdom.
It is located about 28 km northeast of Naha city and about 13 km northeast of Nakagusuku castle.
The site is on a hill in Katsuren Peninsula expanding to the southeast.
The castle was constructed on the slope 60 to 100 meters elevation.
The site is about 600 meters from east to west and about 200 meters from north to south.
The castle is made up of three enclosures surrounded by stone walls.
In the central enclosure, the ruin of the palace had been discovered.
Entrance to Katsuren Castle
Ruin of the palace in Katsuren Castle
The castle was built during the 13th and 14th centuries.
The last castle lord was Amawari (?-1458).
He was a strong leader in this area from farm family.
Because his predecessor was tyranny, he carried out a coup and become the new lord.
And he got this castle.
He planned to unify Ryukyu.
But he was destroyed as a traitor by king of Ryukyu in 1458, and the castle was deserted.
In 2000, this castle was declared a World Heritage site, as one of Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.
How to get here
By route bus, about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Naha terminal to Nishihara stop.
About 10 minutes walk from there.
