The Agena Castle Ruins sit in Uruma City, in the central part of Okinawa’s main island.
Built in the 14th century, the ruins carry Okinawa’s distinctive castle-building tradition into the present, beautiful stone walls and all.
Designated a National Historic Site, this is a castle ruin with plenty going for it.
Below are the things worth seeing when you visit the Agena Castle Ruins.
Ratings for the Agena Castle Ruins
*Ratings are the subjective view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other castles and castle ruins in Okinawa
The Agena Castle Ruins at a glance
| Hours | None in particular |
| Closed | None in particular |
| Admission | Free |
| Time needed | About 30 minutes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Address | 904-2214 Agena, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Official website | None |
Highlights of the Agena Castle Ruins
A National Historic Site
The Agena Castle Ruins were designated a National Historic Site in 1972.
This hilltop castle made clever use of natural cliffs and steep slopes, and is thought to have been built by the Agena aji around the 14th century.
Beautiful stone walls
One of the defining features of the Agena Castle Ruins is the beauty of its stone walls.
A double ring of walls, one outer and one inner, gives the site a rinkaku-shiki concentric layout that is unusual in Okinawa.
The neatly stacked stonework speaks to the skill of the builders, and it really is impressive to see.
You can walk to the top
It takes only about three minutes on foot to reach the top of the Agena Castle Ruins.
The footing was slippery, so proper shoes are a good idea.
The route follows the natural contours of the hill, so you can take in the scenery as you go.
At the top there is an entrance like the one pictured above, and beyond it the view opens right up.
From the summit you can see across Agena, and the view from atop the ruins was lovely too.
The Agena bullfighting ring
The Agena Castle Ruins include the Agena bullfighting ring, once the venue for island-wide bullfighting tournaments.
These days most events seem to be held at the Ishikawa Multi-purpose Dome, and the ring does not appear to see much use.
Looking down on the ring from above gives you the view pictured here.
A park full of children
The area around the Agena Castle Ruins has been laid out as Agena Central Park.
It is an ideal place to bring children or the whole family, with something for grown-ups and children alike.
Map of the Agena Castle Ruins
There is a site map for Agena Central Park on display.
The history of the Agena Castle Ruins
The Agena Castle Ruins were built around the 14th century by the Agena Okawa aji.
It was a hilltop castle that made clever use of natural cliffs and steep slopes, known as a rinkaku-shiki gusuku with a double ring of stone walls, one outer and one inner.
At its height it controlled much of the central part of Okinawa’s main island, with castles at Gushikawa, Tengan, Yara and Kyan as well, making it the strongest power in the region.
The plan had originally been to build at Kanekadan, but the site was changed to the low hill at Agena where the ruins stand today.
The Agena Okawa aji family ruled for three generations across the 15th and 16th centuries, until the castle finally fell to the armies of King Sho Shin in 1526.
Today the area around the ruins is laid out as Agena Central Park, where you can enjoy both the history and the natural surroundings.
Parking & Access
| Access | About 70 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 904-2214 Agena, Uruma City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | None |
The Agena Castle Ruins have a free car park.
See the Google map below for parking details.
What’s nearby the Agena Castle Ruins
Activities in Uruma City
Uruma City offers all kinds of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkeling, SUP and more.
If you would like to enjoy diving or snorkeling, why not see what is available on Viator or GetYourGuide?
Hotel Hamahigashima Resort
Hotel Hamahigashima Resort is a lovely place to stay with ocean views.
Muruku Beach is within walking distance, and there is an outdoor pool looking out to sea.
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
Summary
The Agena Castle Ruins are an appealing spot where history and natural beauty come together.
There is a lot to take in, from its standing as a National Historic Site to the beautiful stone walls and the easy walk to the summit.
There is a park for children to enjoy as well, so it suits families nicely.
Do pay the Agena Castle Ruins a visit.
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