Set in the south of Okinawa’s main island, Sashiki Ue Gusuku carries the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom into the present.
This old castle is known as the seat of Sho Hashi, the hero who unified the three Ryukyuan kingdoms, and of his father Sho Shisho.
Surrounded by lush nature, it is a precious legacy of the kingdom’s former glory.
This article covers the highlights of Sashiki Ue Gusuku and how long a visit takes.
Ratings for Sashiki Ue Gusuku
*Ratings are the personal impressions of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other castles and castle ruins in Okinawa
Sashiki Ue Gusuku at a glance
| Opening hours | No set hours |
| Closed | No set hours |
| Admission | Free |
| Time needed | About 30 minutes |
| Parking | Yes (free, no sign) |
| Restrooms | None |
| Address | 116 Sashiki, Nanjo City, Okinawa |
Sashiki Ue Gusuku was designated a national historic site on 17 October 2013 under the name Sashiki Castle Ruins, and holds an important place in Okinawan history.
The national historic site of Sashiki Castle Ruins comprises three sites: Sashiki Ue Gusuku (the upper castle site) together with the Misatodono and Nawashirodono sites.
Highlights of Sashiki Ue Gusuku
The seat of Sho Hashi
Sashiki Ue Gusuku is known as the residence of Sho Hashi, who unified the three Ryukyuan kingdoms, and of his father Sho Shisho.
The site commands beautiful views over Nakagusuku Bay and the Katsuren Peninsula, drawing visitors back into a deeply historic age.
Sashiki Ue Gusuku was a key stage in the founding and rise of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and its historical value is considerable.
Tsukishiro-no-Miya
Tsukishiro-no-Miya, the shrine within Sashiki Ue Gusuku, is a sacred place built in 1938.
It enshrines the First Sho dynasty and takes its name from Tsukishiro, the guardian deity of that royal line.
The shrine is also a superb vantage point over Nakagusuku Bay and the Katsuren Peninsula, offering visitors natural beauty and quiet.
Tsukishiro-no-Miya reflects the spiritual side of Sashiki Ue Gusuku, and is known as a place that brings a sense of calm.
One of the stops on the Agari-umaai pilgrimage
Sashiki Ue Gusuku is one of the pilgrimage sites on the Agari-umaai, where you can encounter Okinawa’s traditional beliefs and culture.
Regarded as sacred since the days of the Ryukyu court, it forms part of a circuit of holy places in the south-east of Okinawa’s main island, and visitors feel that spirituality keenly.
The Agari-umaai is a pilgrimage around the sacred places where Amamikiyo, the creator deity of Ryukyu, is said to have settled.
Running east from Shuri Castle through Ozato, Sashiki, Chinen and Tamagusuku, this circuit of prayer sites is considered one of the Ryukyu Kingdom’s important cultural traditions.
Traces of daily life found in the 1979 excavation
In 1979 the Sashiki Town Board of Education carried out an excavation, uncovering numerous post holes across three terraced platforms.
Finds included Chinese celadon bowls, iron and bronze objects, coins such as the Huang Song Tong Bao, beads, and even carbonised rice and barley and cattle bones.
These finds tell us what daily life at Sashiki Ue Gusuku was like, and are valuable material for understanding everyday life and culture in the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
The excavation further underlined the historical importance of Sashiki Ue Gusuku.
Time needed
Sashiki Ue Gusuku takes about 30 minutes to look around.
Climb the stone steps and you reach Tsukishiro-no-Miya, with an open, panoramic terrace beyond it. Some sections are unpaved, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
The site is not especially large, and in places little of the castle remains.
The history of Sashiki Ue Gusuku
Sashiki Ue Gusuku is a historically important old castle in southern Okinawa, and it carries the history of Ryukyu vividly.
The gusuku is known as the seat of Sho Hashi, who unified the three kingdoms, and of his father Sho Shisho; Sho Hashi himself is said to have been born and raised in Sashiki.
Sashiki Ue Gusuku was built before Sho Hashi took Shimashii Ohzato Gusuku, and it reached its height in his time.
Working from a base at Baten Port, Sho Hashi built up his strength, defeated the powerful Shimashii Ohzato, and went on to overcome Chuzan, Hokuzan and Nanzan to unify the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The site sits on high ground with sweeping views over Nakagusuku Bay and the Katsuren Peninsula – the scenery alone is breathtaking.
On the slopes of the gusuku there are also rows of stones that served to retain the earth. No stacked-stone castle walls of the kind found at other Okinawan gusuku have been discovered here, but that distinctive structure tells its own story.
Rather than a castle ringed by stone walls, it is thought to have been closer to a fortified residence, defended by terraces cut flat into the slope and by wooden palisades. Steep slopes on three sides and a hill to the rear made the terrain itself the defence.
Scattered nearby are other prayer sites connected with Sho Hashi, including the prefecturally designated Sashiki Yodore, said to hold the tombs of Sho Shisho and his line, and the site of the residence of Nashiru Ufuya, where Sho Shisho is said to have lived.
The 1979 excavation turned up a great many valuable artefacts.
Those artefacts give us a glimpse of what daily life at Sashiki Ue Gusuku was once like.
This is a place where Okinawa’s history feels very close, and it makes a lasting impression on every visitor.
When you come to Okinawa, do visit Sashiki Ue Gusuku and take in its rich history.
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 40 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 116 Sashiki, Nanjo City, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | None |
There is no sign reading “car park” at Sashiki Ue Gusuku, but there is space to park within the grounds.
It is not a place that draws crowds, so you will rarely have trouble parking.
Check the Google Map below for details on parking.
What’s nearby
Recommended activities in Nanjo City
Nanjo City offers a wide range of marine activities.
You can book diving, snorkelling, SUP and more.
If you would like to try diving or snorkelling, take a look at what is available on GetYourGuide or Viator.
Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo
Yuinchi Hotel Nanjo offers reasonable rates and a natural hot spring – a rarity in Okinawa.
On clear days you can also enjoy fine views of the sea from its hilltop setting.
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
For sightseeing on Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches up north, American Village in Chatan – the places worth seeing are scattered across the island, and having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and rarely run on time, so having a car makes a real difference to the trip.
Cars book up quickly in peak season, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
Summary
Sashiki Ue Gusuku is a rare castle site where you can experience both Okinawan history and natural beauty.
Known as the seat of Sho Hashi, who unified the three Ryukyuan kingdoms, it also plays an important role as the home of Tsukishiro-no-Miya and as a stop on the Agari-umaai.
In 2013 it was also designated a national historic site as the Sashiki Castle Ruins, and its value was recognised afresh.
The 1979 excavation uncovered many artefacts, showing that this place held an important position from early times.
Allow around 30 minutes for a visit, and you can take in both the breathtaking scenery and the depth of history.
When you come to Okinawa, do visit Sashiki Ue Gusuku and take in its rich history and nature.
Comments