Japan1 day
Okinawa's Battle Sites — 8 Hours with Licensed Historian Guide
World War II history across Maeda Kochi, naval headquarters, and peace memorials — full day from Naha
This single-day tour traces the major sites of the Battle of Okinawa, the three-month campaign that ended World War II in the Pacific. A licensed history guide provides chronological context from U.S. landing through the battle's conclusion, stopping at Maeda Kochi (Hacksaw Ridge) in Urasoe City—where a steep escarpment saw some of the fiercest combat—the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, the Himeyuri Student Nurse Monument and Museum, and the Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park. The tour departs from hotels in Naha or the central area and returns at day's end. Admission fees and lunch are separate.
Highlights
- Hike the Maeda escarpment at Hacksaw Ridge (Maeda Kochi); site of significant World War II combat
- Tour the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters tunnel system (guided, approximately 1 hour, stairs required)
- Visit the Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner at his designated site
- Visit the Himeyuri Student Nurse Monument and Museum
- Walk the grounds of Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park
- Optional stops: General Ushijima's death site or Tomori Stone Shisa Lions (time permitting, subject to guide availability)
Day by day
1Battle of Okinawa Sites — Maeda Kochi to Peace Memorial ParkMaeda Kochi (Hacksaw Ridge) · Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters · local fish restaurant or market center · Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner · Himeyuri Student Nurse Monument and Museum · Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park
Hotel pickup occurs in Naha or the central area. The first stop is Maeda Kochi (Hacksaw Ridge) in Urasoe City, where a hike ascends the escarpment that witnessed intense fighting during the Battle of Okinawa. The guide provides detailed accounts of the battle's progression from U.S. landing through its final stages. The tour then visits the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, a tunnel complex that served as a command center. A lunch break follows at a local fish restaurant or market center. The afternoon includes the Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner and the Himeyuri Student Nurse Monument and Museum, dedicated to local female students mobilized as medical personnel. The day concludes at the Okinawa Prefecture Peace Memorial Park, which houses the Cornerstone of Peace monument. Optional stops—depending on time and interest—include the location of General Ushijima's death or Tomori Stone Shisa Lions, hillside sculptures that survived the battle. Return to your hotel completes the day.
Where you go
- 1Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
Included
- Guiding fee with Private Vehicle
Not included
- Admission Fee
- Lunch and Drinks
- Other personal expenses