What Is Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park? The Site Where the Battle of Okinawa Ended, in Mabuni, Itoman City
Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park is an urban park for memorial services and peace education, located in Mabuni, Itoman City, in the southern part of Okinawa's main island.
This is regarded as the "site where the Battle of Okinawa ended," and full-scale development as an urban park has been carried out by Okinawa Prefecture since 1972.
Within the park are scattered the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, the Cornerstone of Peace (Heiwa no Ishiji), the Okinawa Peace Memorial Statue, the National War Dead Cemetery of Okinawa, and about 50 memorial monuments erected by various prefectures and organizations.
While it is a sightseeing spot, it is a place you will want to visit first and foremost with the awareness that it is a place of prayer and mourning for the war dead.
The park spreads across a plateau that looks south over the Mabuni hills and commands views of the rugged, beautiful coastline.
Even as you turn your eyes to the bright lawns and the ocean scenery, memorial facilities dedicated to mourning the war dead are quietly scattered all around.
Pausing to consider the meaning of the place where you are standing before taking photos will help the memories of your Okinawa trip stay more deeply in your heart.
Learning the Prayers Held in the Names at the Cornerstone of Peace (Heiwa no Ishiji)
Reflecting on the Battle of Okinawa Through Over 240,000 Inscribed Names
The Cornerstone of Peace is a monument inscribed with the names of those who died in the Battle of Okinawa and elsewhere, erected on June 23, 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War and the Battle of Okinawa.
It follows a policy of inscribing names regardless of nationality or whether the person was a soldier or a civilian; the number of inscribed names exceeds 240,000, and additional names are inscribed each year to coincide with Memorial Day in June.
There are 118 inscription monuments and 1,220 inscription panel surfaces, a scale capable of inscribing the names of about 250,000 people.
Standing before each individual name carved in stone makes it easier to take in the war not as "distant history" but as a record of the lives of individual people.
The Reading "Ishiji" and the Origin of the Name
The character "礎" is generally read "ishizue," but at the Cornerstone of Peace it is read "ishiji," after the Okinawan dialect pronunciation.
The name overlays "ishizue," the foundation stone of a building, with the wish for it to become the foundation for creating peace.
When explaining it to foreign visitors, adding the meaning of the English name "Cornerstone of Peace" will help convey it more easily.
Learning the Reality of the Battle of Okinawa at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum
Taking In History Through Photos, Relics, and Testimonies
The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum is a facility for passing on the historical lessons of the Battle of Okinawa to the next generation.
In the permanent exhibition rooms, it conveys the reality of the war through actual materials related to the Battle of Okinawa, photo panels, and the written and filmed testimonies of war survivors.
When viewing the exhibits, it is important not only to learn about the events but also to reflect on the Battle of Okinawa from the perspective of the residents.
A Guide to Opening Hours, Admission Fees, and Time Needed
Opening hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and entry to the permanent exhibition rooms is until 4:30 p.m.
Closed days are the year-end and New Year period (December 29 to January 3) and temporary closure days designated by the governor due to special circumstances.
The admission fee for the permanent exhibition rooms is 300 yen for an individual adult and 150 yen for an individual child, with group rates for parties of 20 or more and free admission for preschool-age children.
As a guide for those who view carefully, allow about 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes for the permanent exhibition and special exhibitions combined.
Prepare Yourself Mentally Before Viewing
Some exhibits address heavy themes and painful records.
Visitors with small children and foreign visitors learning about the Battle of Okinawa for the first time may wish to take breaks rather than rushing through the visit.
Checking the exhibition content and opening status before your visit will give you peace of mind.
How to Explore Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park and Spend Time Quietly
Moving from the Museum to the Cornerstone of Peace and the Memorial Spaces
Within the park, the places of memorial and learning are gently connected to one another.
The Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, the Cornerstone of Peace, and the Mabuni hills overlooking the sea are each within walking distance of one another.
Taking time to pause while understanding the meaning of each place is a way of spending time that is characteristic of Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park.
Within the park are also the Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall, which enshrines the Okinawa Peace Memorial Statue, and groups of memorial monuments erected by various prefectures, so walking slowly makes for a visit of about 2 to 3 hours.
A Guide to Clothing, Weather Considerations, and Walkability
Because much of the visit involves walking outdoors, choosing comfortable, easy-to-walk-in shoes will give you peace of mind.
Okinawa's strong sunlight and sudden squalls can quickly affect your comfort, so preparing a hat, drinks, rain gear, and sunscreen to suit the season will help you stay comfortable.
That said, in front of the Cornerstone of Peace and the memorial monuments, also be mindful of behaving in keeping with the surrounding atmosphere, such as by removing your hat.
Photography Etiquette and Usage Rules Foreign Visitors Should Know
Mindful Photography That Does Not Disturb Those Who Pray
Within the park, you may want to take photos as keepsakes.
On the other hand, the areas around the Cornerstone of Peace and the memorial monuments are places visited by people searching for the names of family and relatives and by people offering prayers.
Refrain from loud conversation, dramatic or staged poses in photos, and touching the monuments directly, and avoid disturbing other visitors during their time of prayer.
Be Aware of Uses That Require Application
Commercial photography and filming, the sale of goods, promotional activities, gatherings and events, and the use of fire require an application for permission in advance.
At the Cornerstone of Peace as well, photography by the media and gatherings require an application.
Even during individual travel, if you are carrying out commercial photography or a group project, please contact the designated administrator, the Okinawa Peace Memorial Foundation (phone 098-997-2765), in advance and confirm the application procedures.
How to Get to Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park and Parking Information
How to Get There from Naha Airport and Central Naha
The address is 444 Mabuni, Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture, and it is about 40 minutes to 1 hour by car from Naha Airport or central Naha City as a rough guide.
By route bus, head from Naha Bus Terminal to Itoman Bus Terminal, then get off at the Heiwa Kinendō Iriguchi bus stop, from which it is about a 5-minute walk.
Since service is limited, using a rental car or sightseeing taxi allows you to get around with time to spare.
Parking, Opening Hours, and Admission
Parking is free, with space for about 352 passenger cars and about 53 large buses.
The park gates are open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and admission to the park is free.
However, individual facilities such as the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum and the Okinawa Peace Memorial Hall have their own admission fees and entry hours, so please check before your visit.
Summary: Visiting Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park as a Place of Prayer
Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Park is a special spot where Okinawa's beautiful scenery and the memory of the Battle of Okinawa exist in the same place.
By visiting the Cornerstone of Peace, the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum, and the memorial spaces, an Okinawa trip becomes not only sightseeing but also a time to reflect on history and life.
When you visit, please make a point of walking quietly, turning your eyes to the inscribed names, and respecting this place of prayer.
That attitude becomes a first step toward a deeper understanding of Okinawa for foreign visitors.
