Okinawa Battlefields & Peace Memorial Tour, Licensed Guide

Overview

Explore Southern Okinawa’s significant World War II historical sites on this comprehensive 6-hour private tour with a licensed local guide and private vehicle. Your tour includes visits to Maeda Highlands, a strategic battlefield area; the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters, where visitors can see preserved wartime facilities; the Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum, dedicated to remembering the victims of the battle and promoting peace; the Himeyuri Monument and Himeyuri Peace Museum, which share the experiences of the student nurses who served during the war; and Konpaku no To, one of Okinawa's most important memorial sites. Travel comfortably in a private vehicle while your licensed guide provides historical context, local insights throughout the day. This tour offers a meaningful opportunity to learn about Okinawa’s wartime history, honor those affected by the conflict, and gain a deeper understanding of the island’s journey toward peace.

Itinerary

1. Maeda Highlands

   Maeda Highlands, also known as Hakuso Ridge, is a dramatic clifftop landmark located in Urasoe City. This elevated coral limestone plateau rises approximately 60 meters above the East China Sea, offering unobstructed panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding coastline. The site's Japanese name "Maeda" refers to the Maeda Cape area, while "Hakuso" translates to "white grass," describing the pale vegetation that once covered these windswept bluffs. The highlands hold profound historical significance as the site of intense combat during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. The escarpment served as a strategic defensive position, and remnants of the war including cave shelters and military fortifications can still be observed throughout the area. Today, the site functions as both a natural attraction and a place of remembrance, with several memorials honoring those who lost their lives during the Pacific War's final land battle.

   · 30 min

2. 沖縄陸軍病院　南風原壕群20号

   Okinawa Army Hospital Haebaru Bunker No. 20 is a preserved underground military hospital used by the Japanese Army during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Visitors can walk through sections of the original tunnels and learn about the harsh conditions faced by medical staff and wounded soldiers during the final stages of the war. The site offers a powerful insight into Okinawa’s wartime history and the human cost of the conflict. Important: Advance reservations are required to visit the bunker. If you would like to include this site in your tour, please consult your guide in advance.

   · 1 h· Admission not included

3. Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters

   This park is located south-west of Naha City in the Tomigusuku uplands and offers a view on the East China Sea, the southern metropolitan area all the way to Shuri Castle. During the time of the Shuri Dynasty period, it was a place where there was located “Hibanmui”, a beacon fire that would announce the arrival of ships from China and Satsuma. During the last stage of World War II, the Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters was established there, thus it became an extreme battleground site. Today, it has been remodeled as a former battlefield park that sends messages of peace to the world from Okinawa, a place for exchanges and relaxation that is widely appreciated by tourists and citizens alike.

   · 1 h· Admission not included

4. Himeyuri Peace Museum

   Near the end of World War Two, Okinawa Honto became the site of one of the war's bloodiest battles, when the US forces invaded and occupied the island. An estimated 200,000 people, including more than 100,000 civilians and 12,500 Americans were killed in the battle, which lasted from April to June 1945. The devastating effects of the war had a profound impact on the Okinawans, and there are a number of monuments and museums relating to the period throughout Okinawa Honto. The worst fighting of the battle took place in the south, and that is where some of the larger monuments have been constructed.

   · 1 h· Admission not included

5. Konpaku-no To

   The "Konpaku no To" memorial to war victims in the Komesu district of Itoman, near the southern tip of the main Okinawa island, was erected in February 1946, making it the first monument of its kind in Okinawa.

   · 30 min

6. Near the end of World War Two, Okinawa Honto became the site of one of the war's bloodiest battles, when the US forces invaded and occupied the island. An estimated 200,000 people, including more than 100,000 civilians and 12,500 Americans were killed in the battle, which lasted from April to June 1945. The devastating effects of the war had a profound impact on the Okinawans, and there are a number of monuments and museums relating to the period throughout Okinawa Honto. The worst fighting of the battle took place in the south, and that is where some of the larger monuments have been constructed.

   · 1 h· Admission not included

Pickup

Pickup included.

This private tour includes both a licensed guide and a private vehicle. Your guide and driver will pick you up and drop you off within the designated area of Naha City, including Naha Port and Naha Airport. Please note that pickup and drop-off services are not available for hotels located in the northern part of Okinawa.

How to use your ticket

What to know before you go

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Travelers

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

• From 1 days before : 100% refunded
• From 0 days before : 0% refunded

Reviews

Product code: 92136P59

Activity offered by Japan Guide Agency via Viator.