Chinaha Castle
History
According to legend, Chinaha Aji built this hilltop castle overlooking the estuary where the Shirase River meets the sea. Chinaha Castle was constructed at this location because of its location perched above an estuary which was deep enough to function as a natural harbour before Kanegusuku Port was built. Kanegusuku Port was constructed in 1644 on the orders of the Third Tokugawa Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu.
There is little information in the historical documents about this castle such as when it was constructed or abandoned, but it is a historically important site as Chinaha Aji’s sons are mentioned in historical records as the lords of other castles on Kumejima.
Artefacts such as Chinese ceramics found on the grounds of the castle ruin and at Kanegusuku Port indicates that Chinaha Castle was a trading port where goods from China passed through during the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
It was listed as a Prefectural Historic Site in 1961.
References
名嘉正八郎(1996), 沖縄の城
当真嗣一(1996), 沖縄のグスクめぐり
上里隆史, 安斎英介(2019), 沖縄の名城を歩く
Visit Notes
This castle ruin is an easy short walk from the Kumejima Hospital bus stop. Please note that buses run infrequently on the island, so visitors without their own transportation might have to use a taxi. My wife and I took the bus from a bus stop near our hotel to visit this castle.
In recent years, the local authorities have removed many trees and much of the undergrowth, so the site was quite clear when my wife and I visited. The stone wall ruins at Chinaha Castle were clearly visible unlike some of the lesser-known Ryukyuan gusukus that I have visited on the main island of Okinawa.
RaymondW wrote this castle profile and contributed all the photos.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Chinaha Castle |
| Japanese Name | 伊敷索城 |
| Alternate Names | I'shikinawa Castle |
| Founder | Chinaha Aji |
| Year Founded | |
| Castle Type | Hilltop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Designations | Prefectural Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | Bus |
| Visitor Information | Free |
| Time Required | 30 minutes |
| Location | Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 26° 20' 32.14" N, 126° 45' 47.02" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2024 |
| Contributor | RaymondW |
| Admin Year Visited | |
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