Uegusuku Castle
History
It is not exactly known when Uegusuku Castle was built. According to the Kumegushikawamagiri Kyuki (久米具志川間切旧記), compiled in 1743, Uegusuku Castle was constructed by the Kumenakagusuku Aji, the first son of Chinaha Castle’s lord. Artefacts found on site indicates that this castle was in use sometime between the 14th to 16th century.
According to one of the signs at this castle ruin, Nakagusuku Castle was successfully stormed after Sho Shin had ordered his troops to set fire to the whole mountain in 1510.
The stone walls of the Second and Third Bailey were demolished and used in the construction of an American military base after World War II. It wasn’t until 2002 that Uegusuku Castle was reopened to the public. Prior to that, it was closed to the general public because it was the site of a military installation, first for the Americans and later the Japanese Self-Defence Force or JSDF.) Actually, there is still a JSDF base on the other side of the Third Bailey along the western ridgeline of this mountain.
Uegusuku Castle was listed as a National Historic Site in 2009.
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
Signs at Uegusuku Castle
Visit Notes
Hiyajo Banta bus stop is the closest bus stop to Gushikawa Castle, but buses run very infrequently. It is also a long walk uphill to the castle, so my wife and I opted to use a taxi to get there in maximise our time on the island visiting gusukus.
Uegusuku Castle’s Main Bailey has a magnificent 360-degree view of Kume Island and the surrounding sea. The view from this mountaintop castle may remind castle fans of some mountaintop castles on the main island of Honshu such Takeda Castle and Kuroi Castle with similar all-round views from the top of those castle ruins.
This castle consists of three linear baileys with the Main Bailey situated at the highest point of the mountain. When I visited with my wife, the castle ruin was undergoing some restoration work with parts of the Main Bailey not accessible to visitors. Also, the trailhead down the mountain from near the base of the Second Bailey was blocked with an off-limits sign. The Third Bailey is now used as a carpark as the end of the metal road up to the mountaintop.
This castle is not easy to access if you don’t have your own set of wheels, but the view from this castle is certainly worth the effort of visiting this mountaintop fortress. It’s the highest castle found in Okinawa Prefecture, perched 310m at the top of Mt Uegusukudake.
RaymondW wrote this castle profile and contributed all the photos.
| Castle Profile | |
|---|---|
| English Name | Uegusuku Castle |
| Japanese Name | 字江城城 |
| Alternate Names | Nakagusuku Castle |
| Founder | Kumenakagusuku Aji |
| Year Founded | Unknown |
| Castle Type | Mountaintop |
| Castle Condition | Ruins only |
| Designations | National Historic Site |
| Historical Period | Pre Edo Period |
| Features | stone walls |
| Visitor Information | |
| Access | bus or taxi |
| Visitor Information | Free |
| Time Required | 30 to 40 minutes |
| Location | Kumejima, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Coordinates | 26° 22' 37.38" N, 126° 46' 12.68" E |
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| Admin | |
| Added to Jcastle | 2024 |
| Contributor | RaymondW |
| Admin Year Visited | Viewer Contributed |
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