Himeyuri Tower Carving a Pledge for Peace into the Heart.

Quietly Facing the Souls of the Fallen Young Women.

Standing in Itoman City, Himeyuri Tower is a cenotaph honoring the schoolgirls and teachers who served as student nurse corps during the Battle of Okinawa and met a tragic fate. In the 1945 Battle of Okinawa, 240 students and teachers from the Okinawa Normal School Women's Division and Okinawa Prefectural First Girls' High School (222 students and 18 teachers) were mobilized, and 136 of them lost their lives at the young ages of 15 to their early twenties. The name "Himeyuri" derives from the school newsletter names -- "Himeyuri" (Princess Lily) from the Normal School and "Otohime" from the Girls' High School. This place, which quietly conveys the hardships they endured and the injustice of war, continues to draw many visitors who come to offer silent prayers.

The adjacent Himeyuri Peace Memorial Museum features carefully curated exhibits based on survivors' testimonies, providing a deeper understanding of the realities of the Battle of Okinawa. Inside, photographs, relics, and testimony videos from the period are displayed, tracing the realities of wartime nursing activities, retreat orders, and the tragedy that followed the disbandment order. Many visitors are moved to tears after touring the museum, testament to the sincere and deeply moving nature of its exhibits. Admission is 450 yen for adults.

Himeyuri Tower is approximately 40 minutes from central Naha. As a cornerstone of the Southern Peace Learning Course, the popular "Southern Course" combines this with Peace Memorial Park and Okinawa World. Traveling by SUI TAXI Alphard reduces the burden of moving between spots, allowing you to focus on learning about the importance of peace. This is a spot we especially recommend for school trips, family travel, and individuals who want to deeply learn about Okinawa's history.

Flowers offered at the cenotaph. Many people still visit to pray for peace.

Himeyuri Tower and the Peace Memorial Museum

Himeyuri Tower is a cenotaph built above the Ihara Third Surgical Shelter, which came under fierce American attack in the final stages of the Battle of Okinawa. The entrance to the shelter is still preserved, allowing visitors to feel the conditions of that time firsthand. Flowers are always placed around the cenotaph, quietly conveying the deep sorrow and prayers of the Okinawan people that continue to this day. Standing before the tower, the contrast of blue sky and green grass makes the weight of the site's history feel even more profound.

The Peace Memorial Museum compiles testimonies from Himeyuri student corps survivors in video and written form. Learning how young lives were tossed about by war is an essential experience for reaffirming the value of peace for those of us living in the present day. Allow approximately 60-90 minutes for the museum visit. Pamphlets in multiple languages are distributed at the museum, providing thorough guidance for international visitors as well.

The Itoman grounds where Himeyuri Tower stands. Quiet time now flows over what was once a battlefield.

Exhibits at the Peace Memorial Museum. Testimonies and records from that era are carefully preserved.

Southern Peace Course by Taxi

The "Southern Peace Course (4-5 hours)" visiting Himeyuri Tower and Peace Memorial Park from central Naha is widely chosen for school trips and family travel as a journey to learn about Okinawa's history. Using a charter taxi enables smooth travel between spots without wasting time, something difficult to achieve with public buses. Local drivers often supplement the experience with background knowledge about the Battle of Okinawa, which visitors appreciate for deepening their understanding before and after viewing the exhibits.

The "Southern Full Course (6-8 hours)" adding Okinawa World's Gyokusendo Cave and Chinen Cape Park allows you to combine peace learning with Okinawa's natural and cultural experiences in a single day. The solemn time at Himeyuri Tower contrasting with the subsequent Ryukyu cultural experience at Okinawa World creates a fulfilling journey that deeply conveys Okinawa's past and present.

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