Okinawa Battlefields & Peace Memorial Tour, Licensed Guide

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. 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. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 75 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Okinawa Battlefield and Peace Memorials Tour

  Akiko-san took us on a very interesting six hour tour of three memorial sites related to the Battle of Okinawa. We visited the Navy Underground Headquarters, Himeyuri Peace Museum and the Prefectural Peace Museum on the southern coast. Akiko guided us around these sites and gave us a lot of commentary about how the battle happened and how it affected the American, Japanese and Okinawans involved. At the museums we had a chance to watch some good short films about the battle and see many exhibits. The Himeyuri Peace Museum was especially moving. It is a memorial to the students of a female teacher training school who were conscripted to work as nurses during the battle and featured video testimonials by some of the surviving students filmed when they were in their 60's and 70's. Akiko met us at the airport and dropped us off at our hotel at the end of the tour. The planning and logistics were excellent.

  eliotf402September 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Nana tour

  What a wonderful experience. Our guide was knowledgeable and very personable..

  dmd3302February 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5The perfect day! A custom private tour in Okinawa with Yoshi

  The perfect customizable tour from Naha Cruise port. Easy pick up, very clean and comfortable van with licensed driver. The tour guide Yoshi is very knowledgeable and fun! He will also communicate with you well in advance of your tour to make sure it is the perfect day. If you are in Okinawa, I highly recommend booking a tour with Yoshi!

  Explore29970270669January 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Great experience

  Kumiko was a wonderful guide. She took us to all the sites we wanted to see and was very knowledgeable about them. I would highly recommend her tours!

  janetsY7705IHJanuary 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Excellent

  Kumiko was a wonderful guide. She put together an itinerary that was exactly what we were looking for. She was very friendly and knowledgeable about the areas we visited.

  Janet_SJanuary 2026via Viator

• 5Great guide

  She was an excellent guide She was well informed about the places we visited Well worth the price I paid. Would recommend her to other travelers

  eileenbZ350YJDecember 2025via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in Naha

• Its from-price is 236% above the median of the 8 city tours we list in Naha.
• It is shorter than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 8.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Naha

Naha is the capital of Okinawa, a subtropical port city with the Ryukyu kingdom's hilltop castle, a lively market street and Okinawan cooking.

Naha is the capital and main port of Okinawa Prefecture, on the west coast of Okinawa's main island in the East China Sea. For centuries it served the Ryukyu Kingdom, whose kings lived at Shuri Castle on a hill above the city, and the castle site and the nearby Tamaudun royal tombs are part of a World Heritage listing. Kokusai-dori, the International Street, runs through the centre lined with shops, and Makishi Public Market sells fish and pork.

See all 105 experiences in Naha