Tracing the Front Line! - WWII Battle of Okinawa Tour

Meeting Point

At your hotel

Toguchi Beach - U.S. Military Landing Monument

On April 1, 1945, U.S. troops landed on the shore from Yomitan to Chatan to swiftly occupy Yomitan and Kadena airfield, which were the strategic foothold to air-raid mainland Japan. Since there was almost no counterattack, some Americans recorded that it was like a picnic and others thought it might be an April Fool's Day prank.

Kadena Michi-no-eki - Kadena Air Base

By the end of the L-Day, the landing parties completed the occupation of the destroyed Japanese airfield and started repair work. Since then, it has been used as the Kadena Airbase by the U.S. military.

Lunch

Let's enjoy "Taco-rice" which is a hybrid of Tacos, brought by American soldiers to Okinawa, and Rice, the Asian staple food, in the ex-Koza city.

The Pinnacle

The first severe battle took place over this outpost with underground positions on April 5. Japanese troops repelled the American assaults 8 times but retreated on April 6.

Kakazu Ridge

On April 8, American troops started an attack against a Japanese position of connected hills constructed underground. In the beginning, the U.S. military believed that they could occupy it in one day, but it continued for 16 days due to the Japanese severe resistance including a suicide bomb attack on tanks.

Hacksaw Ridge

After Kakazu ridge's occupation by the U.S., the front moved to the southern Maeda escarpment, a.k.a. Hacksaw ridge. Since its sheer cliff was considered an essential defense line for the Japanese military headquarters located in Shuri, the Japanese resistance from April 25 to May 6 was extremely fierce. The self-sacrificing service by a combat medic, Desmond Doss, at the battle is well-known and filmed in 2016.

Sugar Loaf Hill

The front line gradually moved southward. Sugar Loaf Hill was one of the underground positions to obstruct the intrusion of U.S. troops into the Okinawan capital city, Naha, and the headquarters of the Japanese imperial army, Shuri. A weeklong Japanese precise sniping and crossfire from 3 different positions started on May 12 and resulted in nearly 3000 casualties and over 1000 combat fatigue for the U.S. troops.

Your hotel

End of the first day's tour.

Your hotel

Beginning of the second day's tour

Shuri Castle - 32nd Army Headquarters Shelter

On May 22, the Japanese Army headquarters decided to retreat to the southern end of the island, where a lot of civilians were evacuated, to protract the battle and gain time to prepare for decisive fighting on mainland Japan. Due to the fierce bombardment for 2 months, precious buildings and artifacts of the Ryukyu kingdom, including Shuri castle, were destroyed and only burnt fields were left in the old capital.

Lunch

Let's enjoy Okinawan traditional cuisines such as soba (noodle) and Champuru (Okinawan-style stair fry).

Tomori Stone Lion - Mt. Yaese

Memorial Monument of Lieutenant General Buckner

On June 18, the U.S. commander of the battle of Okinawa, Lieutenant General Buckner, was killed by Japanese fire at an outpost while observing the front.

Reimei Memorial Tower - The Headquarters Cave

On June 23, the Japanese commander of the battle of Okinawa, General Minoru Ushijima, committed suicide in the cave used as their headquarters after the last order to the remaining Japanese soldiers to continue fighting. Now, June 23 is a prefectural war memorial day in Okinawa, but actually, the battle was continued by soldiers that lost the systematic command until September 7.

Peace Memorial Park - The Cornerstone of Peace

To pray for eternal world peace, all the names who died during the Battle of Okinawa are inscribed on the Cornerstone of Peace regardless of their nationalities.

Peace Memorial Museum

You can deepen your understanding of the background history and the overall perspective of the Battle of Okinawa. The testimonies of the survivors are a must-see spot.

Ending Point

At your hotel