Parks & gardens
Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters
This site preserves part of a tunnel network dug into a hillside by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II, used as an underground command post in the final stages of the Battle of Okinawa. A section of the tunnels is open to visitors, with rooms including the commanding officer's quarters and a staff room where wall gouges from a final grenade explosion are still visible. It's a sobering, low-key historical site rather than a scenic stop, and it gives a direct sense of the conditions endured underground during the battle. The surrounding grounds have been developed into Naval Underground Headquarters Park (海軍壕公園), with walking paths and a memorial.
Getting there
The site sits on the boundary between Tomigusuku and Naha, a short taxi or bus ride from central Naha. By car or taxi from the city centre, allow around 15–20 minutes depending on traffic. Public bus routes also serve the area, though a taxi is generally simpler if you're short on time.
Time to allow
Most visitors spend around 45 minutes to an hour, covering the tunnel section and a walk around the park grounds above.
When to go
The tunnels are underground, so weather matters less than at outdoor sites, but the stairs and passages can feel humid. It's not typically a crowded destination, though tour groups occasionally pass through, so an early or midday visit tends to be quieter. Note that the tunnel route involves stairs and uneven passages, which may not suit visitors with mobility difficulties.
Combine it with
Lake Man is the closest nearby spot at about 1.4km away. Naha City Museum of History (3.1km) and the Gokoku-ji Temple (3km) can be combined into a half-day itinerary covering the city's wartime and cultural history, and Kokusai-dōri (3.5km) is a reasonable stop afterward for shopping and food in central Naha.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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