Museums & galleries
Himeyuri Peace Museum
Himeyuri Peace Museum
The Himeyuri Peace Museum documents the story of the Himeyuri Student Corps, groups of female students and teachers mobilized as nurses during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, many of whom died in the fighting. Exhibits include photographs, testimonies, and personal belongings, and the museum sits at the site connected to the students' wartime experience. It draws visitors interested in Okinawa's wartime history rather than casual sightseers, and the tone throughout is somber.
Getting there
From central Naha, the museum is reached by bus or car in roughly 40-50 minutes, as it lies in Itoman toward the southern end of the island. Renting a car or joining a tour that covers southern Okinawa's war memorial sites is the most practical option, since public transit connections in this area are limited and infrequent.
Time to allow
Most visitors spend around one to one and a half hours here, enough time to read the testimonies and view the exhibits at an unhurried pace.
When to go
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter. School groups often visit as part of peace education programs, so expect more visitors, including groups of students, particularly around late June, when Okinawa marks the anniversary of the battle's end.
Combine with
- Okinawa Senseki Quasi-National Park (0.5km) — the surrounding memorial park, an easy walk from the museum.
- Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum (3.5km) — a broader account of the Battle of Okinawa, useful for context before or after this visit.
- Gyokusendō (7.6km) — a limestone cave, a change of pace if continuing further south.
- Ou Island (9km) — a coastal stop to pair with a full day exploring southern Okinawa.
Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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