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Heritage & monuments

Urasoe yōdore

Urasoe yōdore

Urasoe yōdore is one of the three royal mausoleums of the Ryukyu Kingdom, along with Tamaudun at Shuri Castle and Izena Tamaudun near Izena Castle in Izena, Okinawa. It is located in Urasoe, Okinawa, in a cave on a cliff to the northeast of Urasoe Castle. It houses the remains of three rulers of the Ryukyu Islands, along with one king of the Ryūkyū Kingdom separated from the others by several centuries.

What it is

Urasoe yōdore is a set of royal tombs carved into a limestone cliff on the northeastern edge of Urasoe Castle, once used by the Ryukyu Kingdom. It's one of three royal mausoleum sites from the kingdom, alongside Tamaudun at Shuri Castle and Izena Tamaudun on Izena Island. The tombs hold the remains of several early Ryukyuan rulers separated by centuries, and the site is worth visiting for the burial architecture itself and the hilltop setting overlooking the castle ruins, rather than for any single dramatic monument.

Getting there

Urasoe is just north of Naha, and the site sits within the Urasoe Castle Ruins park. From central Naha, a taxi takes roughly 20-25 minutes; by public bus, allow closer to 40 minutes including a walk uphill from the nearest stop. Renting a car is the most practical option if you're also visiting other Urasoe or northern Naha sites the same day, since parking is available near the castle ruins.

Time to allow

An hour is enough to see the tomb chambers, the stone walls, and the surrounding castle ruins at a walking pace. Add extra time if you want to explore the wider Urasoe Castle Ruins park on foot.

When to go

The site is outdoors and hillside, so summer visits are hot with little shade; mornings are more comfortable. It doesn't draw the crowds of Shuri Castle, so there's rarely a need to plan around congestion.

What to combine it with

The Urasoe Art Museum is a short 1.3km trip away and pairs easily with a visit here. Sueyoshi-gū (2.6km) and Okinawa Shrine (3.4km) are also within range for travelers heading back toward central Naha, and Enkaku-ji (3.5km) near Shuri Castle can round out a half-day of temple and heritage sites.

Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

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Stays near Urasoe yōdore

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Itineraries including this place

2 nights, 3 days

Okinawa 3-Day Itinerary (2 Nights)

A 3-day route through Okinawa covering Ryukyu Islands, Nakagusuku Castle, Lake Man, Tamaudun and other highlights, grouped so each day stays within a short travel distance.

3 nights, 4 days

Okinawa 4-Day Itinerary (3 Nights)

A 4-day route through Okinawa covering Ryukyu Islands, Nakagusuku Castle, Lake Man, Tamaudun and other highlights, grouped so each day stays within a short travel distance.

Good to visit alongside

Urasoe Art Museum

Museums & galleries

Urasoe Art Museum

Urasoe Art Museum opened in 1990 in Urasoe, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The collection has a particular focus upon Ryukyu lacquerware.

1.3 km away
Sueyoshi-gū

Temples & religious sites

Sueyoshi-gū

Sueyoshi Shrine is a Shinto shrine in the Shuri-Sueyoshi neighborhood of the city of Naha in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Its grounds were designated a National Historic Site in 1972. The main festival of the shrine is held annually on November 23. It is one of the Eight Shrines of Ryūkyū, a group of eight shrines that were officially supported by the Ryukyu Kingdom. These official shrines received salaries and maintenance expenses for their priests from the royal court,

2.6 km away
Okinawa Shrine

Temples & religious sites

Okinawa Shrine

Okinawa Shrine is a Shinto shrine in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Established at the end of the Taishō period on the site of Shuri Castle, the main hall of which was reused as the haiden, the shrine buildings were destroyed in May 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa. Both castle and shrine have since been rebuilt while this phase has been written out of the "official history" currently told at Shurijō Castle Park.

3.4 km away
Enkaku-ji

Temples & religious sites

Enkaku-ji

Enkaku-ji was a Buddhist temple located in the Shuritonokuracho neighborhood of the city of Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It belonged to the Rinzai school sect of Japanese Zen and its honzon is a Shaka Sanzon trinity of Shaka Nyorai, Monju Bosatsu and Fugen Bosaatsu. The temple's full name is Tentoku-san Enkaku-ji. It was the bodaiji of the kings of Second Shō dynasty of the Ryūkyū Kingdom. The site of the temple was designated a National Historic Site of Japan in 1972.

3.5 km away
Sonohyan-utaki

Heritage & monuments

Sonohyan-utaki

Sonohyan-utaki is a sacred grove of trees and plants (utaki) of the traditional indigenous Ryukyuan religion. It is located on the grounds of Shuri Castle in Naha, Okinawa, a few paces away from the Shureimon castle gate. The utaki, or more specifically its stone gate, is one of a number of sites which together comprise the UNESCO World Heritage Site officially described as Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and has been designated an Important Cultural Property by the Japanese national government.

3.6 km away
Shureimon

Heritage & monuments

Shureimon

Shureimon is a gate in the Shuri neighborhood of Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was the second of Shuri Castle's main gates. Now it is the main gate to the castle complex. Chūzanmon was the first ceremonial gate to Shurijo, built around 1427 by King Shō Hashi, and it was demolished in 1907.

3.6 km away