Zakimi Castle Castle
Ryukyuan gusuku fortress featuring limestone walls
A 15th-century Ryukyuan gusuku in Okinawa with imposing stone walls and a restored gate; visitors walk the ramparts for valley views and read archaeological interpretation panels.
How to Get to Zakimi Castle#
Zakimi Castle lies near Yomitan village on Okinawa’s central-west coast. From Naha, take the Okinawa Expressway north and exit at Kyoda/Yomitan (about 40-50 minutes by car). Local buses from Naha (Yui Rail + bus) are possible but infrequent; a rental car or taxi is the easiest option. The site is a short walk from Route 58.
Tips for Visiting Zakimi Castle#
- Enter via the small visitor gate on the south side to avoid the steepest steps - the ascent from Route 58 is gentler.
- Look for the distinctive corbelled stonework; the castle's double-walled gate and stone steps still show tool marks from the 15th century.
- Combine a visit with Zakimi Park and the nearby Yomitan pottery village to make a day of the west coast of Okinawa.
Best Time to Visit Zakimi Castle#
Late spring and autumn are the most pleasant for climbing the ruins and avoiding Okinawa's humid summer and occasional typhoons.
Weather & Climate near Zakimi Castle#
Zakimi Castle's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and mild winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 14°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (2104 mm/year), wettest in August.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 18°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (121 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 14°C. Significant rainfall (126 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is mild with highs of 21°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (171 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 18°C. Significant rainfall (190 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 21°C. Heavy rain (241 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is warm with stifling humidity (dew point 25°C). Heavy rain (236 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 34°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (173 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (242 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 30°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (197 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is warm with highs of 27°C and lows of 22°C. Significant rainfall (168 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (132 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is mild with highs of 20°C and lows of 16°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and mostly overcast skies.