Iha Castle

Coordinates: 26°25′18.1266″N 127°49′3.27″E / 26.421701833°N 127.8175750°E

Iha Castle 伊波城
Uruma, Okinawa
Type	Gusuku
Site information
Controlled by	Ryūkyū Kingdom (15th century–1879)  Empire of Japan (1879–1945) United States Military Government of the Ryukyu Islands(1945-1950) United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands(1950-1972)  Japan(1972-present)
Open to the public	yes
Condition	Ruins
Site history
Built	early 14th century
Built by	Misato Magiri Aji
In use	early 14th century–15th century
Materials	Ryūkyūan limestone, wood
Garrison information
Occupants	Aji of Misato Magiri

Iha Castle (伊波城 Iha jō) is a Ryūkyūan gusuku in Uruma, Okinawa. It sits on a cliff that separates Iha from Ishikawa, with a grand view of the Ishikawa Isthmus. The castle is in ruins, with nothing left of the original structures save the walls. There are also multiple Ryūkyūan shrines in the bailey. Based on artifacts found in and around the castle, it has been estimated to have been in use around the 13th to 15th centuries.^[1] The Okinawa Prefectural government erected a stone Torii in front of one of the castle gates, along with a plaque describing it.

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  Bailey of Iha Castle.

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  View of the bailey from a battlement.

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  A battlement of Iha Castle.

References

1. Flemming, Michael. "Iha Castle Ruins - An Okinawa prefecture cultural asset." Stars and Stripes Okinawa Nov 2013, n. pag. Web. 3 Feb. 2014. <http://o.okinawa.stripes.com/starsandstripesokinawa/#!/entry/iha-castle-ruins-an-okinawa-prefecture-cultural-asset,52959ba2025312186c91f668/1>.