Okinawa Peace Memorial Park sits at Mabuni, the southern coastal bluffs where the Battle of Okinawa concluded in June 1945, and honors the roughly 200,000 Okinawan, Japanese, and American dead through the Cornerstone of Peace monument and an accompanying museum.
The park occupies the site of the Battle of Okinawa's final stand, where Japanese resistance collapsed in June 1945 after 82 days of fighting. The Cornerstone of Peace, completed in 1995 for the battle's 50th anniversary, consists of curved black granite walls inscribed with the names of every documented casualty of the battle, a deliberate departure from typical war memorials in that it includes American and Japanese military dead alongside Okinawan civilians on equal footing. The adjoining Peace Memorial Museum presents the battle's lead-up, progression, and its devastating civilian toll through room-by-room exhibits and survivor testimony, making it one of the most direct civilian-perspective WWII museums in Japan.
| Admission | Park free; Museum ¥300 ($2.01) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | Park: 24 hours; Museum: 9:00AM-5:00PM (closed Dec 29-31) |
| Address | 444 Mabuni, Itoman-shi, Okinawa 901-0333 |
Why it matters
Marks the site where the Battle of Okinawa ended; the Cornerstone of Peace lists all known casualties regardless of nationality
Site facts
- Built
- Cornerstone of Peace unveiled 1995
Location
444 Mabuni, Itoman-shi, Okinawa 901-0333
26.0867, 127.7218 View on map
Highlights
- Cornerstone of Peace listing all known casualties of the battle
- Peace Memorial Museum survivor testimony exhibits
- Memorials erected by nearly every Japanese prefecture
- Clifftop site overlooking the battle's final positions
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Cornerstone of Peace include American and Japanese names together?
The monument was designed to honor all who died in the battle regardless of nationality or which side they fought on, reflecting Okinawa's message of reconciliation and peace.
Is admission to the Peace Memorial Park free?
The park grounds and Cornerstone of Peace are free; the Peace Memorial Museum charges a ¥300 adult admission.