Hotels in Itoman

Itoman: Southern Okinawa's Fishing Capital and Peace Memorial Hub

Itoman sits at the southern tip of Okinawa Island, roughly 13 km south of Naha. The city has anchored Okinawa's fishing industry for centuries — the Itoman Fishing Port remains one of the prefecture's most active, landing tuna, grouper, and sea bream daily. Beyond seafood, the surrounding coastline stretches across dramatic limestone cliffs and coral-edged bays that define southern Okinawa's geography.

Most visitors come for the city's deep historical weight. The Himeyuri Peace Museum, opened in 1989, documents the fate of Okinawan student nurses during the 1945 Battle of Okinawa. The adjacent Himeyuri Monument marks a cave where many perished. The Okinawa Peace Memorial Park and its Cornerstone of Peace, inscribed with over 240,000 names of those killed in the battle, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year — predominantly Japanese school groups on history trips, alongside international tourists.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Buses from Naha Bus Terminal (routes 82 and 108) reach central Itoman in about 40 minutes; rental car access from Naha Airport takes roughly 30 minutes via Route 331.
• Best time to visit: March through May offers mild temperatures before Okinawa's rainy season begins in mid-May.
• At the memorials: Allow at least two hours for the Peace Memorial Park and Himeyuri Museum combined.
• Local food: The Itoman Fishing Port morning market operates on Sunday mornings — fresh sashimi sets sell out before 9 a.m.