Hotels in Uruma

Uruma: Katsuren Castle Ruins and the Kaichu Road Islands

Uruma sits on the eastern coast of Okinawa's main island, formed in 2005 from the merger of four municipalities — Gushikawa, Ishikawa, Katsuren, and Yonashiro. The city anchors around Katsuren Castle (Katsurengusuku), a 14th-century UNESCO World Heritage gusuku that crowns a limestone ridge with panoramic views across Nakagusuku Bay. Uruma holds a distinct position among Okinawa cities: it connects the main island to four offshore islands — Henza, Miyagi, Ikei, and Hamahiga — via the Kaichu Road, a 4.7 km causeway that passes over open sea.

Where to Stay

Hotels cluster near the Route 329 corridor and around Ishikawa district, which offers access to both the northern beach stretches of the East China Sea and the Katsuren Peninsula. Guests exploring the Uruma Sea-side Story waterfront complex find several guesthouses within walking distance. The causeway islands themselves have small minshuku (family guesthouses) suited to visitors seeking quiet beach access.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Uruma is roughly 20 km north of Naha Airport via the Okinawa Expressway; allow 35–45 minutes by car.
• Transport: Rent a car — bus routes serve the main corridor but do not reach the causeway islands or Katsuren Castle trailhead.
• Castle visit: Katsuren Castle ruins charge no admission fee; the climb takes about 20 minutes and is unshaded, so pack water.
• Season: Typhoon season runs June–October; the causeway can close briefly during high winds.