671-1 Ihara, Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture
Rating
Cost per person
¥500
The Himeyuri Monument in Itoman, Okinawa, is a memorial dedicated to the teachers and students of the Okinawa Normal School for Girls and the Okinawa Prefectural First Girls' High School who perished during the Battle of Okinawa. These students were mobilized as the "Himeyuri Student Corps" to the Okinawa Army Hospital. Visitors can reflect on the tragedy of war and the importance of peace through exhibits of testimonies, memoirs, and artifacts at the adjacent Himeyuri Peace Museum. Located a 40-minute drive from Naha Airport, this solemn site offers a poignant reminder of the past. The monument itself is free to visit, and purchasing flowers for remembrance is a common practice.