The former naval headquarters bunker is a place where you can understand the war in Okinawa
The former naval headquarters bunker is a place where visitors can deepen their understanding of war and peace through tours of the actual headquarters bunker, documents, and peace talks.
The war in Okinawa is said to have resulted in the deaths of more than 200,000 people, both Japanese and American troops. Many Okinawans also lost their lives.
This spot remains a cultural heritage to pass on such experiences to future generations.
A visit to the former naval headquarters bunker costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children.
It is located in an easily accessible location about 15 minutes by car from Naha Airport.
Point 1: Enter the actual old naval headquarters bunker.
The former naval headquarters dugout was dug by as many as 3,000 people.
The individual marks inside the dugout show the background of the manual digging by the people of that time.
There are several passages in the command bunker, and the total length of the passages is 450 meters. It is large enough to accommodate 4,000 soldiers.
Visitors to the command bunker will discover traces of the war of that time.
These include letters from the time of the war and the remains of a hand grenade that exploded when a soldier committed suicide.
Point 2: You can see actual war materials.
The Naval Dugout Park Visitor Center has a museum. Visitors can view artifacts excavated from the former naval command dugout.
The materials allow visitors to understand what it was like inside the command dugout. The museum has a variety of artifacts such as hoes and pickaxes used to dig dugouts, soldiers’ equipment such as spears and firearms, and soldiers’ letters.
There are also photos of the war in Okinawa, showing the tragic situation at the time of the war.
In addition, the flow of the war in Okinawa can also be seen in the exhibition.
Point 3: You can listen to a lecture as a peace study.
At the former naval headquarters bunker, in addition to visiting the site, it is possible to learn about peace through a peace talk.
During the peace talk, a guide will talk about the tragedy of war, the history of the construction of the former naval headquarters bunker, and peace.
There are two types of lectures, one lasting 20 minutes and the other lasting 50 minutes, so choose a day when the lectures are held and visit the museum.
Audio guidance is also available. This is recommended if you want to deepen your understanding while touring around the command center.
In addition, there are many other ways to communicate such as online lectures and a virtual tour experience on the official website.
