Himeyuri Peace Museum — Attraction in Itoman

A poignant story of how war affects innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire.

I like how the setup of the museum succeeds in making the visit enjoyable while avoiding the draggy-ness of over-information. The testimonials and accounts of the last days before the surrender were very interesting - glad there was English translation at that one booth in the room filled with Japanese scripts. The life-sized cave that opens up to the entrance of the museum is a nice touch too.

Tip for drivers using Gmaps: Don’t put Himeyuri Museum as your destination and follow the route blindly, as I did. You’ll end up in a no man’s land below a hill the museum is located. Instead, put Himeyuri Memorial Tower as the destination and you’ll find some parking...

Definitely spend the 300 yen to get the audio guide, because it was really worth it. There is a lot more context provided AND the survivor testimonies are immediately translated into your language as you watch the videos, which is really cool.

The most meaningful experience I had in Okinawa. Super sad and horrifying, but an important reminder of the necessity of peace. I also appreciated that the captions were super honest and straightforward as well. The survivor testimonies and the photos/description of each girl who is honored there utterly...

300¥ adult entry fee A very moving, small museum devoted to the female students and their teachers who performed nursing duties during the 3 month siege of Okinawa by American forces at the end of WW2. Most were killed after dealing with un-human conditions. It’s a terrible story told here, and the short film on display will bring tears to your eyes. The no-entry cave where some of them performed their nursing duties and where they were killed is located right in front of the museum. Definitely...