Peace Memorial Park

If you are unfamiliar with the Battle of Okinawa, I highly recommend you do your research. This was one of the bloodiest conflicts in the Pacific during WWII where over 240,000 soldiers and civilians lost their lives. The battle was waged on land, sea, and air and left Okinawa in ruins.

To memorialize and pray for the Japanese, American, and Korean soldiers, as well as Okinawan citizens, who were brutally murdered during this catastrophic battle, Okinawa constructed Peace Memorial Park. It is a beautiful and tranquil plot of manicured lawns, intricate memorials, and a modern war museum which are all are perched atop cliffs bordering the Pacific Ocean... A stark contrast from the "Typhoon of Steel" that marred this landscape 71 years ago.

Perhaps the most iconic section of Peace Memorial Park is the Cornerstone of Peace Monuement. The names of 240,000 people, all of whom perished during this single battle, are inscribed onto rows and rows and rows of panels. The names of the dead are written in their native language so that their loved ones can easily identify and mourn them. This monument puts in to perspective how many people lost their lives during this conflict. The rows of marble panels seem to stretch on endlessly and the names never cease to end...

Truthfully this place is massive and there is a whole lot to see. I could probably talk endlessly about our experience here, however, I think pictures do this place more justice (hence why I uploaded a million). You've been warned!!

Thousands of paper cranes made by Japanese students

The Hall of Peace which is home to over twenty paintings done by a local Okinawan artist and also features the Prayer Peace Statue

Prayer Peace Statue is over 30 feet tall!

Visitors place paper cranes and wishes for peace at the bottom of the statue

At the back of the Hall of Peace is a butterfly garden... Although the butterflies were few and far between

The memorial for Korean soldiers who were forced to fight for the Japanese

Views from the museum

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

The bottom of this fountain is a map of Japan, China and the Philippines. It has an eternal flame which is comprised of fire from the eternal flames at Hiroshima, Nagasaki and from Akajima Island in Zamami Village

240,000 Japanese, Korean, and American names are inscribed on these memorial panels

One of many memorials found through out the park

This place was definitely a bit eriee

The remains of 180,000 people killed during the Battle of Okinawa rest in this mausoleum

Hundreds upon hundreds of steps down to god knows where....

Japanese General Ushijima Mitsuru committed suicide in this very spot after realizing that he and his troops would be defeated

Flash "flood"!!!