Himeyuri No To Monument
671-1 Aza Ihara, Itoman City
During the last days of the Battle of Okinawa, a group of 222 young girls and 18 teachers at Okinawa Women’s Normal School and the First Prefectural Girls’ High School were ordered by the Japanese Army to join the Haebaru Army Field Hospital medical unit as nurses. The Japanese soldiers told them that if they surrendered, the Americans would rape and murder them. Rather than surrendering, they stayed in this cave and were killed along with the Japanese soldiers.
The Himeyuri Peace Museum was constructed here in memory of those who gave their lives. The museum has five display chambers displaying photos from the eve of the Battle of Okinawa, the Haebaru Army Field Hospital, the retreat to the south and the Kyan Peninsula, and a chamber containing portraits of the victims and books of testimonials by survivors. Some of the former nurses serve as tour guides at the museum. |
| Tel:
| (098) 997-2100/2101
| | Fax:
| (098) 997-2102
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| Hours:
| Open daily.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
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| Entrance:
| Adults: ¥300
Junior High/High School Students: ¥200
Elementary Students: ¥100
Groups of 30 or more can receive a 10 percent discount.
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| Directions:
| From Naha Airport take Route 331 towards Itoman. Continue south past Nashiro. Himeyuri no To is located beyond Ryukyu Glass.
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Guest : Free Registration
