Located on Mabuni Hill, in Itoman City, the Peace Memorial Park now rises where the final battle in Okinawa took place during World War II. An estimated 240,000 people were killed during that period in Okinawa. This park represents the prayer for the souls of the victims, and for a future of world peace. Following Okinawa's reversion to Japan in 1972, the initial park construction project of the former Ryukyu Government changed into the full-scale construction of the park that we see nowadays, which was completed in 1975. From the main road, a wide path surrounded by grass brings to the National War Dead Peace Mausoleum, which was built to honor the souls of the victims of the war. Every 23 of June, in occasion of Okinawa Memorial Day, thousands of people come to the Peace Memorial Park to pray silently for world peace when the clock strikes noon. The names of those who perished during the battle of Okinawa are inscribed on the Cornerstone of Peace monument. The monument is made of 117 walls that spread out in concentric arcs. 69 of these walls have five folds and 48 of them have three folds, for a total of 1,212 faces displaying almost 250,000 names. There is no nationality distinction in the names. Both japanese and americans and listed together. Did you know? The monument was not only built to remember those who lost their lives in the battle, but also to create a place for learning and pass on the lessons of the war to new generations. If you continue to walk past the Cornerstone of Peace, you will find the Peace Plaza a wide open area with at the center the Flame of Peace. The map inside the fountain has the flame placed on the top of Okinawa and the circles created by the water give the feeling of a earthquake with its epicenter on the island. The flame is made of the flames from Aka Island, where the U.S. forces first landed, and the Flame of Peace of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This flame has been burning since 1991 and was transferred to the Peace Plaza in 1995. From the Peace Plaza it is possible to admire a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. Located on the top of Mabuni Hill, The Okinawa Peace Hall is the tallest building of the park and has a polygonal roof with a septilateral pyramid. It represents the seven seas, and the shape of hand joined in a prayer. Inside the Hall, there is an art gallery made of a series of twenty paintings. All of them convey a strong message of peace. At the center of the Hall, there is the Peace Prayer Statue, which was completed with the support of a fund-raising campaign by Okinawan communities including school children. For families with children, after the visit to the museum and the mausoleum, it might be good for the spirit to make a stop at the Inochi no Tamago playground, inside the Peace Memorial Park. It is a large playground area with two big egg-shaped structures in the middle. Kids will be able to run around, climb the structures and have fun on the many slides and games offered. Definitely a good way to lift up the heart of the younger visitors. Admission Free Opening Hours Always open TEL 098 - 997- 2765 Address Peace Memorial Park, 444 Mabuni, Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture 901-0333 Near Peace Memorial Park:
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