Zakimi: Castle Ruins, Ceramics and Okinawa Soba

Zakimi brings together castle ruins, crafts and Okinawan cuisine. The historical focus is particularly clear when choosing a destination: the ruins of Zakimi Castle combine a surviving stone gate with distinctive wall techniques; a gallery, textile making and a café add further cultural themes to the picture. Those looking for hotels in Zakimi can weigh whether castle architecture or crafts and cuisine should shape their stay more.

Castle Walls and Building History

The ruins of Zakimi Castle are said to have been built in the early 15th century by Gosamaru, an anji of Yomitanzan known as a castle builder. The arched stone gate is considered the oldest surviving stone gate on Okinawa Island. Together, the gate and ruins offer a concrete introduction to the area's building history, without limiting the historical context to a single architectural feature.

Several important stone wall techniques used in Okinawa gusuku can be seen in the walls, including 布積, 相方積 and 野面積. The different techniques draw attention to how the walls were constructed. There is also a flat arch structure resembling modern dams. The architecture thus invites attention to both individual wall techniques and a larger structural form.

From the highest point of Zakimi Castle, the view extends across almost all of Yomitan. This broad perspective complements close observation of the gate and walls with a view of the municipality's landscape.

Gallery and Crafts

In Zakimi, TERRACE WITH POTTERY is a gallery and shop with a cultural experience. Works by artists and workshops from Yomitan are exhibited and sold there. Seasonal special exhibitions and events expand the program; as it is seasonal, it may change. The focus here is on works that are exhibited and sold, while the ruins offer a different cultural theme through their stone architecture.

Ceramics and textiles are also among the craft traditions of the nearby municipality of Yomitan. Kita Kiln is considered the largest climbing kiln in Okinawa and has 13 chambers. It is said to be fired several times a year, with each firing lasting four days. During this time, craftspeople take turns monitoring it around the clock. Firing dates may vary. The duration and shift changes bring the multi-day firing process to life.

Another craft can be seen at the Yomitanzan Hanaori Cooperative, where you can observe the production process for the Yomitanzan Hanaori textile. Different processes thus stand side by side in the municipality: firing in a multi-chamber kiln and making a textile.

Okinawa Soba and Yachimun Ceramics

Zakimi Sabo combines café dishes with ceramics. It mainly serves Okinawa Soba made with a distinctive type of noodle from Yomitan, using wheat and wood ash, along with other café dishes. Zakimi Sabo uses Yachimun ceramics by artists from Yomitan for its tableware. Here, then, you encounter ceramics not only as works on display or for sale, but also at the table while you eat. Menu details may change.

A notice dated January 16, 2026, lists Zakimi Sabo's opening hours as 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday as its closing day. It gives the last Soba order as 3 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Check these times before your trip.

For the broader travel overview: Yomitan.