We were headed South on 330 from Foster at the time. So we turned right at the sign for Kyoto Monument and then followed two more signs to the park that housed it only a few blocks further on.My iPhone pin lists this as the address:
901-2226 Okinawa Ginowan
4-44, Kakazu 1-Chome
Japan
We parked next to one of the many peace poles erected here on island. A Peace Pole is a hand-crafted monument that displays the message and prayer May Peace Prevail on Earth on each of its four or six sides, usually in different languages.
We did in fact get soaked while we were here. The rain decided to stop when we reached the park and then poured buckets on us out of nowhere as we were climbing the stairs to the observation tower. O didn't seem to mind though, cause it allowed her to go puddle jumping, play in the river running down the observation tower stairs, and play on the playground once it lightened up again without much fuss from mommy.
There were some very nice Japanese men practicing their martial arts inside the observation tower who quickly welcomed us in out of the rain and then pointed us in the best direction to go to avoid further rain on the way back to the car once it let up. The sun came out before we got back to our car, so we decided to explore some more. They had moved their practice outside then.
The view from the observation tower was amazing once the rain cleared up. You could see a long way off in every direction. All the way down to Naha and clear up to Zanpa. The view of Futenma Air Base was particularly impressive.
Playgrounds:
There were two playgrounds at this park.
On the right side there was a playground for older children. It mostly consisted of ropes and different climbing bars. There were also several concrete slides and a teeter totter.The other playground was for the younger kids. A typical plastic playground with slides, smaller climbing obstacles, and hand coordination games. There was also a swing set and a small picnic pavilion.
Kyoto Monument
This monument is located between the observation tower and the Tochka. All descriptions were in Japanese, but you could tell people still offer up prayers and offerings here. After a little searching on the web, I found out that it is called the Kyoto Monument because it was presented as a gift by the city of Kyoto to honor the Japanese people who lost their lives here.
History of Kakazu Takadai Park:
The following descriptions are directly from signs around the park...
The Battle at Kakazu Ridge Park:
On April 1, 1945, the US Armed Forces landed on Okinawa. Kakazu Ridge was the sight of some of the bloodiest fighting during the battle of Okinawa. Japanese troops staunchly defended the ridge to try to keep the US Forces from taking Shuri. The Americans finally overcame the Japanese and forced them to Urasoe, Nishihara, Shuri, and further south.The people of Kakazu took refure in the caves, such as in Teragama and Chidefuchagama. Some Kakazu residents escaped to the southern part of the island and some remained in Kakazu. Half of all Kakazu residents died during the fighting.
In this park and around Kakazu, there are several sites that serve as reminders of what took place here, including the caves the civilians used to take refuge in. There is also Miga - a cistern used by Japanese soldiers for drinking water. Tochka - a pillbox used to defend Kakazu Ridge, and a wall riddled with bullet holes which is an indication of just how fierce the fighting was. The Tower of Kakazu is a memorial to the people of Kakazu who died in the fighting at Kakazu Ridge.
The wall of bullet holes:
During pre-war Kakazu, many houses and the roads were in a grid system. This was a quiet village, surrounded by fields, but the sounds of the Japanese boots, who were stationed nearby were now echoing in the village.An intense battle unfolded in Kakazu where the US Forces had landed. The inhabitants and many houses that had survived for so long, sustained great damage from the battles.
Kakazu became a battlefield, the bullets and the bombs poured like showers from the Japanese and US Forces. The wall of bullet holes tells how fierce the battle was.
Jinchi-go (Underground bunkers):
The Japanese Forces were stationed in Kakazu and built up underground bunkers around the Kakazu Ridge and the neighboring region.The construction of the bunkers seems to have started from the summer of 1944.. Not only soldiers but also Kakazu inhabitants and many other people from neighboring regions, including elderly men and women, were pulled into the construction, which continued daily from morning to evening.
The bunkers were dug out of limestone and square shaped. There are many impressions from pit sprops used to shore up the sidewalls to prevent cave-ins. These underground bunkers were especially innumerable as the headquarters of the Japanese Forces were on Kakazu Ridge.
Tochka:
Tochka is a Russian military term, describing "Point" or "Hub" and an important defensive position during the battle.The Tochka is made of concrete, has a maximum thickness of one-meter, and three adults can be inside of the two meter, square space. For the Hiyaragawa river in the north, there are two gun ports in the Tochka and the Japanese Forces used them to fire riffles or machineguns at the attacking US Forces.
There are uncountable bullet holes in the Tochka. The reinforcing bars are visible and it shows us evidence of an intense battle. The opening part on the backside is only for the Japanese soldiers to go in and out.
