residence here for several centuries afterwards. In 1609, the Japanese feudal Domain of Satsuma invaded the Ryukyu Kingdom. After fierce fighting in the Amami Islands, they landed on Okinawa Island at Unten harbor. They attacked Nakijin Castle with heavy casualties on both sides, but the Japanese prevailed and burned the castle. As a tourist site, the ruins are particularly known for the beautiful view out over the East China Sea, for the impressive grandeur of the castle walls, and for the overall amount of space taken up by the castle grounds. Hokuzan in general was characterized by wider spaces, or at least less dense settlement and population, than Nanzan and Chūzan, the other kingdoms on the island at that time. Nakijin is also consistently among the first places in the country to see, and celebrate, the blooming of the cherry blossoms (sakura) each year. References Sources External links Wonder Okinawa: Nakijin Castle[Retrieved] http://english.ryukyushimpo.jp/2018/07/13/29017/ Nakijin Gusuku World Heritage Sites in Japan Former castles in Japan Castles in Okinawa Prefecture Historic Sites of Japan