Mabuni Hills

The southern tip of Okinawa's main island was the site of the last major battle of the Pacific War in 1945. Mabuni Hills now holds the Peace Memorial Park, where stone monuments erected by each of Japan's prefectures record the names of the dead from all sides. The Cornerstone of Peace lists nearly 240,000 names. The park sits at the cliff edge with the ocean visible from most points, and the contrast between the quiet water and the weight of what is recorded here is striking. Allow at least ninety minutes.