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[[File:Nakijin-walls.JPG|right|thumb|400px|A view of the walls of the Shigema enclosure, seen from within the main enclosure]]

[[File:Nakijin-walls.JPG|right|thumb|400px|A view of the walls of the Shigema enclosure, seen from within the main enclosure]]

[[File:Nakijin-model.JPG|right|thumb|400px|A model of the castle's walls, showing the overall layout]]

[[File:Nakijin-model.JPG|right|thumb|400px|A model of the castle's walls, showing the overall layout]]

[[File:Heiromon.JPG|right|thumb|400px|The Heirômon, used today as the main gate to the castle]]

[[File:Heiromon.JPG|right|thumb|400px|The Heirôjô, used today as the main gate to the castle]]

[[File:Nakijin-finukan.JPG|right|thumb|400px|Shrine to the Hearth Deity (''Hinukan'')]]

[[File:Nakijin-finukan.JPG|right|thumb|400px|Shrine to the Hearth Deity (''Hinukan'')]]

*''Type: Okinawan [[Gusuku]]''

*''Type: Okinawan [[Gusuku]]''

The castle is separated from the main mountain mass of Motobu on the east by a steep drop into a gorge with a stream at the bottom. Another steep drop to the north and northeast from the castle drops down to the shoreline. A small harbor inlet here once served the castle, while [[Unten harbor]], the main port of the Hokuzan kingdom, lay roughly 5-6 miles to the east<ref name=kerr>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. Revised Ed. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp. 61-62.</ref>.

The castle is separated from the main mountain mass of Motobu on the east by a steep drop into a gorge with a stream at the bottom. Another steep drop to the north and northeast from the castle drops down to the shoreline. A small harbor inlet here once served the castle, while [[Unten harbor]], the main port of the Hokuzan kingdom, lay roughly 5-6 miles to the east<ref name=kerr>Kerr, George H. ''Okinawa: the History of an Island People''. Revised Ed. Tokyo: Tuttle Publishing, 2000. pp. 61-62.</ref>.

The compound is divided into nine enclosures, which move up the hill from west to east. The widest enclosure, the ''uushimi'' enclosure<!--大隅の郭-->, contains the Heirômon<!--平郎門-->, as well as areas for martial arts practice, training of horses, and a quarry. The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumya''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls). The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which contained a sacred stone that represented the guardian deity of Nakijin. The topmost enclosure contains a shrine to the [[hearth deity]], or ''hinukan''.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, at the highest and innermost part of the complex, and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring.  Three shrines (''[[uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice.<ref name=kerr/>

The compound is divided into nine enclosures, which move up the hill from west to east. The widest enclosure, the ''uushimi'' enclosure<!--大隅の郭-->, contains the Heirôjô<!--平郎門-->, as well as areas for martial arts practice, training of horses, and a quarry. Though originally a rear gate of the castle, the Heirôjô came to serve as the main gate for tourists and other visitors following its reconstruction in 1962.

 

The ''kaazafu'' enclosure lies to the right, and stone steps lined with [[sakura|cherry trees]] lead higher and deeper into the compound. The ''uumya''<!--大庭--> enclosure contained the three chief palatial buildings in the complex: Hokuden and Nanden (North and South Halls), and Seiden (Main Hall). The next enclosure, moving further up the incline and closer towards the areas of central importance, is the ''uuchibaru''<!--御内原-->, which housed the women of the Nakijin court, and contained a sacred stone that represented the guardian deity of Nakijin. The topmost enclosure contains a shrine to the [[hearth deity]], or ''hinukan''.<ref name=kitahara/> The royal residence was located here, at the highest and innermost part of the complex, and was surrounded by a small garden with a spring.  Three shrines (''[[uganju]]'') stood at the highest point of the precipice.<ref name=kerr/>

A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijima-jô or Shigema-jô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>

A path leads from here to a rear gate of the castle, called the Shijima-jô or Shigema-jô<!--志慶真門-->. Excavations in this area uncovered numerous Chinese [[celadon]]s, Vietnamese and Thai ceramics, and Chinese coins, indications of Nakijin's maritime power and activity.<ref name=kitahara/>

In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were residences for certain vassals, along with administrative buildings<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>

In a less inner enclosure, located at a somewhat lower elevation, were four wooden structures, including both administrative buildings and residences for certain of the castle's closest vassals<ref name=kerr/>. As was typical of ''gusuku'' construction at this time, the stonework of the walls was very solid, but quite rough, with a relative lack of precision fitting or fine cutting<ref name=kerr/>. Roughly 1500 meters of limestone castle wall remain today<ref>"[http://ryukyushimpo.jp/news/storyid-42403-storytopic-121.html Nakijin-jô-seki]." ''Okinawa Konpakuto Jiten'' (沖縄コンパクト事典, "Okinawa Compact Encyclopedia"). Ryukyu Shimpo. 1 March 2003. Accessed 29 September 2009.</ref>; stones are piled three to eight meters high, and two to three meters thick. A deep valley cut by the Shijima River which runs behind the castle makes it almost entirely unapproachable from that side.<ref name=kitahara/>

The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government beginning in [[1422]] would continue to make their residence there for several centuries afterwards. The castle was burned down by invading armies from [[Satsuma han]] in [[1609]],<ref name=pamph>Pamphlets available on-site.</ref> and though rebuilt to some extent, and briefly restored to use by the ''Hokuzan kanshu'', the post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/>

The castle saw three generations of rulers before being attacked and seized by the armies of Chûzan in [[1416]]. So-called "[[Warden of the North|wardens of the North]]" (''Hokuzan kanshu'') appointed by the royal government beginning in [[1422]] would continue to make their residence there for several centuries afterwards. The castle was burned down by invading armies from [[Satsuma han]] in [[1609]],<ref name=pamph>Pamphlets available on-site.</ref> and though rebuilt to some extent, and briefly restored to use by the ''Hokuzan kanshu'', the post was abolished in [[1665]] and the castle left to ruin.<ref name=kitahara/>