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The castle grounds cover roughly 20,000 square meters, making Ôzato one of the five largest ''gusuku'' on the island. The enclosures range from east to west, and the first (highest & central-most) enclosure is surrounded to the north, but left open to the south and east. Little remains of the walls, which were used as construction materials elsewhere in later centuries. The grounds also include a well, called Chichin-ga, located at the bottom of an eight-meter (43 steps) stone staircase, which was built when the castle's natural spring, known as Sukuyamanu-ga, dried up.

The castle grounds cover roughly 20,000 square meters, making Ôzato one of the five largest ''gusuku'' on the island. The enclosures range from east to west, and the first (highest & central-most) enclosure is surrounded to the north, but left open to the south and east. Little remains of the walls, which were used as construction materials elsewhere in later centuries. The grounds also include a well, called Chichin-ga, located at the bottom of an eight-meter (43 steps) stone staircase, which was built when the castle's natural spring, known as Sukuyamanu-ga, dried up.

The Lord of Ôzato sent [[tribute]] to [[Ming dynasty|Ming China]] on eight occasions under the title of "king of Nanzan," and received letters and goods in return. Ultimately, however, it would be the lord of [[Urasoe gusuku|Urasoe]]/[[Shuri gusuku|Shuri]] (i.e. the "[[Chuzan|Chûzan]] king") and not Ôzato who would be recognized by China as the sole true authority in the Ryukyus. Nanzan is also mentioned in the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' as being widely renowned, and a site of great treasure, which has drink (saké) in abundance.

The Lord of Ôzato sent [[tribute]] to [[Ming dynasty|Ming China]] on eight occasions under the title of "king of Nanzan," and received letters and goods in return. Ultimately, however, it would be the lord of [[Urasoe gusuku|Urasoe]]/[[Shuri castle|Shuri]] (i.e. the "[[Chuzan|Chûzan]] king") and not Ôzato who would be recognized by China as the sole true authority in the Ryukyus. Nanzan is also mentioned in the ''[[Omoro soshi|Omoro sôshi]]'' as being widely renowned, and a site of great treasure, which has drink (saké) in abundance.

Ôzato fell to [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], king of Chûzan, around [[1429]]. Having already conquered the north of Okinawa a decade earlier, in seizing Ôzato, Hashi united the entire island under his rule, marking the establishment of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]].<ref>According to some accounts, Hashi conquered the south first. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 77-78.</ref>

Ôzato fell to [[Sho Hashi|Shô Hashi]], king of Chûzan, around [[1429]]. Having already conquered the north of Okinawa a decade earlier, in seizing Ôzato, Hashi united the entire island under his rule, marking the establishment of the [[Kingdom of Ryukyu|Kingdom of Ryûkyû]].<ref>According to some accounts, Hashi conquered the south first. Smits, ''Maritime Ryukyu'', 77-78.</ref>