【Designated by City：Tangible Cultural Properties (Structure)】Myaatsu Haka Tomb

This ancient tomb shows the forms of Myaaka, a distinctive style of Miyako Islands. The outer walls are the cut stones piled up to 7.6 meters in length, 10.6 meters in width, and 2.2 meters in height. The elaborate stone arch, evidencing the highly skilled masonry, is located at the front side of the structure. Two stone rooms are situated inside; each covered with large stones with 2.8 meters in length, 3.4 meters in width, and 40-50 centimeters in thickness.
According to a local lore, this was the tomb for the clan of master stonecutters (Hama Shi), who constructed the Shimoji Bridge at Kana Hama under the reign of Kawamitsu Upudunu (around the early 16th century). The Uechi family of this clan has been known for using the kanji character, “濵 (Hama)” in their names. This is an important historic stone structure evidencing the transition of tomb structures on Miyako Island, but after years of being exposed to natural environment including typhoons, significant deterioration and damage wasn’t inevitable resulting partly collapsed stone structure. Thus, the city designated it as a cultural property, and in February 2018, the collapsed structure was repaired as a part of the Miyakojima City Neo Historic and Cultural Road Project.