Okinawa Island Guide

首里城公園

Shurijo Castle Park

1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha City
Tel: 098-886-2020
Hours for the paid area: April-June 8:30-19:00; July-September 8:30-20:00; October-November 8:30-19:00; December-March 8:30-18:00
Hours for the free area: April-June 8:00-19:30; July-September 8:00-20:30; October-November 8:00-19:30; December-March 8:00-18:30
Closed: 1st Wed and Thu of July
Admission: 820 yen for adults, 620 yen for ages 16-18, 310 yen for ages 6-15, free for children under 6.
Annual passport: 1,620 yen for adults, 1,240 yen for ages 16-18, 620 yen for ages 6-15.

Shurijo Castle prospered as the Ryukyu Kingdom’s center of politics, diplomacy and culture and is now inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Shurijo Castle was rebuilt in 1992, and the castle and nearby historic assets, including a number of gates leading to the Shurijo Seiden as well as the castle walls, have become a historical park.

Area： Naha, Shuri

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斎場御嶽

Seifa Utaki

270-1 Kudeken, Chinen, Nanjo City
Tel: 098-949-1899
Hours: March-Oct.: 9:00-17:15 / Vov.-Feb. 9:00-16:45
Admission: 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students.

One of seven utaki (sacred sites) in Okinawa, Seifa Utaki served as a central place for ancestor worship, nature worship and national festivities in the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Seifa Utaki has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Area： Nanjo City, Southern area

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園比屋武御嶽

Sonohyan Utaki Ishimon (Stone Gate of Sonohyan Utaki)

1-7 Mawashi-cho, Shuri, Naha City
Tel: 098-886-2020
Hours: 24 hours
Open daily
Admission: Free

Sonohyan Utaki Ishimon is a Ryukyu limestone gate constructed where prayers were said for the safety of the king when he traveled. Even today, the spot is frequented by many locals, including Okinawan shamans called noro, due to its spiritual nature.