Sightseeing
Around ShuriNaha
[ID:13167]Shikina-en Gardens
The gardens of Shikina-en was also referred to as Shichina-udun and Southern Gardens as they are located to south of Shuri castle.Shikina en was built in a blend of Chinese and Ryukyu style architectures. It was used for the reception of an envoy from China. An observatory was built in the gardens to make the Ryukyu Kingdom look larger, though you can not see ocean through it.
Basic Information
Name | Shikina-en Gardens |
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Address | 421-7 Maji, Naha-shi, Okinawa 902-0072 (〒902-0072 沖縄県那覇市真地421-7) |
Access |
10 minutes drive from Shuri-jyo monorail station MAPCODE-HR: 33 131 090*25 *"マップコード" and "MAPCODE" are registered trademarks by DENSO corporation. |
Phone | 098-855-5936 |
Shop Hour | April 1st - September 30th: 9am - 6pm(Last entry 5:30pm) October 1st - March 31st: 9pm - 5:30pm (Last entry 5pm) |
Closed | Wednesdays |
Price | Wednesdays Individual / Adult / ¥400 Child (under junior high) / ¥200 Group / Adult / ¥320 Child (Under junior high) / ¥160 ※Group-20 or more ※Under elementary with an adult is free ※Over 65 years old who is a Naha citizen gets half off. |
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WiFi | |
Other features |
A World Heritage Site Glory of The Ryukyu Kingdom
The gardens of Shikina-en were laid out in 1799. They are the largest gardens of the Ryukyu royalty’s, and were used for the reception of an envoy from China the following year.
The gardens were also referred to as Southern Gardens as they are located to the south of Shuri-jyo Castle.
The gardens were made in a blend of Japanese and Chinese design, including Chinese-style arched bridges, a large circular pond with several islands, wooden palace, an observatory as well as the walkways paved in Ryukyuan limestone.
The gardens were completely destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1941, and had been restored taking over 20 years of from 1875 to 1996.
First designated for protection in 1941 in accordance with the 1919 law, in 1976 the gardens were once again designated a Place of Scenic Beauty, redesignated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty in 2000 and included within the inscription of the UNESCO Wprld Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and related properties of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The Gardens of Shikina are a 42,000 square meter property with the total space occupied by the Goten main pavilion and other structures being 643 square meters.
Ikutokusen
Ikutokusen is the source of the pond water in Shikina-en. It is composed of two wells and surrounded by piles of Ryukyuan limestone in Aikata-zumi style.
Udun
After passing by Ikutokusen, a carpet of grass streches out with Udun standing on the left side. Udun has 15 rooms all connected though it seems to be seperated from its appearance. The traditional red tiles are used for the roof, wood floor for the hall and tatami for the rooms. It has 15 rooms with the traditional red tile roof.
Ishibashi Bridges
On the pond there is a small island linked by arched stoned bridges made with Ryukyuan limestone.
Rokkakudo
The Rokkakudo, a hexagonal building stands on the small island in the pond. It is built in Chinese style architecture with use of black tiles for its roof that differs from Udun with red tile roof. It is known that it had been square during Meiji era, but unknown when it had been rebuilt into the current hexagon.
Map
Name | Shikina-en Gardens |
---|---|
Phone | 098-855-5936 |
Address | 421-7 Maji, Naha-shi, Okinawa 902-0072 (〒902-0072 沖縄県那覇市真地421-7) |
Access | 10 minutes drive from Shuri-jyo monorail station MAPCODE-HR: 33 131 090*25 *"マップコード" and "MAPCODE" are registered trademarks by DENSO corporation. |