Shikinaen Garden

What to know

Shikinaen (識名園) was built in the late 18th century as a secondary residence for the Ryukyu kings. It features elegant, simple wooden palace buildings with distinctive Okinawan red-tile roofs and a spacious Japanese-style landscape garden centered around a pond. Though the garden follows a design common elsewhere in Japan, the local architecture and plants give Shikinaen a unique Okinawan character.

Shikinaen was completely destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 but has been carefully restored in the postwar years. In 2000, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of the "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu."

A 300-meter circular path lets visitors explore the garden, passing through a wooded area before reaching the pond. Two stone bridges connect to a small island in the middle of the water, allowing visitors to cross from one side to the other. A small hexagonal pavilion stands on a second island. Artificial hills surround the pond, offering more viewpoints and adding character.

The palace building sits near the pond's edge. This beautiful wooden structure once hosted the royal family and important guests. Today, visitors can view the large tatami rooms that overlook the garden.

Shikinaen Garden is one of the few attractions in Naha not accessible by the Okinawa Monorail. Instead, it can be reached in about 20 minutes and for 260 yen one way from central Naha by bus numbers 2, 4, 5, and 14. Among these, buses 2 and 5 run frequently. Line 5 can be boarded along Kokusaidori, while line 2 stops at the prefectural office (県庁前, Kenchō-mae) near the Naha Bus Terminal. Line 14 also serves Shuri Castle.

By car, Shikinaen is a ten-minute drive from central Naha or 20 minutes from Naha Airport. However, the trip can take much longer during rush hours.