Shikinaen is the largest villa of the Ryukyuan royal family, in Naha in the southern part of Okinawa Prefecture.
The garden carries the atmosphere of an older Okinawa, and still feels close to the royal family who once used it.
This was a historic retreat where the royal family rested and where envoys from abroad were entertained.
Pass through the gate at the end of the stone-paved path and you are met by the changing sky reflected on the pond and by flowers that mark each season.
History and quiet nature together make one of the highlights of a trip to Okinawa, and Shikinaen is the place to experience it.
Ratings for Shikinaen
*Ratings are the subjective assessment of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared with other castles and historic sites in Okinawa.
Shikinaen at a glance
| Opening hours | April 1 – September 30: 9:00-18:00 October 1 – March 31: 9:00-17:30 |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Admission (individual) | Adults: 400 yen Junior high school students and younger: 200 yen *Free for pre-school children accompanied by a guardian |
| Admission (group, 20 or more people) | Adults: 320 yen Junior high school students and younger: 150 yen |
| Time needed | About 30-60 minutes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
| Address | 421-7 Maaji, Naha, Okinawa |
Tickets for Shikinaen can be bought on site.
For ticket details, see the official website below.
What to see at Shikinaen
The garden around Shinjiike Pond
The first thing that catches your eye as you enter Shikinaen is Shinjiike Pond.
Walking the path around the water, you can enjoy scenery that shifts with the seasons.
A villa of the Ryukyuan royal family
This is where the royal family rested and where the sappushi, the envoys of the Chinese emperor, were received, and it still carries the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The dignified bearing of a royal villa gives visitors a sense of solemn, unhurried time.
A Japanese garden in the kaiyu strolling style
The kaiyu strolling style, one of the finest forms of Japanese garden, is at the heart of the design of Shikinaen.
It is skilfully laid out so that the beauty of the garden unfolds as you walk.
The Chinese-style hexagonal pavilion
On the small island in the pond stands a hexagonal pavilion in the Chinese style.
The building hints at influences from far across East Asia and deepens the exotic feel of the grounds.
Its place as a World Heritage Site
In December 2000 Shikinaen was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and its value is recognised worldwide.
As a rare place that carries both the history of Ryukyu and the beauty of its nature, it continues to be loved by many visitors.
The history of Shikinaen
Shikinaen was built in 1799.
It was where the Chinese chief and vice envoys were received in celebration of the investiture of King Sho On.
Going further back, an eastern garden known as Toen was laid out to the east of Shuri in 1677.
Nanen, the southern garden that can be seen as the forerunner of Shikinaen, lies to the south of Shuri Castle.
The design of Shikinaen follows the principles of the kaiyu strolling garden.
It was made so that you walk around the pond and enjoy the view as it changes.
At its centre is Shinjiike, a pond whose outline traces a cursive form of the character for heart.
The garden is rich in seasonal beauty, and is known above all for plum blossom in spring, wisteria in summer and Chinese bellflowers in autumn.
It was destroyed once in the war, but a long restoration brought its beauty back.
In 2000 Shikinaen was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The site stands not only for the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom but for the way nature and culture come together in Okinawa.
Beyond its history, Shikinaen goes on offering visitors a beauty that sits outside time.
In this garden, which still carries the breath of the Ryukyuan royal family, why not let your thoughts turn to the history of Okinawa?
Admission
| Admission (individual) | Adults: 400 yen Junior high school students and younger: 200 yen *Free for pre-school children accompanied by a guardian |
| Admission (group, 20 or more people) | Adults: 320 yen Junior high school students and younger: 150 yen |
Tickets for Shikinaen can be bought on site.
For ticket details, see the official website below.
Official website: https://www.city.naha.okinawa.jp/shisetsu/reisure/1007835/1003523.html
Getting there and parking
| Access | About 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 421-7 Maaji, Naha, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
Shikinaen has free parking.
For the parking area, see the Google Map below.
Nearby
Shuri Castle
Shuri Castle stands in Naha, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
From 1429 to 1875, in the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it flourished as the centre of the kingdom’s government, diplomacy and culture.
In 2000 it was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and it is the best known castle in Okinawa.
See the article below for details.
Activities in Naha
Naha, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island, offers plenty of activities including diving and snorkeling.
You can book through GetYourGuide or Viator, so do take a look at what is on offer.
Rihga Royal Gran Okinawa
Rihga Royal Gran Okinawa connects directly to Asahibashi Station on the Yui Rail monorail, and is as little as five minutes by car or about ten by monorail from Naha Airport.
A Japanese-Western-Ryukyuan buffet breakfast at Dining 19 on the top floor, a welcome drink in every room and valet parking all add up to a genuinely comfortable stay.
You can check it on Booking.com, so do take a look.
A rental car is the way to go in Okinawa
For sightseeing on Okinawa’s main island, a rental car is by far the best option.
Shuri Castle in Naha, the beautiful beaches up north, American Village in Chatan – the places worth seeing are scattered across the island, and having a car lets you explore at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and rarely run on time, so having a car makes a real difference to the trip.
Cars book up quickly in peak season, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
Summary
Shikinaen is a place to spend a special stretch of time among the historic landscapes Okinawa is proud of.
The garden is laid out in the strolling style around Shinjiike Pond, and it still conveys the standing of a royal villa where the Chinese envoys were received.
As a World Heritage Site, Shikinaen will keep carrying the history and culture of Okinawa into the future.
When you plan your trip, do go and see this breathtaking beauty with your own eyes.
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