Hantagawa, in Naha, Okinawa. Tucked into a corner of a quiet residential district stands Shikina Shrine, which has drawn worshippers since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
It ranks among the eight Ryukyuan shrines alongside Naminoue and Futenma, yet it is not the sort of place that fills with tourists. That is exactly what makes it special for anyone who wants to get closer to Okinawa’s deeper history and its religious life.
A founding story rooted in a king’s prayer, the mysterious cave the shrine is said to have grown from, and deities carrying on the Kumano faith. Shikina Shrine holds a good deal that guidebooks rarely get to.
This article covers what makes Shikina Shrine distinctive, its history, the charms and the cave, and the access and parking details — everything worth knowing before you go. Shikinaen, Shuri Castle and the Kinjocho stone-paved road are all close by, which makes this a good base for a walk through the area’s history.
- Shikina Shrine ratings
- Shikina Shrine at a glance
- What makes Shikina Shrine distinctive
- One of the eight Ryukyuan shrines singled out by the kingdom
- A founding story rooted in a king’s prayer
- The cave the shrine grew from, and its sacred stone
- Deities carrying on the Kumano faith, and what people pray for
- A quiet precinct rebuilt after the Battle of Okinawa
- A good stop on a walk near Shikinaen and Shuri Castle
- A short video of Shikina Shrine
- History of Shikina Shrine
- Access & Parking
- Around Shikina Shrine
- Summary
Shikina Shrine ratings
*Ratings are the personal view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, based on comparison with other castles and castle ruins in Okinawa
Shikina Shrine at a glance
| Hours | 8:00-18:00 |
| Closed | None in particular |
| Admission | Free |
| Time needed | About 15–30 minutes |
| Parking | Yes (free) |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Address | 4-1-43 Hantagawa, Naha, Okinawa |
Shikina Shrine is not a place that draws crowds, but it is well worth it for anyone with an interest in Okinawa’s deeper history or in its shrines.
What makes Shikina Shrine distinctive
One of the eight Ryukyuan shrines singled out by the kingdom
Shikina Shrine is one of the eight Ryukyuan shrines, alongside Naminoue and Futenma, and received particular favour from the royal court during the Ryukyu Kingdom, before the Meiji government.
It stands among a distinguished group made up of Naminoue, Okinogu, Shikina, Futenma, Sueyoshi, Hachiman, Amekugu and Kin — unassuming, but with a long pedigree.
A founding story rooted in a king’s prayer
The shrine was founded around 1556-1572, during the reign of King Sho Gen, the fifth ruler of the Second Sho Dynasty.
The story goes that King Sho Gen, praying for his eldest son to recover from illness, had a shrine and a temple built at a cave where a strangely glowing figure stood. That account of the shrine’s ties to the royal house, and to answered prayers, is still told today.
The cave the shrine grew from, and its sacred stone
Shikina Shrine began with a hall enshrined inside a cave. Damp caused the building to rot, so from 1680 it was moved outside.
Follow the path to the left as you face the main hall and the small cave is still there. On the 1st and 15th of each month the cave door is opened and visitors can go inside.
Deities carrying on the Kumano faith, and what people pray for
The enshrined deity is Kumano Gongen, whose worship had spread through Ryukyu, along with Umanufa-shin and Shikina Gongen — a shrine very much in the Kumano tradition.
True to that history, it has a strong association with recovery from illness, and the sacred stone in the cave is believed to bless couples with children, which has made the shrine a place people come to pray for health or for a child.
A quiet precinct rebuilt after the Battle of Okinawa
This area was one of the fiercest battlegrounds of the Battle of Okinawa, and several war sites remain nearby. The prewar shrine buildings burned down, but the shrine was rebuilt in 1968 and renewed again in 2013. Today a swept, cool-feeling precinct centred on the red-tiled main hall greets visitors.
A good stop on a walk near Shikinaen and Shuri Castle
Shikina Shrine sits in a residential part of Hantagawa in Naha, with Shikinaen to the south and the Kinjocho stone-paved road to the north — both within walking distance. The torii by the road makes it easy to find, and small as it is, it is a settling sort of place, well worth folding into a walk around the area.
A short video of Shikina Shrine
Here is a short video of Shikina Shrine. Do take a look.
History of Shikina Shrine
Shikina Shrine is said to have been founded around 1556-1572, during the reign of King Sho Gen, the fifth ruler of the Second Sho Dynasty. According to the shrine’s own account, a light appeared night after night in Shikina village; when the high priestess known as the oamushirare investigated, a statue of Binzuru was found inside a cave. Prayers there were credited with the recovery of Sho Ko Haku, the king’s eldest son, and the shrine was founded — beginning its history as a shrine tied to the royal house and to answered prayers. At its founding the temple Shinnoji was built alongside it, making the site a place where Shinto and Buddhist practice sat together.
As at Futenma and Kin, the original hall was enshrined inside a cave. Damp caused it to rot, however, so from 1680 it was moved outside and gradually took on something close to its present form. Royal visits are said to have begun in 1644, and as an official shrine under the court’s firm protection, Shikina Shrine rose in standing. In time it took its place among the eight Ryukyuan shrines, alongside Naminoue, Okinogu, Futenma, Sueyoshi, Asato Hachiman, Amekugu and Kin, as one of the kingdom’s leading shrines.
The modern era changed things considerably. Under the Meiji ranking system the shrine was left unranked, and the area became one of the fiercest battlegrounds of the Battle of Okinawa — enough war sites remain nearby to show how heavily it was hit. The prewar buildings burned down, but the shrine was rebuilt in 1968 and a new hall put up in 2013. Neighbouring Shinnoji was never rebuilt and the site became a park, but Shikina Shrine itself carries a line of worship stretching back to the Ryukyu Kingdom, quietly, here in Hantagawa.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 4-1-43 Hantagawa, Naha, Okinawa |
| Parking | Yes |
| Restroom | Yes |
Shikina Shrine has parking.
There is room for two cars. The parking is fairly hard to find, so we would suggest looking it up on Google Maps first.
Around Shikina Shrine
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.
Naminoue Shrine
Naminoue Shrine is a shrine in Naha, in the southern part of Okinawa’s main island.
One of Okinawa’s leading shrines, Naminoue is much loved for its history and standing.
It is known as one of the eight Ryukyuan shrines and as a power spot. It is also associated with matchmaking and safe childbirth, and many people come here to make a wish.
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
A rental car is by far the best way to get around the main island of Okinawa.
The places worth seeing are scattered across the island, from Shuri Castle in Naha to the beautiful beaches of the north and American Village in Chatan, and with a car you can take them at your own pace. Buses are infrequent and do not always run on time, so having a car or not makes a real difference to the trip.
Cars fill up quickly in the peak season, so we recommend booking early once your travel dates are set. One important note for overseas visitors: to drive in Japan you must obtain an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention) in your home country before you depart, and remember that traffic in Japan drives on the left.
Summary
Shikina Shrine is one of the eight Ryukyuan shrines, long favoured by the royal court. The legend of a king praying for his son’s recovery, the cave the shrine grew from, deities carrying on the Kumano faith — the precinct is compact, but there is no shortage to see.
Burned down in the Battle of Okinawa and since rebuilt, its quiet precinct centred on the red-tiled main hall greets visitors without any fuss.
It is not a major attraction, and that is rather the point: you can take your time here. It is also a place people come to pray for health or for a child, and on the 1st and 15th of each month the cave door is opened.
Fold it into a walk taking in Shikinaen, Shuri Castle and the Kinjocho stone-paved road and you have a solid afternoon with the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom close at hand. If you want to see a side of Okinawa most visitors miss, this is where to go.
Comments