Tamaudun is the mausoleum of the kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom, in Naha in southern Okinawa.
Among all of Okinawa’s cultural heritage, few places are as closely tied to the Ryukyuan kings as Tamaudun.
Watching over the rest of the kings of the Second Sho Dynasty across the centuries, it carries a story Okinawa can put before the world.
This article looks at what makes Tamaudun worth seeing, how long to allow and what else to know before you go.
For anyone who wants to get close to Okinawa’s history and feel the weight of it, Tamaudun is essential.
Tamaudun ratings
*Ratings are the personal view of the Okinawa Bookmark editor, compared against other castles and ruins in Okinawa
Tamaudun at a glance
| Hours | 9:00–18:00 |
| Closed | Open year-round |
| Admission (individual) | Adults: 300 yen Junior high school and under: 150 yen *Preschool children accompanied by a guardian are free |
| Admission (groups of 20 or more) | Adults: 240 yen Junior high school and under: 120 yen |
| Time needed | About 15-30 minutes |
| Parking | Yes (paid) |
| Restroom | Yes |
| Address | 1-3 Shuri Kinjocho, Naha, Okinawa |
Shuri Castle and a good deal else are close to Tamaudun, so it is worth taking them in together.
Highlights of Tamaudun
Tamaudun
The kings of the Second Sho Dynasty are laid to rest at Tamaudun, in three chambers: east, centre and west.
The solemnity of the place conveys something of the standing of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
What makes Tamaudun matter so much is what it stands for in Okinawa: respect for one’s ancestors, and a sense of who this place is.
The Tamaudun stone monument
The Tamaudun monument sets out who may be buried here, which says a great deal about how important the site was.
Reading the inscription gives you a way into the social structure and the culture of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Agari-nu-ubanju, the eastern guardhouse
The eastern guardhouse is where the king rested when visiting the tombs.
Standing here, you get some sense of the royal household as it was.
It is about as direct a way into Okinawa’s history as you will find.
World Heritage and national treasure: what Tamaudun is worth
In December 2000 Tamaudun was inscribed as a World Heritage Site as part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and it is also a designated national treasure.
That is international recognition of its cultural value, and it makes the site one no visitor to Okinawa should skip.
Time needed: about 15-30 minutes
Allowing about 15-30 minutes for Tamaudun is plenty.
The site itself is not large, though you may want a little longer if you plan to go through the exhibition room properly.
History of Tamaudun
Standing in Shuri, Tamaudun was built in 1501 by King Sho Shin and carries the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Founded to enshrine King Sho En, it has been the resting place of the kings of the Second Sho Dynasty ever since.
・Tamaudun: a mirror of Okinawa’s history
For Okinawans, Tamaudun stands for both history and culture, and for the regard in which earlier generations are held. This is where the royal household rests.
・The architecture and carving at Tamaudun
In front of the burial chambers stands a finely carved stone balustrade, which gives visitors a sense of the craftsmanship of old Ryukyu.
・Cultural heritage recognised worldwide
Tamaudun was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 as part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu, and on 25 December 2018 it was also designated a national treasure.
That has secured its standing as cultural heritage of international importance.
Access & Parking
| Access | About 25 minutes by car from Naha Airport |
| Address | 1-2 Shuri Kinjocho, Naha, Okinawa |
| Hours: prefectural parking | April-June and October-November: 8:00-19:30 July-September: 8:00-20:30 December-March: 8:00-18:30 |
| Prefectural parking | Several lots (paid) Standard vehicle: 400 yen Large vehicle: 1,200 yen |
| Restroom | Yes |
If you are visiting Tamaudun, we would suggest using the paid parking at Shuri Castle.
Several lots serve the area; here we cover the Shuri Castle Park prefectural parking.
Nearby Information
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
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
Held in the quiet of Shuri, Tamaudun carries the history and the spirit of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
You can see this World Heritage Site in just 15-30 minutes, and as a symbol of what Okinawa holds onto, it stays with you.
If you want to get close to Okinawa’s history and feel something of the kingdom, do visit Tamaudun.
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