Sefa-utaki, Okinawa Island

Name: Sefa-utaki
Address: 知念久手堅 Nanjo, Okinawa Island, Japan
Telephone: +81 98-949-1899

#2 among attractions in Okinawa Island

Top attraction, Historical place, Unesco

Gallery (3)

Map

Map

Gallery

Facts and practical information

Sefa-utaki, meaning "purified place of Utaki," is a historical sacred space, overlooking Kudaka Island, that served as one of the key locations of worship in the native religion of the Ryukyuan people for millennia. Later as a part of assimilation of Okinawa by Japan, it was shifted to serve as a Shinto Shrine. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu in Nanjō, Okinawa. ()

Local name: 斎場御嶽 Unesco: from 2000Area: 29.9 acres (0.0467 mi²)Coordinates: 26°10'24"N, 127°49'37"E

Address

知念久手堅 NanjoOkinawa Island Japan

Contact

+81 98-949-1899

Website

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Okinawa Island

Day trips

Sefa-utaki – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Itokazu Castle, Chinen Castle, Kakinohana Castle, Tamagusuku Castle.

4.3 miW
Forts and castles
Itokazu Castle, Yaese
109 min walk • Itokazu Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō, Okinawa. It was built with Ryūkyūan limestone in the mid-14th century. It is now in ruins.
1.3 miSW
Forts and castles
Chinen Castle, Yaese
34 min walk • Chinen Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō, Okinawa. It is the second oldest castle in the Ryukyu Islands. The ruins consist of the old castle to the east being made out of rock and the other newer castle to the west being made out of ashlar masonry.
2.7 miSW
Forts and castles
Kakinohana Castle, Yaese
70 min walk • Kakinohana Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō, Okinawa.
3.5 miSW
Forts and castles
Tamagusuku Castle, Okinawa Island
90 min walk • Tamagusuku Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō, Okinawa. It is the oldest castle on Okinawa; Chūzan Seikan says it was built by Amamikyu, the creation goddess of the Ryukyuan religion. It was the home of the Aji of Tamagusuku Magiri.
5.1 miW
Town, Area
Yonabaru, Naha
130 min walk • Yonabaru is a town in Shimajiri District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It is located at the southern end of Okinawa Island, on the east coast, overlooking Nakagusuku Bay.
5.6 miNW
Town, Area
Nishihara, Naha
144 min walk • Nishihara is a town located in Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. In the Okinawan language, nishi means "north", as Nishihara was north of the historical Ryukyuan capital of Shuri.
4.4 miSW
City
Nanjō
112 min walk • Nanjō is a city located in the southern part of Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. Translated literally, the name Nanjō means "southern castle". Many castle ruins, called gusuku in the Okinawan language, can be found throughout the city.
2.4 miW
Forts and castles
Sashiki Castle, Okinawa Island
62 min walk • Sashiki Castle is a Ryukyuan gusuku in Nanjō, Okinawa. It was built by Shō Shishō and served as the home of the Aji of Sashiki Magiri. During the Taishō era, a Shinto shrine was built over the remains of the main hall.
4.2 miSW
Forts and castles
Ōzato Castle, Okinawa Island
109 min walk • Ōzato Castle, officially Shimasoe-Ōzato Castle, is a Ryukyuan gusuku built in Nanzan and used until 1429. It, and the village of Ōzato, are named after the Ōzato Dynasty of Nanzan. It is in ruins, and is an officially designated historical site in Nanjō City, Okinawa.
6.4 miNW
Universities and schools
University of the Ryukyus, Ginowan
163 min walk • The University of the Ryukyus, abbreviated to Ryūdai, is a Japanese national university in Nishihara, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.