Shikinaen Garden

Shikinaen (識名園, Shikina-en), located in Maji, Naha City, Okinawa, is one of the representative gardens of the Ryukyu Kingdom and served as a royal villa. Celebrated as Okinawa’s most iconic traditional garden, it is also known as “Shikina Udun” (識名御殿; Okinawan: Shichinanu Udun), and because it lies south of Shuri Castle, it is sometimes called the “Southern Garden (Nanen)”.

The garden’s origins date back to the mid-18th century, likely begun under King Shō Boku (r. 1752–1795) of the Second Shō Dynasty and completed in 1799 during the reign of King Shō On. Its architecture and landscape design blend the refined elegance of Chinese gardens with the rustic simplicity of Okinawan aesthetics, forming a distinctive eclectic style. In its time, Shikinaen primarily functioned as a state guesthouse for Chinese imperial investiture envoys, while also serving the royal family as a place for leisure, banquets, and scenic appreciation.

Designed as a strolling garden, Shikinaen centers on a large pond with an arched stone bridge and small islets. Pathways and plantings encircle the water, allowing visitors to enjoy changing views as they walk. The main building, Shikina Udun, is a timber structure with tiled roofs; its gentle curves, Okinawan red tiles, and Chinese-style lattice windows exemplify the cosmopolitan cultural synthesis of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Within the grounds stands the Kankōdai (勧耕台) lookout. Although it does not command an ocean view, it is said to symbolize the broad-minded vision of the Ryukyu state—“even without the sea in sight, one can survey the world.”

During World War II, Shikinaen was almost completely destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa. After the war, a long restoration effort began; from 1975 to 1995, comprehensive reconstruction was undertaken. The buildings and landscapes seen today were faithfully restored based on historical records and archaeological remains, presenting the appearance of a late-18th-century Ryukyuan garden.

Shikinaen was first designated a Place of Scenic Beauty in 1941, re-listed in 1976, and in 2000 elevated to a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. That same year, together with Shuri Castle and Tamaudun, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of the “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.”

Also on the grounds is Yudokusen (育徳泉), a natural spring where the extremely rare freshwater red alga Shima-chisujinori (シマチスジノリ) grows; it has been designated a Natural Monument of Japan.

Every year on November 3 (Culture Day), the garden hosts the Shikinaen Poetry Gathering, where lovers of tanka meet to compose and recite poems, continuing a classical literary tradition. On the fourth Sunday of November, the Shikinaen Tomo-Yū Gathering is held, co-organized by local communities and educational institutions, featuring traditional dance and music that showcase Naha’s local culture.