Naminoue Shrine
Naminoue Shrine, The Best Known Shinto Shrine Of Okinawa, On A Limestone Cliff Above Naha'S Only City Beach, A Short Climb With A Sea View And A Red And White Building That Stood In The Ryukyu Kingdom'S Time. A Quick Stop In Central Naha. · Naha, Okinawa
Naminoue Shrine stands on a limestone cliff in Naha, Okinawa, above Naminoue Beach and the port, and it is often named as the best known and most visited Shinto shrine on the island. The buildings are painted red and white in a style that borrows from Ryukyu architecture, and shisa lion-dogs guard the approach. The shrine is said to be very old, with roots in the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom, but the present buildings are a rebuild after the war, commonly dated to 1993 - confirm. A short climb of steps from the road brings you to a small, calm precinct with a view over the sea and the Naha Port overpass. It is free to enter and takes 20 to 40 minutes. This is a quick stop for people already in central Naha, not a reason to cross the island. It suits a first-day walk from Asahibashi Station or Kokusai-dori, and it is busiest at New Year, when hatsumode visitors queue on the steps. Outside that week it is usually quiet. The beach below is small and city-side, better for a look than a swim. Okinawa has a separate live row for the wider island.
1-25-11 Wakasa, Naha, Okinawa, on a cliff above Naminoue Beach beside the Naha Port, a short walk from Asahibashi Monorail Station, Naha, Okinawa, Japan
The precinct is outdoors and commonly open from early morning until about dusk, with no fee at the gate - confirm. The shrine office, which sells amulets and prayer plaques, usually keeps daytime hours, roughly 9:00 to 17:00. New Year brings extended hours and long queues on the first three days. Getting there: a walk of roughly 10 to 15 minutes from Asahibashi Monorail Station, or a short walk from the Kokusai-dori area, or a taxi from central Naha. Nothing needs booking. Carry coins for the offering box; small shops nearby may be cash only.