Getting to know the utaki
Before it is a sightseeing spot, it is still a place of prayer. Explore the utaki of Nanjo City through its words.
Tap a highlighted word to see its meaning.
What is an utaki?
An is a general term for the "sacred sites" found widely across the Nansei Islands. A city survey confirmed more than 1,100 in Nanjo City.
Seifa Utaki, for example, appears in the legend of the founding of the Ryukyus, is regarded as the highest sacred site of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and is still revered as a stop on the pilgrimage.
Source: Seifa Utaki official website (https://sefa.okinawa/); "Nanjo-shi no Utaki" (Nanjo City, 2018), preface. Checked 2026-10-20
Before you visit
- It is a sacred place of prayer. Please dress modestly and avoid showing too much skin (shoulders, back, stomach).
- Walking while looking at a smartphone is dangerous. Please refrain.
- Bringing in or taking out plants, animals or stones is not allowed.
- Beyond the entrance of Sanguuri, general visitors cannot enter.
- The stone paving is slippery, with steep slopes and steps. If you wear high heels, change into the free loan footwear at the entrance ("Midori no Yakata Sefa"). Wheelchairs and strollers cannot enter.
- [Notice] Because of drainage work, the area beyond Ujo-guchi is fully closed from Monday 2 November 2026 until Tuesday 5 January 2027 (planned).
Source: Seifa Utaki official website (https://sefa.okinawa/), notice (https://sefa.okinawa/news/topics/713/). Checked 2026-10-20
A step further: the white sand of Kudaka and Seifa Utaki
In the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom, sacred white sand was brought specially from Kudaka, the "island of the gods," and spread over Seifa Utaki for major national rituals. The greatest of these rituals was the inauguration of the , called "Oaraori."
Ishiki Beach on Kudaka is considered a point of contact with .
Source: Seifa Utaki official website (https://sefa.okinawa/); "Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (pp. 463, 470). Checked 2026-10-20
Agari-umai: a path through sacred places
Since ancient times, Okinawans called the east, where the sun rises, "agari," and thought of it as the sacred direction of . is a pilgrimage to the sacred places in Tamagusuku, Chinen, Sashiki and Ozato, and its origin is said to be the kings' own pilgrimages.
The route handed down today starts from Sonohyan-utaki in Shuri, passes the worship places of Yonabaru and Sashiki, enters Chinen, prays at Teda-ukaa, and reaches Seifa Utaki. It continues through Chinen Gusuku, Chinen-ukaa, Yaharazukasa, Ukinju-hainju and others to Tamagusuku Gusuku, 14 sacred places in all.
At the inauguration of the , "Oaraori," a two-day ritual is said to have been held at Seifa Utaki, regarded as the foremost sacred place of Agari-umai.
Places along the way
Once on the hill behind Sashiki Elementary School, along Route 331, it was the residence of Sho Hashi and his father Sho Shisho. From here you can see Nakagusuku Bay, the Katsuren Peninsula and Kudaka Island. It was designated a city historic site in 2004. Its name also appears on the Agari-umai route.
Official page ↗Two springs near the Hyakuna coast. The west one is Ukinju and the east one Hainju, and a rice field called Mifuda faces Ukinju. A legend says this is where rice farming in the Ryukyus began, and a rice-planting ritual is held here.
Official page ↗Regarded as the foremost sacred place of Agari-umai. Please also see the guide on the top page.
→Manners when visiting sacred places
- Bow and greet. State your name and say, "I came to visit."
- Do not speak to people who are praying, and do not take photos of them.
- Do not take anything out of the sacred place, and do not bring in plants or animals. Do not take home stones or plants.
- Do not litter or dirty the place.
- Avoid high heels and wear walking shoes. Habu snakes may hide in bushes and between rocks.
- Where there is a guide, follow the guide's explanation.
Sacred places have been protected because they are worship sites. Yet some, like Teda-ukaa, have lost their water because of quarrying.
Source: Nanjo City Tourism Association (Rashii Nanjo), "Agari-umai" feature (https://www.kankou-nanjo.okinawa/tokusyu/agariumai/) and the "Sashiki Uwa-gusuku" and "Ukinju-hainju" pages; "Nanjo-shi no Utaki" (Nanjo City, 2018) glossary pp. 458, 120. Checked 2026-10-20
Glossary (all words)
Utaki (御嶽)utaki
A sacred place where gods are enshrined. It is one of the important features of Ryukyu and Okinawan spiritual culture.
Generally it stands on a hill or mountain behind a village, protecting it. At the innermost part is the most sacred spot, called "ibi," where an incense burner is placed and the god is said to dwell.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (pp. 459, 460)
Haisho (拝所)ugan-ju
A place of prayer. Besides utaki, springs and household shrine buildings are also treated as haisho.
In the Nanjo survey, utaki, springs and shrine buildings are recorded one by one as haisho of each district.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki", chapters 1-3
Ka (井泉, spring)kaa
A spring. Many are places of prayer in village rituals.
People long ago built villages where water was easy to get, and prayed in gratitude for water, the source of life, and for its continuation. Springs are named by use: "Ubuga" for birth water, "Sōjiga" for purification, and "Hījā" for a spring led through a channel.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 462)
Gusuku (グスク)gusuku
Stone-walled castles or ruins linked to rulers (aji). The word can also mean a sacred place of worship.
Usually on a small hill or in the mountains. Found widely in Amami and Okinawa, with more than 300 confirmed today.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 464)
Niraikanai (ニライカナイ)niraikanai
The other world (world of the gods), said to lie beyond the sea or under the sea or ground.
Gods are believed to come from Niraikanai to bless people and return there. Abundance and good fortune were also thought to come from it. Ishiki Beach on Kudaka is regarded as its point of contact.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 470)
Kikoe-ōkimi (聞得大君)kikoe-ōkimi
The highest priestess of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The office was created in the reign of King Shō Shin. Her inauguration ritual, "Oaraori," took place mainly at Seifa Utaki.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 463); Seifa Utaki official website
Noro (ノロ)noro
A woman priestess who presides over village rituals.
In the past it was an official post appointed by the Shuri royal government, and a written appointment was issued. One noro presided over the rituals of one village or several. Also called nuru or nūru.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 470)
Agari-umai (東御廻り)agari-umai
A pilgrimage to utaki, springs and other sacred places in Yonabaru and Nanjo (Sashiki, Chinen, Tamagusuku).
This area was called "Agarikata" (the east) in the kingdom's time. Today it is usually done by clan groups (munchu). It starts at Sonohyan-utaki in Shuri and passes Seifa Utaki and others. Its origin is thought to lie in the king's and Kikoe-ōkimi's visits to Chinen and Kudaka.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 458); Seifa Utaki official website
Yohai (遥拝)utuushi
Worshipping from a distance, not at the place itself.
Benga-take in Shuri is a place for worshipping Kudaka Island and Seifa Utaki from afar. Ishiki Beach on Kudaka is said to be a place for worshipping Niraikanai from afar.
Source："Nanjo-shi no Utaki" glossary (p. 460)