Shikinaen

Overview

Shikinaen is a garden in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, where you can feel the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Built in 1799 as a villa for King Sho On, the second king of the second Shuri dynasty, it's a stroll garden centered around a pond. Known as the "Shinji Pond" because its shape resembles a stylized character for "heart", the pond features an island with a Chinese-style hexagonal pavilion, arches of varying sizes, and meticulously crafted stone walls made of Ryukyu limestone—all showcasing the unique ingenuity of Ryukyu architecture. The grounds also include several traditional Ryukyu-style palaces with ornate interiors, such as the "Houou no Ma" (Phoenix Room) and "Ryuuko no Ma" (Dragon and Tiger Room), offering a glimpse into the lives of the royal family. Once, the garden offered a subtle change of seasons, even in Okinawa's tropical climate: plum blossoms perfumed the eastern grove in spring, wisteria bloomed near the pond and springs in summer, and bellflowers graced the pond's edge in autumn. Though destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, Shikinaen was later restored and, in 2000, registered as a World Heritage site as part of the "Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu." Now also designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, it attracts many visitors seeking its tranquil beauty and rich history.