Shuri Kinjocho Cobblestone Path

Overview

The Shuri Kinjocho Cobblestone Path is an ancient cobblestone road in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, located on the south slope of Shurijo Castle Park. Situated in Kinjocho, the castle town that flourished from the 14th to the 19th centuries during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, it forms a section of the Shinju-do, an official road that stretched 4 km (and had a total length of 10 km) from Shurijo Castle to the Tamada Bridge over the Kokuba River. Construction began around 1522 during the reign of King Sho Shin of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Most of the Shinju-do was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II and was paved with concrete. However, in 1983, it was restored to its cobblestone form through a historical district environmental improvement project. The 238-meter section that exists today in Kinjocho is preserved as the Shuri Kinjocho Cobblestone Path. The path is paved with Ryukyu limestone flagstones that have acquired a lustrous sheen over the years. Many pre-modern stone walls still remain along the path. The roughly laid flagstones, measuring 20-30 centimeters, have a finely hammered surface. Steps have been incorporated in steeper sections, and anti-slip grooves have been carved for ease of walking. Along the road, you can see stone walls built using a technique called "aikatadsumi" and traditional wooden houses with red-tiled roofs. The surrounding area boasts many cultural properties, including the World Heritage-listed Shurijo Castle ruins, Tama Mausoleum, Sonohyan Utaki Stone Gate, Shikinaen Garden, Shureimon Gate, Benzaiten-do Temple, and the ruins of Enkakuji Temple, making it a hub for tourist attractions. It's also a popular walking course for local residents and attracts many tourists from outside Okinawa Prefecture, making it a major tourist destination in Okinawa. In addition to being designated as an Okinawa Prefectural Cultural Property (Historic Site and Scenic Spot), it was selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Roads on August 10, 1987, by the former Ministry of Construction and the "Michi no Hi" (Road Day) Executive Committee. It was also used as a filming location for the NHK drama "Churasan," with houses along the path serving as the exterior of the main character's home.