Chuarashima Travel




Sueyoshi shrine
  • Parking available

Sueyoshi shrine is inside the Sueyoshi park where is surrounded by the nature, and is also known as the spiritual spot. It is an accessible site from the airport and Shuri castle.

Sueyoshi shrine is on the inside the Sueyoshi park. The shrine is also called as "Shadan (a small shrine)","Sueyoshi Shadan", and "Shuri Shadan". It's known as the one of the famous "The 8 Ryukyu shrines". The shrine is surrounded by the nature and is also a spiritual spot.
The shrine is made from the "main shrine","worship place","ritual field". The worship place collapsed in 1913, although, the main hall and the stone steps were registered as the National treasure. It was rebuilt in 1972, and has been the worship place for Okinawan people. The worship place towards to the southeast. For the divine favor, it is believed that you will be prosperous in business, and get a promotion. Unfortunately, you cannot enter inside the worship place and the main shrine, but you can go closer to it.
There is a Torii at the entrance of the route to the mountaintop. Once you enter the Torii, you feel the different atmosphere. If you want to go to the unique shrine in Okinawa, here is the best place to go!

Must-see sights

  • Sueyoshi shrine stone steps

    Kuroshio current ocean

    The terrain around the Sueyoshi shrine compose Ryukyu limestone, bedrock, and a volley. The ritual field and the worship place built on a different bedrock. The positions are high in the ritual field, worship place, main shrine order. The stone steps connect to the three positions are called "Sueyoshi shrine stone steps" which was registered as the Tangible Cultural Property. There are 8 steps to the ritual field, 21 steps from the ritual field to the worship place, 7 steps from the worship place to the main shrine. The below the steps is the arched shape which you can go through.

  • Sueyoshi park cherry blossom tree for phenological observation

    "Hikan zakura" The earliest bloom in Japan

    At Sueyoshi park, There is "Hikan-zakura" which is the cherry blossom sample tree for phenological observation in Okinawa. The replacement of the sample tree conducted regularly. There is a sample tree plate at the Hanami bridge along the river. When the sample cherry blossom starts to bloom, the Meteorological Agency announces the Cherry blossom blooming. They started to bloom little by little from mid of January, and be full bloom in February. There is a place called "The forest of Hikan Zakura" at Sueyoshi park where many locals go during the cherry blossom season. If you visit Okinawa in February, highly recommended to visit the park!

How to enjoy the Sueyoshi shrine

Entrance at the pathway to the Sueyoshi shrine

ueyoshi shrine is located on top of the mountain. It takes about 30 minutes from the park, so it's recommended to take a mountaintop route from the residential street if your destination is Sueyoshi shrine. It will be only 5 minutes by walking. Once you enter the Torii at the entrance, the path is separated into two. The left one connects to the worship place called "Ni-fa" which the Dragon god is deified. If you go to the right side, you will see a small bridge and little valley. You will see the Sueyoshi shrine once you across the bridge. There are slope and steps are located in the valley, although please watch your steps when you walk on the steps.

If you want to take the route from the park, you need to walk the mountain road which is not maintenanced, however, if you want to enjoy hiking, it's recommended to try this route. There is no guide sign to the Sueyoshi shrine at the park. If you visit there for the first time, you may get confused where to go, but first, go down the stairs the one on the left side of the parking lot. Keep walking along the path, you will see the "Hanami bridge". You will see a little open space with playground equipment. Once you walk pass by the playground, you will see the memorial monument of the "玉城朝薫Tamagusuku Chokun the 300th anniversary of birth", and steps on your left side. Once you climb the steps, take a right. For walking about 650 feet, you will see the monument of the tarce of the Sueyoshi shrine. The path gets rough and slippy when it's rainy after the monument, it's recommended to wear shoes.

It will be a long and rough hiking from the park route. The mountaintop route will be easier for family visitors. There is a shrine office next to the Sueyoshi shrine. However the chief priest only stays during the New year's day. If you are lucky, you can get a red ink stamp. If there are no people, you can get the stamp at the Naminoue shrine as well. Sueyoshi shrine is not as big as the other shrines in Okinawa, hence you can feel the historical, religious atmosphere. It's the best spiritual spot! It's recommended to visit there on Sunny days!

Pictures

  • The front of the Sueyoshi shrine
  • Sueyoshi shrine arched tunnel
  • Sueyoshi ritual field to the worship place step
  • Sueyoshi ritual field to the worship place step
  • Sueyoshi shrine arched tunnel
  • Steps to the Sueyoshi ritual field
  • Sueyoshi shrine office
  • Sueyoshi shrine arched tunnel
  • Sueyoshi shrine worship place
  • Torii at the pathway to the Sueyoshi shrine
  • Sueyoshi shrine stone steps
  • Sueyoshi park cherry blossom tree for phenological observation
  • Entrance at the pathway to the Sueyoshi shrine
  • Mountaintop Shrine
  • Steps to the Torii at the pathway to the Sueyoshi shrine
  • Once you enter the Torii, you will see a fork in the road. The right one goes to Sueyoshi shrine, the left one goes to the worship place called
  • A small bridge on the way to the Sueyoshi mountaintop route
  • Steps on the way to the Sueyoshi mountaintop route
  • Sueyoshi shrine arched tunnel
  • A view after came out of the tunnel
  • Overlook view at the front of the Sueyoshi shrine
  • Sueyoshi shrine
  • Overlook view from Sueyoshi worship place
  • Shrine surrounded by the nature
  • An offering box
  • Sueyoshi park entrance
  • Steps from the parking lot ro the Hanami bridge
  • Hanami bridge at the park
  • Aja river
  • The steps to the Sueyoshi shrine
  • Sueyoshi shrine stone monument
  • The path surrounded by great nature
  • There are some fallen trees
  • The air is cool at the mountain path. Watch out for your steps.

Sueyoshi shrine Informaiton

Name Sueyoshi shrine
Tel/Fax:

TEL:0988-68-2717(Sueyoshi shrine office)

FAX:0988-68-4219(Sueyoshi shrine office)

Address:

Postcode:903-0801 1-8 Sueyoshi-town Shuri Naha-city Okinawa

Access

・For taking the mountaintop route
It takes about 35 minutes form Naha-airport

・For taking the park route
It takes about 30 minutes from Naha-airport

Monorail: It takes about 10 minutes from Gibo station by walking
※It takes about 30 minutes from Park to the Sueyoshi shrine

Hours

Sueyoshi shrine office: Not fixed

Sueyoshi Park Parking :AM9:00-PM9:00

Important shrine festival : 23rd November PM2:00

Closed

Sueyoshi shrine office: Not fixed
※Shrine office is normally not open except New year's day

Fees

Fees

Visiting : Free
Red ink stamp:300yen

How to pay

Budget

0-300yen

Optional fee

0

Credit card

Not available

Currency

JPY

Reservation

Not available

Park facilities

Parking

Not available (Sueyoshi park parking: For 40 cars available)

Information

Time

It takes about 20 minutes via mountaintop route
It takes about 60-90 minutes via park route

Smorking

You are not allowed to smoke at the park/shrine

e.t.c

There is a bathroom available next to the Sueyoshi shrine office.

A little advise from Churashima travel

A brief comment

Sueyoshi shrine is known as the spiritual spot. It was resistered as natural treasure! Visit the shrine and get a divine favor!

Important notice

You are not allowed to enter to the worship place ant main shrine.

What to bring

The shrine is surrounded by a great nature. It's recommended to bring a bug spray with you.

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