Shikina Garden

Shikinaen Garden is one of Okinawa’s most representative Ryukyu-style gardens. Located south of Shuri Castle, it was also known as “Nan’en” (South Garden). Originally called “Shichina-nu-udun,” it was built in 1799, destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa, and later restored in 1996. In 2000, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shikinaen Garden was created as a place to entertain Chinese investiture envoys (Sappōshi) and to serve as a retreat for the Ryukyu royal family. The garden harmoniously blends Japanese and Chinese design elements. At its center lies the “Shinji Pond,” shaped like the stylized Chinese character for “heart” (心), around which visitors can stroll in the style of a traditional Japanese circuit garden. At the same time, Chinese influences can be seen in features such as the hexagonal pavilion and the bridges spanning the pond.
In addition, the palace (udun), where the royal family and the envoys rested, along with the extensive use of Ryukyu limestone throughout the grounds, reflects traditional Ryukyu architectural styles. As a result, the garden presents a unique fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Ryukyu aesthetics.
The garden is also rich in vegetation, combining Ryukyu pine—the prefectural tree—with willow trees, which are relatively rare in Okinawa, as well as tropical fruit trees such as shikuwasa and kabuchi. Together, they create a landscape distinctive to the region.
At the highest point of Shikinaen Garden stands the Kankōdai, a scenic lookout designed to impress visiting envoys with the prestige of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Although the kingdom was surrounded by the sea, this viewpoint was intentionally oriented toward expansive farmland so that the sea would not be visible, preventing the impression of a small island nation. The careful placement of fruit trees and the layout that suggests an endlessly stretching landscape were deliberate efforts to convey to China that the Ryukyu Kingdom was a vast and prosperous land.