Photo: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas / CC BY-SA 3.0Shikinaen was built in 1799 as a royal villa, and the tourism page describes its purpose as entertaining the Chinese envoys (sappushi) whose visits were an important matter of state for the kingdom. It is one of Okinawa's formal garden sites, built around a large pond with a Chinese-style arch bridge and a hexagonal hall on an island.
The visit is a slow circuit of the pond. It is the opposite of Kokusai-dori: quiet, green, formal, and with the pavilion and bridge as the clear photographic set pieces. The royal-garden story is a good companion to Shuri Castle, which is the other side of the same kingdom.
The catch is access. It is not on the monorail line and it needs a taxi leg or a bus, so it costs an hour each way. It is closed on Wednesdays. Skip it on a short call; combine it with Shuri on a long one.
Five things the plaques won't tell you
- Check the weekday: Shikinaen is closed on Wednesdays.
- Last entry is 17:00 from October to March, so do not arrive in the last half hour.
- Pay the full ¥400 as a visitor; the 65+ half price is for Naha residents only.
- Agree the return taxi before you go in; the garden office number on the city's page is 098-855-5936.
- Combine with Shuri Castle on the monorail line, as both are Ryukyu Kingdom sites.
The royal-garden story is a good companion to Shuri Castle, which is the other side of the same kingdom.
Guided days from Naha
Booked before you sail — there is no tour desk at the pier. Booking through these links supports the site.
More in Naha
Questions people ask here
How do I get to Shikinaen from the Naha cruise port?
Take a short taxi to Asahibashi or Kencho-mae, ride the Yui Rail monorail to Shuri (about 14 to 16 minutes, ¥320), then take a taxi of about 15 minutes. Allow about an hour in total each way.
How much is Shikinaen and when is it open?
Adults ¥400 and children ¥200, 9:00 to 17:30 from October to March (last entry 17:00) and 9:00 to 18:00 from April to September. Closed on Wednesdays, and the next day if Wednesday is a holiday.
What is Shikinaen?
A royal villa garden built in 1799, used to entertain Chinese envoys, with a large pond, an arch bridge in Chinese style and a hexagonal hall on an island.