# Sefa-utaki, Okinawa > Sefa-utaki is the holiest site of the Ryukyu Kingdom, a forest grove among huge limestone rocks in south-east Okinawa and a UNESCO site. Its highlight is Sangui, a triangular passage between two rocks. Entry is ¥300. From November to February it opens 9:00–17:30. It closes twice a year — in 2026 also on 9–11 November. From Naha it's 40 minutes by car. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/sefa-utaki - City: [Okinawa](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa), Japan - YesGo score: 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 1 h - Opening hours: March–October 9:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30); November–February 9:00–17:30 (last entry 17:00); closed twice a year - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: ¥300; ages 7–15 ¥150 - Winter hours: November–February 9:00–17:30, last entry 17:00 - Summer hours: March–October 9:00–18:00, last entry 17:30 - Closed: Twice a year; in 2026, 15–17 June and 9–11 November - Tickets: Only at the Midori no Yakata Sefa centre, not at the entrance - Getting there: 40 minutes by car from Naha, or bus 38 - Coordinates: 26.17333, 127.82667 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **Ryukyu** — the kingdom's holiest site (source: en.wikipedia) - **2000** — the year it joined the UNESCO site (source: en.wikipedia) - **Sangui** — a triangular passage between two rocks (source: en.wikipedia) - **Kudaka** — the sacred island seen from Sangui (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥300** — adult entry (source: okinawa-nanjo.jp) - **Twice** — a year the site closes for rites and for nature to rest (source: okinawa-nanjo.jp) - **500 m** — from the ticket office to the entrance — about 8 minutes (source: okinawa-nanjo.jp) - **Utaki** — a sacred grove of the Okinawan faith (source: en.wikipedia) ## What is Sefa-utaki? **Sefa-utaki** is the most revered sacred site of the **Ryukyu** Kingdom, in Nanjo on Okinawa's south-east coast. **Utaki** are the sacred groves of the Okinawan faith, where priestesses prayed; here the high priestess, the **kikoe-ogimi**, underwent her initiation. In 2000 the grove became part of a UNESCO site together with the Ryukyu castles. A path leads through the forest to several prayer sites among huge **limestone rocks**. The most famous is **Sangui**: two rocks leaning against each other form a triangular passage, beyond which you see **Kudaka** Island — in Okinawan tradition, where the goddess who created the islands first descended. > **Buy your ticket first** Tickets aren't sold at the entrance: you buy them at the Midori no Yakata Sefa local products centre, 500 metres away — about 8 minutes on foot. The site closes twice a year by the lunar calendar to keep it quiet and protect nature: in 2026, from 15 to 17 June and from 9 to 11 November. Check the dates on the website before you go. ## Tickets and hours According to the official site, entry is **¥300** for adults (16 and over) and ¥150 for children aged 7–15. From March to October the site opens **9:00 to 18:00**, last entry 17:30; from November to February **9:00 to 17:30**, last entry 17:00. Some guides give a higher price — check at the ticket office. This is a living sacred site: speak quietly, don't touch the rocks, ritual vessels or offerings, and don't step beyond the barriers. The paths are stone and roots, slippery after rain; wear comfortable non-slip shoes. ## What to see - **Sangui** — a triangular passage in the rocks. - **The view of Kudaka Island** from Sangui. - **Prayer sites** under overhanging rocks. - **The stone path** through the sacred forest. - **Ritual vessels** collecting dripping water. - **A viewpoint** over the sea nearby. ## How to get to Sefa-utaki 1. **By car** — about 40 minutes from Naha, 25 km; parking at the Midori no Yakata Sefa centre. 2. **Bus** — route 38 to the Sefa-utaki Iriguchi stop. 3. **From Okinawa World** — about 15 minutes by car. 4. **From the ticket office to the entrance** — about 500 m, 8 minutes on foot. 5. **Tour** — of the south together with Okinawa World. ## Sefa-utaki or Naminoue Shrine | | Sefa-utaki | Naminoue | | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | A sacred grove of the Okinawan faith | A Shinto shrine | | Highlights | Rocks and the Sangui passage | A bluff above a beach | | Entry | ¥300 | Free | | Where | South-east, Nanjo | Central Naha | ## How long do you need? Allow **about an hour**: walk from the ticket office to the entrance, follow the forest path to all the prayer sites and come back. With the drive from Naha, half a day. It pairs easily with **Okinawa World**, 15 minutes away by car. Look at the vessels beneath the rocks: they collect water dripping from the stone, which was considered sacred. And linger at Sangui: the passage is always shady and cool, with the pale outline of Kudaka Island in the sea beyond. Mornings and weekdays are quietest in the grove; at weekends there can be groups. In summer the forest is humid with plenty of mosquitoes — bring repellent. During the ritual closures entry is completely barred. ## Is Sefa-utaki worth visiting? Yes: it's Okinawa's most atmospheric and important sacred site, where you feel the island's ancient faith most strongly. The YesGo take: there are almost no buildings here — just forest, rocks and stones — and without an interest in culture you may leave disappointed. But this is Okinawa's true place of power. Remember to buy your ticket at the centre by the car park, and check the site isn't closed on your dates. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Closure dates — check - [ ] Ticket at the Midori no Yakata Sefa centre - [ ] Non-slip shoes - [ ] Repellent in summer - [ ] Okinawa World on the route ## Okinawa's sacred sites: compare and choose Temples and sacred sites in Okinawa rated by YesGo. - [Naminoue Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/naminoue-shrine) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Sefa-utaki](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/sefa-utaki) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥300 ## Southern Okinawa in a day Gyokusendo cave and the Eisa show at Okinawa World in the morning, the sacred Sefa-utaki grove at midday, and Kokusai-dori in the evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Okinawa World](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/okinawa-world) — YesGo score 22/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,000 2. [Sefa-utaki](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/sefa-utaki) — YesGo score 24/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥300 3. [Kokusai-dori](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kokusai-street) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · free ## Good to know Sefa-utaki is a sacred grove of the Okinawan faith, not a Shinto shrine with torii gates. It's also written Seifa-utaki. ## Tips - Buy your ticket at the centre by the car park. - Check the closure dates. - Speak quietly — it's a sacred site. - Wear non-slip shoes. - Nearby: [Okinawa World](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/okinawa-world). ## Questions ### How much is entry to Sefa-utaki? ¥300 for adults, ¥150 for ages 7–15. ### What are the opening hours? 9:00–17:30 from November to February, 9:00–18:00 from March to October. ### Where do I buy a ticket? At the Midori no Yakata Sefa centre, 500 metres from the entrance. ### When is it closed? Twice a year by the lunar calendar; in 2026, 15–17 June and 9–11 November. ### What is Sangui? A triangular passage between two rocks with a view of Kudaka Island. ### How do I get there? About 40 minutes by car from Naha, or bus 38. ### How long do you need? About an hour. ### What's nearby? Okinawa World, 15 minutes by car. ## How we checked Prices, hours, closure dates and ticket sales are from Nanjo's official site. The site's significance, UNESCO status and Sangui are from Wikipedia. Access is from guides. Some guides give a higher price — worth checking at the ticket office. ## Sources - Official site (okinawa-nanjo.jp/sefa/en) — prices, seasonal hours, 2026 closure dates, ticket sales (via search 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Sefa-utaki — Ryukyu sacred site, UNESCO, Sangui, Kudaka Island - Travel guides — access, bus 38 (unofficial) - Wikidata Q3087076 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.