"Utaki" is the collective name for the sacred places widely distributed in the Nansei Islands. Sefa-utaki is the most sacred site of Ryukyu Kingdom, and it appears in legends about the beginning of Ryukyu. There are six sanctuaries called "Ibi" within Sefa-utaki. Among them, Ufugui, Yuinchi and Sangui are the same as the the names of the rooms in Shuri castle, which implies the strong relationship between erstwhile Shuri castle and Sefa-utaki.
In the distant Ryukyu Kingdom, sacred white sand was brought specially from Kudaka, "Island of the gods," and was spread all over the ground of Sefa-utaki for national rituals. The most important ritual was "Oaraori," the inauguration ceremony of the Kikoeokimi priestess. Sefa-utaki is now appreciated by many people as a part of "Agariumai" pilgrimage to sacred placed in Ryukyu, where you can see what the pilgrimage by the kings of Ryukyu and Kikoeokimis were like.
| Opening hours: | 【March－October】 【November－February】 |
|---|---|
| Tickets are sold at: | Nanjo City Local Products Center until 5:15 p.m. in March to October until 4:45 p.m. in November to February |
| Admission fee: | Adult (16years old and over) : 300yen Children (From 7 to 15 years old) : 150yen Group (more than 20 people) : 200yen |
| Closed on: | Nov. 1，2024～Nov.3，2024 May27，2025～May29，2025 Nov.20, 2025～Nov.22，2025 Jun.15, 2026～Jun.17, 2026 Nov. 9, 2026～Nov.11, 2026 Note: Twice a year (May 1-3 and October 1-3 in the lunar calendar) in order to secure the silence as a sacred place and to preserve the nature. |
| Parking lot: | Up to 150 cars can park for free of charge. Parking space (approx. 150 cars) is at Ganju station in Nanjo and at Cape Chinen Park. 7-10 min (approx. 400 meters) walk from parking spaces to Sefa-utaki. |
World Cultural Heritage Sefa-utaki
〒 901-1511 Chinen-kudeken, Nanjo City, Okinawa
Ticket office: Nanjo City Local Products Center 539 Chinen-kudeken, Nanjo City, Okinawa
Tel: 098-949-1899
Parking lot: Up to 150 cars can park for free of charge.
Parking space is at Nanjo City Local Products Center and at Cape Chinen Park. 7-10 min walk from parking spaces to Sefa-utaki.