The day before our movers came we drove down to Naha to finally visit the Naminoue Shrine. The name means “above the waves” shrine and you can’t really tell why when you first visit the shrine. You have to walk in a circle towards the back of the shrine, up a bridge and you’ll see it at the top of a cliff, accompanied by an amazing view!!
Naminoue is the most important shrine in the Okinawa Prefecture. It was a sacred place of the original religion of the Ryukyu Islands and it was dedicated to the nirai kanai, the source of all life, as well as the sea. In 1890, during the Meiji period, it was incorporated into the Japanese Shinto religion. Most of the buildings are replicas, as much of the island was destroyed during WWII, but the second torii gate at the entrance is original!
^^ Kozakura Monument, remembering thousands that died a year before the war. Zoom in to read sign ^^
^ Okinawa still has working payphones! ^
Afterward, we walked around Naminoue Beach, wished we had brought our swimsuits because the heat was overwhelming. We then walked back towards the bridge to see the amazing view of the back of the shrine. The photos came out a little rough because it was SO bright but I’m so glad we got to see this amazing spot.
Naminoue Shrine
Address: 1 Chome-25-11 Wakasa,
Naha, Okinawa 900-0031, Japan
Hours: 9AM – 5PM Daily