Okinawa - Shikinaen Royal Garden
Walking distance (for me) from Shuri Castle is the 18th century secondary residence of Ryukyu royalty. (There is also a local bus that serves this area and a parking lot for those who drive). In addition to being a home, it was also used to entertain guests and host foreign dignitaries. The 42,000 square meter property contains a large pond with islands, stone bridges, a wooden palace, an observatory, a guard house, a banana plantation, a fresh water spring, and many types of flowers and trees.
Shikinaen was destroyed in 1945 during the Battle of Okinawa. In 1975 and extensive twenty year restoration began. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in December 2000.
The Udun Palace is a 15 room wooden house used for entertaining foreign guests of the Ryukyu King. The Okinawan red tiled roof was a design feature used by only the most affluent.
After taking off shoes, visitors are able to go inside the house.
This is a beautiful place to visit and imagine the past.
5 comments:
Such a beautiful place.
It looks like it would be an interesting place to visit in different seasons, to appreciate different aspects of the gardens. Great view across the town.
Many of the buildings and the gardens with ponds and bridges make me think of English blue and white china. I have some soup plates with such patterns. It's really nice to see that landscape in real life. Thanks for sharing!
Japanese gardens are so beautiful and so peaceful. This looks like a lovely park and garden.
What a beautiful place. Must have been fun to take a boat ride on that pond.
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