"Utaki" in Okinawa is a sacred place where a priestess prays. "Sefa Utaki" was under the control of the Ryukyu Kingdom and it was the most sacred "Utaki" among all "Utaki"s in Okinawa.

There are six holy precincts in "Sefa Utaki". The three holy precincts, "Ufugui", "Yuinchi" and "San-Gui" have the same name of rooms in Shuri Castle, where was the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It is considered that "Sefa Utaki" had a deep relation with the Ryukyu Kingdom.

"Sefa Utaki" is designated as a World Heritage. The monument is located at the entrance of "Sefa Utaki".

You will walk in a deep forest and will arrive at the stone slope shown in the below picture.

The first holy precinct, "Urocar", is located to the right. The road to "Urocar" is closed, due to land sliding. In the past, people performed ablutions at "Urocar", before going to "Sefa Utaki".

If you go up the stone stairs, you will see the Pacific Ocean. The subtropical view of blue sky and blue sea is very impressive.

If you further walk to "Sefa Utaki", you will see "Ujyo-Guchi", the entrance of Sefa Utaki. As "Sefa Utaki" is the most sacred "Utaki", only the loyal family of the Ryukyu Kingdom were allowed to go to "Sefa Utaki" beyond the entrance.

If you further walk in the deep forest, you will see another holy precinct, "Ufuguui". The second floor of Shuri Castle Main Hall was also named "Ufguui". Deifying rituals were performed ar "Ufuguui" in Shuri Castle.

At "Ufuguui" in "Sefa-Utaki", priestesses held an inauguration of "Kikoe Ohkimi" or "Chifi Jin", the highest ranking priestess, and prayed for the prosperity of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

You will further walk in the forest and take a right to "San-Gui" at the T-junction shown in the below picture.

On this side of "San-Gui", you will see the area called "Kifujinsama Oyasumidokoro", shown in the below left picture, and two stalactites shown in the below right picture. Water from these stalactites is considered very holly and drops into two pots placed under the stalactites.

To the left of "Kifujinsama Oyasumidokoro", you will see the triangle-shaped opening of big stones. In front of the opening, "San-Gui" altar is located and "Chonohana" altar is located to the right. The atmosphere of the triangle-shaped opening is very solemn and impressive.

On the left, you will see the worship place of Kudaka Island.

As it is considered that the creator deity of Ryukyu descended on Kudaka Island, Kudaka Island is very holly island, especially for the people in the middle age. You will see the spectacular view of Kudaka Island and the Pacific Ocean.

From "San-Gui", you will go to "Yuinchi" through the T-Junction shown in the above picture. On the way, you will see a small pond.

This pond was created by bombing at the Okinawa War in 1945. At the Okinawa War, 20,000 of United Nations' solders died and more than 170,000 Japanese died. Among 170,000 deaths of Japanese, 94,000 were civilians of Okinawa.

If you walk further in the forest, you will go through the narrow passage between big rocks.

Behind the ricks on the left, "Yuinchi" is located. "Yuinchi" is the same name as the kitchen in Shuri Castle. Here at "Sefa-Utaki", seafood and other food material were brought to "Yuinch" from all over Japan and also from abroad.

"Sefa Utaki" used to be the holiest place in the Ryukyu Kingdom and has very solemn and holy atmosphere. As there are many alters in "Sefa Utaki", many people still worship "Sefa Utaki" in recent years.

How to get there
Take a Yui Monorail from Naha Airport to Asahibashi. The Naha Bus terminal is located to the east of Asahibashi Station. Take a bus from the Naha Bus Terminal to Sefa-Utaki-Iriguchi Bus Stop on the Toyo Bus route #38. Or take a Okinawa Bus on route #39 to Baten Bus stop and change to a N-bus from Baten Bus Stop to Sefa-Utaki Iriguchi, It takes approximately one hour.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Shuri Castle
Ruins of Nakagusuku Castle
Ruins of Chinen Castle
Okinawa World
Memorial Site of "Himeyuri" Corps