By Keith Graff

Travel Dec. 11, 2009 - 04:27AM JST ( 2 )

Okinawa is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage sites. They include the castle at Shuri where the government and royal family of the Ryukyu Kingdom held court, the Sonohyan Utaki where they prayed for safe passage during journeys, the royal tombs at Tamaudun, the castles at Zakimi, Nakijin, Katsuren and Nakagusuku as well as the holy of holies in the Okinawan religion at Sefa Utaki.

The ninth UNESCO World Heritage site on Okinawa are the Royal Gardens at Shikinaen. Just like the emperor of Japan has his beachside retreat in Hayama, Queen Elizabeth has her vast countryside estate at Balmoral, Scotland and even the president of the United States has a retreat at Camp David, so too, the king of the Ryukyus had his little getaway at Shikinaen.

Now one must remember that Ryukyu was a tiny kingdom and as such, Shikinaen doesn’t quite compare with the splendor of some of the digs enjoyed by other royals around the world but for this small kingdom, this was pretty special. The whole place was built to the principles of Feng Shui. The rocks and gardens about the compound are specially arranged in accordance with the philosophy to promote peace and harmony. It was the royal retreat and the King’s special place to get away from it all and relax.

Located high on a ridge high above the city, it enjoys perpetual breezes which, if you’ve ever been to Okinawa, you know that this is pretty important during the sweltering months of the Okinawan summer. It has a southern exposure overlooking a small man-made lake. Two stone arch bridges cross it and a Chinese-style hexagon house, accessible by a walking bridge situated a the tiny islet.

The arched bridges are just high enough for a small boat to pass underneath. The two stone arch bridges are built in the Chinese style and a causeway that bisects the small spring fed lake in half. The bridge closest to the residence uses rough stones in the construction and the other is built with mason cut stones that are fit together with great precision.

Shikinaen was built in the 17th century. It’s important to note that the Ryukyu Kingdom was subjugated by the Satsuma Clan of present day Kagoshima Prefecture in 1609 but it was from here at Shikinaen, as well as the castle at Shuri, where Ryukyu did their best to entertain Chinese diplomats and maintain the facade of an independent kingdom.

Okinawa was formally annexed into Japan during the Meiji Restoration. In 1941, Emperor Showa, Hirohito as he is known to Westerners, designated this site as a national place of scenic beauty. The site was destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Restoration began in 1975 shortly after Okinawa reverted to Japan. In 2000, it—along with all of the other sites mentioned—was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Today Shikinaen is a park for everyone to enjoy. The park is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission for adults is 300 yen. Brochures in English, Korean, Chinese and, of course, Japanese are available. No smoking, food or beverages are allowed in the park and there are no places within the park to purchase drinks or snacks. There is a covered area just outside the gate and a small snack stand here as well as a smoking area.