Naminoue Shrine, wishing for safe driving and water play.

👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
It’s almost summer vacation season, and since the rainy season in Okinawa has ended, it’s time to travel, isn’t it? If you’re reading this, I assume you’re planning a trip to Okinawa.
Okinawa is an island with numerous beaches and is perfect for a drive along the beautiful Route 58. There is a shrine that wishes for safe swimming and driving. It’s called Naminoue Shrine.

📌 Location and Opening Hours of Naminoue Shrine

⛩️ Naminoue Shrine is located in Naha city, and if your accommodation is on Kokusai Street, it’s easy to visit. It’s about a 20-minute walk, so renting and wearing something like an Okinawan kimono could be a nice way to set the mood. If you find it a bit difficult to locate on Google Maps, you can click here to save it.
It is open year-round, even on New Year’s Day, and ⏰ the operating hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM daily.

There is a way to come from Naminoue Beach, but today, let’s take the traditional route and walk through the main entrance. There are paid coin parking lots nearby, but the prices are a bit high. However, since people usually come for a short visit, it’s not too burdensome. It costs about 400 yen per hour.
After exploring here, I recommend visiting Fukushu-en as well.

The website is not well-maintained, but they occasionally hold night events. During those times, the lanterns here are lit up. I haven’t seen it myself, but I imagine it would be beautiful. I’m not sure why Japan loves illuminations so much.

After passing the first torii, you’ll find a second large torii. You can bow to the deity under the white torii and pass through. I’m not sure if this is correct. The guide on the right says so, but since people just bow and pass, I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do.

⛩️ Naminoue Shrine

This is a place with water called ‘Tetsumiya’. I’ve seen this a lot in Japanese animations, but seeing it in real life for the first time at Naminoue Shrine in Okinawa. It is said to wash your hands and mouth before meeting the deity and entering the shrine.
I think experiencing this is a cultural experience.

At the management office, various amulets are available for purchase.
Traffic safety amulet (交通安全守) 1,500 yen / Health prayer amulet (健康守) 800 yen / Academic success amulet (学業合格守) 800 yen / Safe childbirth amulet (安産守) 800 yen / Pregnancy prayer amulet (子授け守) 1,500 yen. These are roughly displayed. There are more, but I mentioned the ones you might practically consider buying. Taking one as a souvenir isn’t a bad idea if needed.

They also perform ceremonial events… People in traditional attire at the shrine offer prayers. It’s a scene often seen in Japanese animations, and you can experience it yourself. Of course, you have to pay. The price ranges from about 5,000 yen to 10,000 yen.
Prayer ceremony (祈願祭) for health, traffic safety, business, exam success, etc.
Purification ceremony (お祓い) to cleanse negative energy
Exorcism (厄除け) to ward off bad luck
Child conception prayer (子授け) for couples wishing to have children
Newborn blessing (初宮詣) for the health and happiness of a newborn
Wedding (神前結婚式) traditional Japanese wedding, over 100,000 yen

This is an amulet for business prosperity. I received it as a gift.
I was told to place it at the highest point in the house, so I attached it to the highest point inside the bedroom. After a year, it should be returned to Naminoue Shrine. I think I might be able to visit again in a year.

This is the most important part of Naminoue Shrine today.
Throw a coin there, clasp your hands, and make a wish. My wish is for the Cultravel blog to become famous quickly. Since you’re reading this, it might happen soon. Let’s stay motivated!

In fact, I often do Okinawa snap photography here. Usually, we shoot wearing yukata or Okinawan kimono. I’ll organize those photos and show them to you later.

This is an event held at the shrine.
If you pay the amount for your concerns at the office mentioned earlier, they will hold a prayer ceremony like this. From my experience, the deities at Japanese shrines seem to grant wishes quite well.
Both Naminoue Shrine and Okino Shrine are related to financial luck, so they seem prosperous. Okinawa has eight shrines known as Ryukyu Hachisha, and other places feel a bit less affluent.
After all, having a lot of money is the best wish, isn’t it?

You can also write your wish on a wooden plaque called Ema and hang it. I’ve never hung an Ema at a shrine. I often see Ema hanging inside izakayas when I go for a drink. Of course, Ema can be purchased at the office mentioned earlier. The price is 500 yen.

This is something called Ukishima Shrine (浮島神社). In the old Ryukyu Kingdom era, the area was known as ‘Ukishima’ rather than ‘Naha’. It means it’s an ancient shrine. A deity that protects Naha, Ukishima.
Of course, you can throw a coin here and make a wish.

Shrine on the Waves

Naminoue Shrine, if translated literally, means Shrine on the Waves. This photo illustrates it well. Although there are many breakwaters in the sea in front of Naha, preventing large waves, in the past, this place, Naminoue Shrine, was where prayer ceremonies were held facing the big waves. You can see this view if you go to the opposite side. Right next to it is Naminoue Beach.
While the north of Okinawa is beautiful, there are several places in Naha worth a short visit. I’ll introduce them to you one by one. I’ll wrap it up here and see you again with more Okinawa travel information. Matayasai 👋