Shikina-en, Royal garden in Naha, Japan
Shikina-en is a royal garden in Naha featuring a large wooded landscape with a central pond, stone bridges, and palace buildings topped with red tile roofs. The grounds include multiple sections and structures arranged for visitors to walk through and explore.
The garden was built in 1799 as a secondary residence for Ryukyu kings and a venue to receive Chinese envoys. After being destroyed in 1945, it was reconstructed and reopened to visitors.
The garden blends Japanese landscaping with Okinawan architectural features visible in traditional tatami rooms and Chinese-influenced hexagonal pavilions. Walking through different sections, visitors see how these design traditions work together in a single space.
The garden is open daily except Wednesdays and features walkable paths that are comfortable to navigate, especially with sun protection on warm days. Plan to wear comfortable shoes since the grounds are larger than they first appear.
The garden features two distinct stone bridges crossing the central pond and connecting to small islands, one built from unshaped limestone boulders and another carved from a single large rock. These bridges show contrasting approaches to bridge design within the same space.
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