A mysterious forest where rock formations and trees have been associated with power spots and spirituality since ancient times. This is Sefa Utaki, in the southeastern part of Okinawa. Differently from the rest of Japan, in Okinawa there are not many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Instead, it is common to find spiritual sites, called Utaki, that place emphasis on the worship of nature. Among them, Sefa Utaki, on the Chinen peninsula, is one of the most sacred. There is no artificial structure in Sefa Utaki. The only human-made element is the rock path that will guide visitors inside a dense forest near to the ocean, where caves, promontories and several rock formations are the theater of this legendary sanctuary. In ancient times, Sefa Utaki was considered so sacred that men could not enter and even kings had to dress as women in order to enter. Even if nowadays this rule does not exist anymore, Sefa Utaki is still a powerful spiritual place for Okinawans. There are six worship spots in there, and they are connected to natural spots like huge rocks, ancient trees, and caves. For this reason, visitors are requested to behave in a respectful way and to avoid unnecessary manners. In the past, this is where many rituals were held, together with the prayers for the prosperity of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Every year, many visitors come to Sefa Utaki as an important stop-over of the “Agari Umaai”, a sacred pilgrimage that recalls the original pilgrimage of the Ryukyu kings. Sefa Utaki is considered one of the most important Power Spots in Okinawa. Since 2000, Sefa Utaki is part of UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Admission 300 yen Opening Hours 9:00 - 18:00 (March to October) 9:00 - 17:30 (November to February) TEL 098 - 949 - 1899 Address Sefa Utaki, Kudeken-455 Chinen, Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture 901-1511 Near Sefa Utaki:
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