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Zodiac Shrines and Naha Backstreets Cycling Tour

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Naha

Explore Okinawa's hidden Zodiac shrines and backstreets by bike. Discover ancient traditions, sacred sites, and local culture with a knowledgeable guide.

Duration: 3 hours

Cancellation: 1 day learn more

Highlights

3 Chome - Please meet at the store near Makishi Monorail Station. 1 minute walk from Makishi Monorail Station. We will pick up our electric bicycles and give a brief information session so that everyone can enjoy a safe ride. - Shuri Kannondo - You can see Kannon Bodhisattva, the guardian deity of the Ryukyu Kingdom, as well as beautiful carvings and ornaments. You can look over the cityscape of Shuri from the bright vermilion temple. - Ankoku-ji Temple - Pass through the local area of Naha where several traditional houses remain. When you arrive at the temple, which has been practicing Okinawan Buddhism for over 500 years, you will be greeted by an ancient gate and a large banyan tree. ◎Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan - Shuri Castle - This is the special ceremonial gate that symbolizes Okinawa. You can take a photo with your bicycle in front of the gate, which has an eye-catching vermilion color and well-balanced design. - Sairaiin (Daruma Temple) - This temple is visited by many devotees who make pilgrimages to pray for good health and pregnancy while giving thanks for their current life. It’s a must-see temple given the bright red daruma dolls and captivating beauty of the torii gates. ◎Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan - Seikoji - Cross the main street and pass through the monorail that runs above you in mid-air, and you will suddenly arrive at a temple with a sacred atmosphere. Next to the new temple, rebuilt after the war, an ancient Japanese Jizo statue stands warmly greeting visitors. - Tamanaha Miso Shoyu - As you wander down nostalgic roads that can only be accessed by bicycle, the aroma of rice malt wafts through the air. Surrounded by stone walls that remained intact during the war, the traditional, tiled factory will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time. - Shuritobarucho - This is a miraculous spring where water was discovered deep in the forest after an Okinawan princess noticed waterfowl were nearby. You can feel a historical connection that exists to this day in the water that continues to flow. ◎Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan - Omoromachi - Back in WWII, this small unassuming hill was the site of a fierce battle. In the past, atop this hill, you could see all the way to the Kerama Islands, but now it is surrounded by modern buildings and condominiums. This place feels like a fusion of the present and the past where the history of war is passed down quietly. ◎Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan - Sogenji-dori - Enjoy a thrilling downhill ride to the sacred place where successive kings of the Ryukyu Kingdom were entombed. Although it is now a park in the city with refreshing, clean air, the stone gate and banyan tree that stretches straight out towards the sky convey the feeling of a place lost in time to the Ryukyu Kingdom. - 3 Chome - The tour ends at our shop where you will return your bicycle. Afterwards, please enjoy the city of Naha on your own.

What's Included

Use of bicycle
Snacks
Pilgrim’s book ‘Goshuin-cho’
Incom installed cycling helmet

What's Not Included

Bottled water
Camera mounts
Mobile phone holder

Additional Information

The tour is designed to allow you to experience a little-seen part of Okinawan culture. Cycling around the back alleys of the city with your local guide, you will embark on a pilgrimage to the various Zodiac shrines of Naha and Shuri. You will have the chance to witness modern-day Okinawans observe worship traditions dating all the way back to the Ryukyu Kingdom era. This is your opportunity to experience for yourself shrines, temples, sacred springs, royal mausoleums, and more in the unique Ryukyuan style.

If we’re lucky, the kami (gods), bodhisattvas, ancestors, etc. may look favorably upon you and your kin!

※If the precipitation probability exceeds 70% or in case of severe weather, we may change plans. In this case, we will contact you the day before.