Sefa-utaki
A sacred grove of rock and forest that for centuries was among the most important places of worship in the native Ryukyuan religion. A triangular passage between two leaning boulders opens onto a view of Kudaka Island across the sea.
- Where
- Nanjo, Okinawa, Japan
- Grade
- UNESCO heritage
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 8 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 26.1733, 127.8267
Get the Sefa-utaki stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Sefa-utaki. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Okinawa volume with your photos and a note.
Near Sefa-utaki
Shuri Castle 12 km
The palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom from 1429 to 1879, on a hill in the old Shuri district of Naha. Its red-lacquered halls blend Chinese and Japanese styles, and the site is part of a World Heritage Site for the gusuku of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
Kokusai Street 15 km
Naha's main street, running for about 1.6 km through the centre of the city past souvenir shops, restaurants and stalls of Okinawan food. Covered arcades lead off it to the Makishi public market.
Cape Manzamo 37 km
A flat-topped coral limestone cliff near Onna on Okinawa's west coast, its tip worn by the sea into the shape of an elephant's trunk. A path along the top looks down into clear water over the reef.
Kerama Islands 48 km
A group of subtropical islands about 32 km southwest of Okinawa Island, ringed by clear water and coral reef. Their beaches and seas form a national park, and humpback whales pass through in winter.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium 58 km
An aquarium inside Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa. Its Kuroshio Sea tank, the largest in the world until 2005, holds whale sharks and manta rays behind a vast acrylic window.
Kabira Bay 417 km
A bay on the north coast of Ishigaki Island known for white sand, turquoise water and small green islets, part of the Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park. Glass-bottomed boats float out over the coral, and black pearls are cultured in its waters.
Taketomi Island 429 km
A small, flat island in the Yaeyama group, a short ferry ride from Ishigaki. Its village keeps red-tiled houses behind coral stone walls along white sand lanes, travelled by water buffalo carts.
Yakushima 535 km
A round, mountainous island south of Kyushu, a World Heritage Site for its ancient cedar forests. Its mossy woods are among the wettest places in Japan, and the oldest cedar, Jomon Sugi, is thought to be thousands of years old.
More UNESCO World Heritage sites in Okinawa
Questions
Where is Sefa-utaki?
Sefa-utaki is in Nanjo, Okinawa, Japan. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Shuri Castle (12 km), Kokusai Street (15 km), Cape Manzamo (37 km).
How do I get the Sefa-utaki stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Sefa-utaki and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Okinawa volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Sefa-utaki before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Okinawa volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 20 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.