tourism 2023.12.03

Kudaka Island, the “Island of the Gods”

#Southern area#history#sacred-place#partner#family#sea

Writer

Nacky247

Born in Okinawa, Japan, she has worked as a local newspaper correspondent and freelance writer. Currently living in the Philippines from 2022, accompanying her husband on his work assignment. Although she is fluent in nothing but Japanese, she is a traveler who goes abroad once every two months. She has a skill to overcome language barriers by using body language. On her personal blog, she writes about the happenings of her travels and her daily life overseas, where she is repeatedly embarrassed.
https://nacky247.com

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The island where Amamikiyo descended

Kudaka Island is a remote island located in the southern part of the main island of Okinawa, approximately 30 minutes by ferry from Azama Port in Nanjo City, and 5.3 km from the main island of Okinawa.

It is a small, flat island with a circumference of approximately 8 km.

Kudaka Island is said to be the island where Amamikiyo, the god of creation of the Ryukyus, descended from the sky, and Ryukyuan rituals are still held there today. It is a sacred place that has existed since the Ryukyu Dynasty to the present day.

There are various theories about Amamikiyo in the Ryukyu founding myth, but the most famous legend is that a god named Amamikiyo descended from Niraikanai (the world of the gods) and began building the country.

It is known as the Island of the Gods because successive kings have crossed over there to worship with Noro, the highest goddess of the royal family.

Kudaka Island visible from the main island of Okinawa. You can see that it is a flat island.

To get to Kudaka Island, take a ferry from Azama Port.

Be sure to follow good manners when entering the sacred island.

The island is dotted with sacred places such as utaki, places of worship, shrines, and wells.

Among them, Kubo Utaki, which is considered the most sacred place, is prohibited to enter throughout the year. You can only go to the entrance. Even in places where there are no trespassing signs, don’t force your way into narrow streets where you can’t see where they lead.

When you arrive at the island’s port, you’ll find many bicycle and scooter rental shops. The main means of transportation seem to be bicycle rentals and kickboards, but recently they have started renting tuk-tuks with Nanjo City’s character Nanjii on them.

The island’s cats will welcome you.

Habyan (Cape Kaberu) where Amamikiyo descended

This cape is said to be a sacred place where Amamikiyo, the founder of Ryukyu, descended. The plants that root in that area is a nationally designated natural monument.

The straight road that runs through the center of the island is surrounded by lush vegetation on both sides.

Fubo Gogoku is the most sacred place. Currently off-limits

It is one of Okinawa’s Seven Utakis, and is said to be one of the most sacred places in Okinawa. It is also part of the Higashi-mimawari event, which goes around the sacred place where Amamikiyo lived.

This is a sacred place where men are not allowed, and many rituals are still performed here, such as Yokabi (exorcism), Piemati (enshrinement of the god of fire), and Hamasig (exorcism of pests).

Unfortunately, for several years now, Fubo Utaki has been completely off-limits to both men and women.
Currently, only the entrance can be seen.

As you walk through the central road of the island, you will see a signboard.

Currently, entry and exit is prohibited, and you can only see this part of the entrance.

The inside creates a unique atmosphere that is both eerie and mysterious.

Spectacular view of Uchipala

It is located on the west side beyond Kubo Utaki in the center of the island.

The entrance is located on the paved Romance Road on the west side of Kudaka Island.As you enter through the overgrown entrance, you will be greeted by a spectacular view of the ocean that overlooks the main island of Okinawa.

There was a cat again guarding the entrance.

If you go straight towards the sea from here, you can see a panoramic view of the main island of Okinawa.

Osato family House

It remains the oldest house on Kudaka Island.
Akatsumi and Shimariba, the ancient gods of grain, are enshrined here.

There is also a sea snake smokehouse near the Izaiho festival garden

The palace garden is the site of Izaiho, which is held every 12 years in the Year of the Horse, as well as the village’s main annual rituals.
The building facing the plaza includes a drying shop where sea snakes are smoked, and is still in use today.

The guide specially showed us the sea snake that was going to be smoked.
Honestly, I felt so bad that I ran away.

Island residents live on Kudaka Island, so please be respectful and stay humble when sightseeing.

Kudaka Island is flat, and many tourists rent bicycles, but there are also tours that will guide you around the island. This plan is recommended for first-time visitors, as they will guide you through the history and myths of places of worship and important places.