Sonohyan-utaki

Sonohyan-utaki (園比屋武御嶽, Okinawan: スヌファンウタキ Sunufan-utaki[1]) is a sacred grove of trees and plants (utaki) of the traditional indigenous Ryukyuan religion.

[2] The stone gate was first built in 1519, during the reign of Ryukyuan king Shō Shin, though the space had been recognized as a sacred utaki prior to that.

[2] The site also played an important role in the initiation of the High Priestess (聞得大君, kikoe-ōgimi) of the native religion.

The gate is said to be a prime example of traditional Okinawan architecture, and shows many signs of Chinese influence, along with a Japanese-influenced gable in the karahafu style.

The utaki, i.e. the sacred grove itself, was once much larger than it is today, an elementary school and other buildings having encroached upon the space.