Naminouegu Shrine is a rare kind of shrine, built on top of cliffs lining a beach and looking far out over the ocean. Among the eight shrines in Okinawa Prefecture this is the most prestigious, and it has been important to local people for a long time. Around 300,000 people visit the shrine for worship each year at New Year's. Boat purifications and milestone events such as Shichigosan (an event for children aged 3, 5, and 7) and Omiyamairi (an event to give thanks and celebrate the health of a baby born one month previously) are also held here. It is said that there are a variety of benefits to visiting this shrine as well, such as marriage, easy childbirth, household well-being, and thriving business. Enjoy the beauty of the sea at this mysterious place resting within untouched nature.

Photograph provided by Okinawa Convention＆Visitors Bureau