Kanagusuku Ufu Hija used to be used as a muraga (communal well) before households started having running water. Water for daily life was carried by water barrels from here to a water jar at home.

Basic information

Address

903-0815 2-8 Kinjo-cho Shuri Naha Okinawa

TEL

098-917-3501　(English is not supported） Municipal cultural property division of Naha city

Business hours

Nothing in particular

Close day

Nothing in particular

Charge

Free

Parking

None

Access information

A 2-minute walk from the Ishidatami Iriguchi bus stop.

Additional Information

Academic information

Designated Date: April 8, 1977
Hija is a water system where water flows out of shoots by fluming from the source afar, while "ka" is a spring where the bottom of a vertically-dug hole have springs bubbling up from the surroundings.
Kanagusuku Ufu Hija used to be used as a muraga (communal well) before households started having running water. Water for daily life was carried by water barrels from here to a water jar at home. The surrounding stonewall is built in Aikatazumi (a method of piles of stones cut into polygon shapes prior to fitting). The stone-flagged surface of kanuna (open space before the well) was worn down and has round corners. This is the result of gradually wearing down by hija users stepping on it.
According to a history book, “Ryukyukoku Yuraiki”(1713), paper making started here in 1686 after the return of Kanuji Omitake Chikudun, Pechin Hyoubu mastering making Sugihara paper and Hyakuta paper in Sasshu (Kagoshima). Also in Yamagawa Hija and Takaraguchi Hija people seemed to have made paper. Near Kanagusuku Ufu Hija remains a stone-paved street stretching from the Shuri Royal Government to Shimajiri as a shukumichi (main road).
Kanagusuku Ufu Hija is an important historic site to know about the connection of local residents with water.

Quote

Naha Board of Education Cultural Heritage Division (2007) "Naha Cultural Property" Naha Board of Education