These stone stairs in the sanctuary of Sueyoshi-gu is estimated to have been built around 1456 during the reign of King Sho Taikyu (1445 to 1460), when the main hall was constructed. Sueyoshi-gu consists of a honden (main hall), a haiden (offering hall), and saijo (the site of a religious service). A single arch stone bridge stretches below and between the bedrock where the main hall stands and the lower bedrock on the saijo side. On top of the stone walls, more stones are piled, and the two bedrock slabs are connected. That is where the offering hall used to stand. (The offering hall collapsed and was destroyed at the end of the Meiji period.)

Basic information

Address

903-0801 1 Sueyoshi-cho Shuri Naha Okinawa In Sueyoshi Park

Business hours

Nothing in particular

Close day

Nothing in particular

Charge

Free

Parking

Available

Access information

A 6-minute walk from the monorail Shiritsu Byoin-mae station. A 4-minute walk in the Sueyoshi Park.

Additional Information

Academic information

Date of designation: February 22, 1956
These stone stairs in the sanctuary of Sueyoshi-gu are estimated to have been built around 1456 during the reign of King Sho Taikyu (1445 to 1460), when the main hall was constructed. Sueyoshi-gu consists of a honden (main hall), a haiden (offering hall), and saijo (the site of a religious service). A single arch stone bridge stretches below between the bedrock where the main hall stands and the lower bedrock on the saijo side. On top of the stone walls, more stones are piled, and the two bedrocks are connected. That is where the offering hall used to stand. (The offering hall collapsed and was destroyed at the end of the Meiji period.)
After climbing the approach, you go onto the stone stairs, 8 pitched steps to the saijo, 21 straight stone steps in the reverse direction from saijo to the offering hall, another 7 stone steps from the offering hall takes you to the main hall. From stone stairs at the entrance of the sanctuary all the way along the low stonewall surroundings to saijo, including 21 stone steps, are called the “Sueyoshi-gu Stone Stairs.”
These stone stairs are all built using cut Ryukyu limestone. In 1936, the main hall was designated a national treasure, but was lost in the war, and was restored in 1972. The Toudo stone stairs were also lost in the war, but were repaired in (1971) the year previous to the year the main hall was restored.

Quote

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