This park was established during the reign of King Sho Hashi (1422 to 1439) in early 15C. The dragonhead-shaped huge pond is about 416m around and 8,400sq m. To the east of the pond was Matsuzaki Baba (horse-racing area), which faced Kokugaku (National Academy of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Shuri Castle) and Koshi-byo (Confucius Shrine). On the opposite side of Ryutan-kyo Bridge at the southeast end of the pond, Enkan-chi Pond, Hantan-zan Mound, and Shuri Castle stand. At the top of the mound at the south end of the pond is Sonohyan-utaki (place of worship).

Basic information

Address

903-0816 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4 Mawashi 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

About a 10-minute walk from Yui Rail Shuri station.

Additional Information

Academic information

Cultural property(Prefectural designated historical site)
Designated Date: November 29, 1955
This park was established during the reign of King Sho Hashi (1422 to 1439) in early 15C. The dragonhead-shaped huge pond is about 416m around and 8,400m2. To the east of the pond was Matsuzaki Baba (horse-racing area), which faced Kokugaku (National Academy of the Ryukyu Kingdom in Shuri Castle) and Koshi-byo (Confucius Shrine). On the opposite side of Ryutan-kyo Bridge at the southeast end of the pond, Enkan-chi Pond, Hantan-zan Mound, and Shuri Castle stand. At the top of the mound at the south end of the pond is Sonohyan-utaki (place of worship).
In the mound, Ankokuzan Jukaboku-no-Hi monument, which told where Ryutan Pond came from, was built in (1427). To the north side of the pond, there is Nakagusuku-udun, (residence for princes), which is located at the former prefectural museum. Yomochi-bashi Bridge crossing the drainage at the north end of the pond was built with elaborately-carved stone parapets. Water flowing from Ryuhi, the dragonhead-shaped water conduit, at Shuri Castle, ran down through Hantan Mound, filled Enkan-chi Pond, and flew into Ryutan Pond. As there were so many fish in the pond, Ryutan was also called “Iyu Gumui (Fish Moat).”
In the past, the Ryukyu Dynasty style Ryushu (dragon boat race) banquets were held on Ryutan Pond on the lunar calendar of September 9th to welcome Chinese investiture envoys. During the Battle of Okinawa, in 1945, the surrounding of the pond changed the shape. The second renovation work in (1992) after the battle made the Ryutan Pond area look the way it does now.

Quote

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