[2025 Naha Attraction] Travel Guide for Sairaiin (Daruma Temple) (Updated Jun)

The torii gate in the temple is so cute, and the Daruma amulets are a must-buy. There's also a stone lifting wish-making activity, you'll really need a strong person to help with that. - This place brings peace to the mind and body, with a feeling of both cuteness and sacredness. I came here to pray and received a lot of luck and happiness. I prayed for an amulet, and I'm very grateful to Seirai Temple. I really like Daruma, and I saw so many this time!!

Quietly located behind Shuri Castle in Naha City [Sairain Daruma Temple] This is a famous temple in Okinawa Prefecture that brings good fortune in money. Even when I visited during the day on a weekday, there were a few people visiting the temple. As it is called "Daruma Temple," there were countless daruma dolls everywhere. The benefits of these dolls seem to be varied. And on the mezzanine floor of the main hall, there are bright red Senbon Torii gates, which are a popular spot for taking photos. Temples are sacred places, and even though they are in Okinawa, the atmosphere felt different from usual. The standard spots are good, but I would like to recommend this place as a place to enjoy Okinawa from a different perspective. [Sairain Daruma Temple] Address: 1-5-1 Akada-cho, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture Parking: Available #Okinawa #OkinawaTrip #OkinawaTourism #OkinawaPowerSpot #Temples &Shrines #Shuri #DarumaTemple #PowerSpot #Sakura2024

After visiting Okinawa, I’ve been frequently asked by friends about the best places to eat and explore. For first-time visitors, this itinerary might be helpful. If you’re planning a three-day, two-night trip, you can skip areas you’re less interested in. For longer trips, I recommend heading north to Nago and Nakijin. First, I highly recommend the Senaga Island Umikaze Terrace. If you have half a day, you can enjoy coffee, dine, or simply relax outdoors while watching planes take off and land. It’s also a great spot for photography. The famous Happy Pancakes often have long queues, so I suggest getting a number first and then exploring the surroundings while waiting. Day 1: Flights from Taiwan to Naha, operated by China Airlines, EVA Air, Tigerair, Peach Aviation, and VietJet, mostly depart and return late. Upon arrival, take the monorail to check into a hotel in Naha City. Recommended areas to stay include Kencho-mae, Miebashi, or Makishi Station. After checking in, you can visit Kokusai Street for dinner or a late-night snack. Most shops are open until 10 PM, while Yatai Village stays open until midnight. Kokusai Street spans several stations, from Kencho-mae to Makishi. 📍Yatai Village Address: 3 Chome-11-17 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0013, Japan Day 2: Take the monorail to Shuri Station and walk to Shuri Castle. I recommend visiting Shuri Castle, Tamaudun Mausoleum, Benzaiten Shrine, and Enkakuji Temple Ruins together. There are many restaurants and cafes near Shuri Station. After lunch, you can visit Sairai-in Daruma Temple and then stroll to Zuisen Distillery to learn about Awamori history. If interested, you can also sample the liquor. Around 3-4 PM, take the monorail to the airport and transfer to the TK02 bus to reach Senaga Island Umikaze Terrace. Return to Kencho-mae for dinner and shopping at RyoBo Department Store, which closes at 8:30 PM (MUJI closes at 8 PM). 📍Shuri Castle Address: 1-2 Shurikinjocho, Naha, Okinawa 903-0815, Japan 📍Tamaudun Mausoleum Address: 1 Chome-3 Shurikinjocho, Naha, Okinawa 903-0815, Japan 📍Benzaiten Shrine Address: 1 Chome Shuritonokuracho, Naha, Okinawa 903-0812, Japan 📍Sairai-in Address: 1 Chome-5-1 Shuriakatacho, Naha, Okinawa 903-0813, Japan 📍Zuisen Distillery Address: 1 Chome-35 Shurisakiyamacho, Naha, Okinawa 903-0814, Japan 📍Umikaze Terrace Address: 174-6 Senaga, Tomigusuku, Okinawa 901-0233, Japan 📍RyoBo Department Store Address: 1 Chome-1-1 Kumoji, Naha, Okinawa 900-8503, Japan Day 3: Take the monorail to Asahibashi Station and walk to Naminoue Shrine. After visiting, you can relax at Naminoue Beach or walk to the elevated bridge for a different perspective of the shrine. If you’re interested in military or historical sites, you can also visit the Tsushima Maru Memorial Museum. On the way back, stop by Fukushuen Garden to admire the beauty of a Chinese-style garden. For lunch, head to Makishi Market for seafood or Heiwa-dori’s Hanagasa Shokudo for traditional Okinawan stir-fried bitter melon. Afterward, visit Tsuboya Street to see traditional pottery, and don’t miss Calbee+ for freshly fried potato chips. For dinner, try ramen at Nurumoto or Kou-chan, enjoy Blue Seal ice cream, and shop along Kokusai Street. 📍Naminoue Shrine Address: 1 Chome-25-11 Wakasa, Naha, Okinawa 900-0031, Japan 📍Tsushima Maru Memorial Museum Address: 1 Chome-25-37 Wakasa, Naha, Okinawa 901-0031, Japan 📍Fukushuen Garden Address: 2 Chome-29-19 Kume, Naha, Okinawa 900-0033, Japan 📍Heiwa-dori Address: 3 Chome-1-8 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0013, Japan 📍Makishi Market Address: 2 Chome-10-1 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa 900-0014, Japan 📍Tsuboya Street Address: 1 Chome-16 Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa 902-0065, Japan 📍Calbee+ Address: 3 Chome-2-2 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0013, Japan 📍Blue Seal Address: 1 Chome-2-32 Makishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0013, Japan Day 4: Take the monorail to Onoyama Park Station to visit Okinogu Shrine and Gokoku Shrine, two of the Ryukyu Eight Shrines. If you’re interested in military or historical sites, you can also visit the Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters. Then, take the monorail to Omoromachi Station for shopping and dining at DFS Duty-Free and Main Place Shopping Center. These locations are ideal for last-minute shopping. The shopping center includes EDON Electronics and SAN-A Supermarket for convenience. If you have extra time, visit the nearby Okinawa Museum and Art Museum. Finally, pack your luggage and head to the airport. 📍Okinogu Shrine & Gokoku Shrine Address: 44 Onoyamacho, Naha, Okinawa 900-0026, Japan 📍Former Japanese Navy Underground Headquarters Address: 236 Tomigusuku, Okinawa 901-0241, Japan 📍DFS Duty-Free Address: 4 Chome-1 Omoromachi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0006, Japan 📍Main Place Address: 4 Chome-4-9 Omoromachi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0006, Japan 📍Okinawa Museum & Art Museum Address: 3 Chome-1-1 Omoromachi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0006, Japan

If you visit Shuri Castle, you can also stop by Seirai-in Temple for a visit. This urbanized temple is not very large and is vertically structured, yet it has everything you might expect. It serves as a spiritual haven for locals and is also a favorite among foreign tourists. The full name of the temple is Daruma Peak Seirai-in, also known as Daruma Temple. It belongs to the Myoshinji sect of the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and is said to have been established over 1,600 years ago. The temple enshrines the Bodhisattva Kannon and was originally located in Ibomachi before being relocated to its current site during the Meiji era. Nestled in a narrow alley, you’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see the Nio Gate. On the first floor, there is a venue for rituals and events. As you ascend to the second floor, you’ll find a miniature version of the Thousand Torii Gates built on the balcony. Interspersed among them are the Daruma Hall dedicated to Daruma Daishi, the Two Deities Hall dedicated to Benzaiten, a miniature shrine for wealth, and an Inari Shrine. The colorful Daruma dolls for making wishes are located next to the Daruma Hall. Inside, you’ll find three stone Daruma figures in small, medium, and large sizes. Legend has it that if you can lift them, your wish will come true. On the third floor, in front of the main hall, there is a statue of Daruma Daishi. The temple staff say that touching the statue can bring blessings for exam success or good health. The solemn main hall enshrines the Bodhisattva Kannon and displays various amulets and ema (wooden prayer plaques). The ceiling features a vivid painting of a dragon, showcasing the centuries-old fusion of Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan. As a side note, during the Ryukyu Kingdom era, the Shuri Twelve Zodiac Pilgrimage was popular. Temples like Jigen-in, Ankoku-ji, Seiko-ji, and Seirai-in each represent guardians for different zodiac signs. If you visit Okinawa, you might want to find your guardian temple. 📍Address: 〒903-0813 Okinawa Prefecture, Naha City, Shuri Akata Town 1-5-1 🚗 Accessible by monorail: A six-minute walk from Shuri Station.

📍Address: 1-chome, Akada-cho, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture, 903-0813 Next to Shuri Castle 💰Price per person: Free admission A magnificent view of the standing torii gates and blue skies!