It's hard to believe the beautiful Shikina-en is a modern-day construction: the original 1799 gardens and villa, built as a second residence for the Ryūkyū royal family, were destroyed in WWII. Standing by a large pond encircled by a 300m walking path replete with stone bridges, the reconstructed villa is of Japanese design, but the gardens themselves are influenced by Chinese gardens of the period and feature endemic flora, giving the overall complex a uniquely Okinawan feel. You can easily while away a few hours here in the foothills above Naha, and escape the city humidity as you wander the grounds and wonder what stories these stone walls could tell.
The site is a 10-minute drive from downtown Naha, but is one of the city's few attractions not near a Yui-Rail station. Without your own wheels, you'll need to catch bus 2, 4, 5 or 14 to the Shikinaen-mae stop (¥260, 20 minutes).
