Why this ride
A 102 km round trip from Nanjō - roughly 2 h 30 in the saddle. The stops in between: Tamaudun, Katsuren-jô site and back through Tamaudun. It was put together for the scenery rather than the shortest line.
CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE
Sêfa-utaki and Katsuren-jô site
Plan this ride
- Recorded distance
- 102 km
- Riding-time estimate
- 2 h 30
- Journey
- Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis
Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.
Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.
Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.
Waypoint introductions and full write-ups
1. Sêfa-utaki
For the people of the old Ryukyu Kingdom, there was no holier place than Sēfa-utaki, a grove of forest and rock on the southeastern tip of Okinawa island. An utaki is a sacred site in the Ryukyuan religion, often a grove, a rock or a spring, where gods are believed to descend, and this one was the most important of all. The kingdom's highest priestess, the Kikoe-ōkimi, usually a woman of the royal family, was inaugurated here, and for centuries men were not allowed to enter.
Read the complete Sêfa-utaki write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Sêfa-utaki is where the day begins. Next is Tamaudun.
2. Tamaudun
Tamaudun is the royal mausoleum of the Ryukyu kings, a walled complex of grey coral limestone at the foot of Shuri hill, and it feels a little like a stone ship, heavy, low and enclosed. King Sho Shin had it built in 1501 to house the remains of his father and later the kings of the Second Sho dynasty. The Ryukyu kingdom was an independent maritime state with ties to China, Japan and Southeast Asia, and its rulers were buried in a tradition that blended Chinese and Okinawan styles. The tombs have three chambers: one where the bones were laid, one where they were washed, and one for the remains of lesser royalty.
Read the complete Tamaudun write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Tamaudun comes up about 18 km into the recorded legs. Next is Katsuren-jô site.
3. Katsuren-jô site
Katsuren castle stands on a limestone hill on the east coast of Okinawa, near the base of the Katsuren peninsula, and its curving walls step up the slope in a series of enclosures to a summit with sweeping views across the sea. It is one of the gusuku, the castles of the old Ryukyu kingdom and the warring lords who came before it, and it was inscribed in 2000 together with Nakijin, Zakimi, Nakagusuku, Shuri and several sacred groves.
Read the complete Katsuren-jô site write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
about 51 km into the recorded legs you reach Katsuren-jô site. Next is back through Tamaudun.
4. back through Tamaudun
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Tamaudun write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
back through Tamaudun, late in the day. Next is Sêfa-utaki.
5. Sêfa-utaki
Return visit. Read the place description above.
Read the complete Sêfa-utaki write-up.
Recorded stop-planning note
May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.
Planning note
Back at Sêfa-utaki. That is the ride.
Leg by leg
Sêfa-utaki to Tamaudun
Sêfa-utaki → Tamaudun is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Tamaudun to Katsuren-jô site
Tamaudun → Katsuren-jô site is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
Katsuren-jô site to back through Tamaudun
Katsuren-jô site → back through Tamaudun is 33 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
back through Tamaudun to Sêfa-utaki
back through Tamaudun → Sêfa-utaki is 18 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.
More motorcycle rides nearby
- Sêfa-utaki and Nakagusuku-jô site · 82 km
- Tamaudun and Nakagusuku-jô site · 81 km