Hamahiga Island

Little knownBarely documented in English. This is the kind of place the site exists for.

Researched and written by Hinato

HamahigaAmamichuShirumichusacred islandUruma

Photo: Kugel~commonswiki / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · original

Before Hamahiga Island became a stop on any list, it was — and still is — a working place of worship in Okinawa.

Hamahiga is a small island off the Katsuren peninsula, reachable by road over the Kaichu Doro causeway, and it holds two of the most significant sites in Ryukyuan creation belief. Amamichu and Shirumichu, the ancestral pair from whom Okinawans are said to descend, are held to have lived here.

The tomb of Amamichu is on a rock islet off the eastern shore of Higa village, walled and reached at low water. Shirumichu is a limestone cave in the forest at the southern end of the village, up 108 stone steps, where the pair are said to have raised their children; it is prayed at for fertility and is one of the most-visited sacred sites on the island chain. The village itself has narrow lanes, coral walls and red tiles, and drivers are asked to crawl through it.

Visiting essentials

Best time to visit

Year-round

Hours

Open access during daylight hours | Amamichu tomb access depends on the tide

Closed: Open year-round

Admission

Free

Time to allow

60–90 minutes

Finding your way there

Access notes

Hamahiga, Katsuren, Uruma, reached by road over the Kaichu Doro causeway and the Hamahiga bridge. Car recommended. Free to visit. Shirumichu is reached by 108 stone steps up from the village at the southern end; the Amamichu tomb is on a rock islet off the eastern shore. The village lanes are very narrow — drive slowly.

Visiting etiquette & tips

**A hundred and eight steps to Shirumichu.** Steep and in forest. The cave at the top is an active prayer site, particularly for people hoping for children. **Amamichu is tidal.** The tomb sits on a rock islet off the shore and the approach depends on the water. Check before walking out. **Drive at a crawl through the village.** The lanes are single-width between coral walls and people live along them. This is the specific request made of visitors here. **These are graves and prayer sites.** Not viewpoints. Photograph carefully and do not enter the enclosures. **Combine with Kafu Banta.** The salt factory viewpoint on Miyagi island is a few minutes further along the causeway chain.

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