Uroka: The place for purification upon entering an utaki

In front of Ujoguchi, there’s a path that descends down. If you follow this down it leads to Uroka—a well for purification.

As rain falls upon Sefa-utaki and seeps through the land, the gushing water in this well is said to have flowed down from the holy land and is thus held sacred.

In some religions, such as Shintoism and Islam, one purifies their body before making a pilgrimage to the holy land. In the past, cleaning one’s hands and feet here was the custom at Sefa-utaki as well.

Whereas we tourists may not feel the need to purify ourselves, you should know that this is a custom once held by the Okinawan people.

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