Shirumichu
シルミチュー26°19′ N 127°58′ ECaveGood with kids
Shirumichu is the cave on Hamahiga-jima in Uruma where Ryukyuan tradition says the creator deities Amamikyu and Shinerikyu lived and had their children, and it is an active prayer site that visitors may walk up to. A torii marks the start of 108 steps through the woods south of Higa village.
Photo Kugel~commonswiki · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
The story told on Hamahiga has Amamikyu crossing the sea and settling in this cave with Shinerikyu. Uruma lists the site as a city folk cultural property, and people climb here to pray for children. Inside the cave a small tile-roofed shrine from the Taisho era holds two mirrors.
Higa village still keeps the island's rites. On the third day of the third lunar month, women purify themselves in the sea and the village's kaminchu pray for a good harvest. On any day you may find someone at prayer, so go quietly, stay outside the shrine and leave offerings where they are.
Worth knowing
- Treat the cave as a place of worship: stay outside the shrine and leave it untouched.
- The tomb of the same two deities stands at Amamichu, on a rock islet a short ride away on the other side of Higa village.
FAQ
Quick answers about Shirumichuよくある質問
Can you visit Shirumichu on Hamahiga Island?
Yes. Shirumichu is open to visitors and remains an active prayer site. A torii south of Higa village marks the start of 108 steps up through the woods to the cave.
Why is Shirumichu sacred?
Ryukyuan tradition holds that the creator deities Amamikyu and Shinerikyu lived in the Shirumichu cave on Hamahiga and had their children there. People come to pray for children, and Uruma lists the site as a city cultural property.
Can you get to Shirumichu by bike?
The torii stands at the foot of the path south of Higa village on Hamahiga. Leave the bike below the torii, because 108 steps climb through the woods to the cave.
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