Okinawa Hotel Daidomon

Okinawa Hotel Ufudō Gate: A Portal to Okinawa's Postwar Hospitality Heritage

Standing proudly at the entrance to one of Okinawa's most historically significant hotels, the Ufudō Gate (大道門) is far more than a simple entryway. This vermilion-tiled gate, completed in 1961, serves as a symbolic threshold between the bustle of modern Naha and the tranquil, tradition-steeped grounds of the Okinawa Hotel — the prefecture's oldest hotel, founded in 1941. Registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in March 2024, the gate is a masterpiece by architect Nakaza Hisao, the pioneer of modern Okinawan architecture and inventor of the iconic hana block (decorative concrete block).

Historical Background

The Okinawa Hotel was established in 1941 in the Naminoue district of Naha by Miyazato Teizō, often called the "Father of Okinawa Tourism." The original hotel was designed to accommodate VIPs and dignitaries visiting the island, including members of the Korean royal family and Japan's Imperial Prince Mikasa. However, the hotel was completely destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 by naval bombardment.

After the war, Miyazato was urged to rebuild. He acquired a former construction company building in the Ōdō (大道) district and began reconstructing the hotel. In 1961, architect Nakaza Hisao was commissioned to design the current complex, including the inn wing, brick building, tile stone wall, and the Ufudō Gate. Nakaza, who had also been instrumental in the postwar reconstruction of Shuri Castle and Shureimon Gate, designed the Ufudō Gate as a tribute to these Ryukyuan landmarks.

Why It Was Designated a Cultural Property

The Ufudō Gate was registered as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property on March 6, 2024, under the criterion of contributing to the nation's historical landscape. The gate exemplifies the traditional architectural vocabulary of Okinawa rendered in modern reinforced concrete — a hallmark of Nakaza Hisao's design philosophy. Its form references the classical one-bay bracketed gate (ikken udeki-mon) style, while its materials and construction reflect the postwar era's resourcefulness. Together with the inn wing, brick building, and tile stone wall, the gate forms a cohesive ensemble that documents the evolution of Okinawan hospitality and postwar architectural innovation.

Architectural Highlights

The Ufudō Gate follows the ikken udeki-mon (one-bay bracketed gate) format. Square reinforced-concrete pillars support bracket arms (udeki) inserted into their upper portions, which in turn carry the ridge beams. The roof is built in the kirizuma-zukuri (gable) style and covered with traditional Ryukyuan red roof tiles. Descending ridges adorn both gable ends, and ornamental onigawara (demon tiles) crown the main ridge.

The gate spans 5.9 meters in width and incorporates stone pillars on both sides that survive from the hotel's first incarnation — bearing the scars of wartime shelling, a poignant reminder of Okinawa's turbulent history. The overall design evokes the famous Shureimon Gate at Shuri Castle, deliberately chosen by Nakaza as an homage to the Ryukyu Kingdom's architectural legacy. At night, the gate is illuminated, creating a particularly atmospheric welcome for arriving guests.

Visitor Information

The Okinawa Hotel is a functioning accommodation, so the Ufudō Gate can be appreciated by anyone approaching the property. Hotel guests and local visitors alike can join the Registered Tangible Cultural Property Tour, a weekday-only guided tour (approximately one hour) that covers all four registered structures. The tour costs 500 yen per person, includes a complimentary drink, and must be booked by 9:00 PM the previous day through the front desk. The hotel is located approximately 9 minutes on foot from Asato Station on the Yui Rail monorail, about 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport, and within walking distance of Kokusai Street and Sakaemachi Market.

Surrounding Attractions

The Okinawa Hotel's location in the Ōdō district places it within easy reach of many of Naha's best-known destinations. Sakaemachi Market, a lively local market with street food stalls and izakaya, is about a 7-minute walk away. Kokusai Street, Naha's main shopping and entertainment thoroughfare, is approximately 10 minutes on foot. Tsuboya Yachimun Street, known for its traditional Okinawan pottery workshops, is also nearby. For those wishing to explore further, Shuri Castle — the reconstructed palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom — is accessible by monorail or a short drive. The Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum offers comprehensive exhibits on the island's natural and cultural history.