European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                8 stripes Okinawa an advertising supplement Friday March 30 2007 Friday March 30 2007 an advertising supplement stripes Okinawa 9 11 Tii the Royal gardens of Shiki Naen top left top right two views of the Stone Bridges and the Dun visitors pause on the Bridge to Admire the View Story and photos by Keith t Graff designated by Enesco As a world heritage site Many of us Are familiar with or have taken the time to visit shun Castle and the Many other okinawan historical Sites a Enesco world heritage site that Many Haven heard of is the Royal Gar Dens the Royal family of the Ryukyu King Dom possessed gardens that were reserved for relaxation and personal enjoyment these gardens were named in reference to their location South of Shuri Castle constructed around 1800 the Garden was the second largest private residence of the Royal family and used for the Delight and amuse ment of visiting dignitaries Shiki Naen is a Large circular manicured Garden highlighted by the Large residential House and a tranquil Spring fed Pond Visi tors Are welcomed to stroll throughout the gardens they can enjoy a variety of land scapes and a wide variety of seasonal Flora the gardens of Shiki Naen display chinese influence evidenced by the hexagonal building located on an Island in the Ponds Center the Pond is bordered by Ryukyu Limestone Walls and is accented by three Stone Arch Bridges the main path leads Visi tors around the Garden to an observation Point that offers a grand View of the City in 1941 the emperor Hirohito designated the gardens As a National place of Scenic Beauty the gardens were All but destroyed Dur ing the Battle of Okinawa in 1945 and remained desolate for about thirty years although it was predesignated As a National place of Scenic Beauty in 1976 it took nearly Twenty years to restore it completely on december 2 2000 Shiki Naen was designated a Enesco world heritage site and opened to the Public to help preserve the Beauty of the Park no smoking or consuming of food continued on Page 10 the Rok Kakudo Hexagon House a quiet place for contemplation located in the Middle of the Lake