Abstract
This study identifies the elements that create and maintain the “sacred quality” of sacred places that have been converted into tourist attractions. This study particularly focuses on the techniques of sanctuary management and the mechanisms of spatial expansion while clarifying said topic from an ethnographical perspective. Sefa-Utaki in Okinawa is a sacred place, held in highest regard, which has served as a key location of worship since the Ryukyu Kingdom period. It has also been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Moreover, in the 2010s, it witnessed a sudden increase in visitors. As a result, its administration is facing the challenge of maintaining not only the natural environment but also the religious and faith characteristics that are an integral part of the sanctuary. The sustainable maintenance of the sanctuary’s religious characteristics can be clarified from various perspectives. This paper particularly focuses on the visual techniques of the bulletin board, the approach path, and zoning in an effort to describe the conditions having an effect on the awareness and behavior of visitors. In addition, this paper identifies whether the conflict between religion and tourism can be avoided (although not thoroughly) through management initiatives by public administration, such as structures or objects, volunteers, and a system for the protection of the cultural heritage connected to the sanctuary space.
