Shuri Castle, A fusion of Chinese and Japanese castle culture
1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
4.1
Introduction
Shuri Castle is situated on a high ground in the northeastern corner of Naha city, at an altitude of 120 meters, overlooking the city. The castle was built in the late 14th century and served as the official residence of the Ryukyu kings and the political center, witnessing the rise and fall of the Ryukyu Kingdom. The main hall of Shuri Castle is the largest wooden structure in Okinawa, and was the place where the Ryukyu monarchs handled public affairs and held important ceremonies. In front of the main hall are the Hokuden and the Nanden, with the former receiving envoys from China while the latter was used to entertain artists from Satsuma. Although the main hall of Shuri Castle has been destroyed by wars and disasters, it was preserved through the efforts of Tadashi Ito and Yoshitaro Kurashiki and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2000. Nowadays, the interior of the main hall is open to the public, while the Hokuden and Nanden are used as exhibition halls, allowing visitors to learn about the daily life and ceremonies of the Ryukyu kingdom at that time. In addition, there are many gates worth seeing in Shuri Castle, especially the Shureimon, the main gate of the castle and a symbol of Okinawa. Although the character "之" on it is a Chinese character and is no longer used on the 2000 yen banknote issued by the Japanese government, it is still a must-see attraction for tourists. Address 1-2 Kinjo-cho, Shuri, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
Opening hours Charged areas (Main Hall, Enshrined God Gate, South Area, Guard Station, Publishing House, Room Between Locks, Golden Palace, Jitsuman, Attendant Rest Area, Signature Garden) are open from 8:30 to 19:00 (April-June, October-November), 8:30 to 20:00 (July-September), and 8:30 to 18:00 (December-March of the following year). Free areas (Hunka Gate, Miki Gate, Kyu-Kyo Gate) are open from 8:00 to 19:30 (April-June, October-November), 8:00 to 20:30 (July-September), and 8:00 to 18:30 (December-March of the following year).
Transportation After getting off the Shuri Station streetcar, walk about 10 minutes.
Cultural and historical attractions
