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 located on a highland in the northeast corner of Naha City, at an elevation of 120 meters, overlooking Naha City. The castle was built in the late 14th century and served as the official residence of the kings of Ryukyu 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 is where the Ryukyu monarchs handled official affairs and held important ceremonies. In front of the main hall are the Shureimon Gate and the courtyard, with the South Hall and North Hall on either side. The North Hall once hosted envoys from China, while the South Hall was used to receive artists from Satsuma. The main hall of Shuri Castle has experienced a tumultuous fate, having been destroyed and devastated by wars, but thanks to the negotiations of Ito Chutaro and Kamakura Yoshitaro, it was preserved and registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2000. Now, the interior of the main hall is open to the public, while the North Hall and South Hall are used as exhibition halls, allowing visitors to learn about the daily life and rituals of the Ryukyu Dynasty at that time. In addition, there are many castle gates within Shuri Castle worth seeing, especially the Shureimon Gate, which is the main gate of Shuri Castle and a symbol of Okinawa. Although the character '之' is a Chinese character and is no longer used on the 2000 yen banknote issued by the Japanese government, it remains a must-see 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
