Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle was the centerpiece of the former Ryukyu Kingdom, now known as Okinawa Prefecture since it was subsumed into Japan in 1879.

Shuri Castle was the capital of the kingdom between 1429 and 1879, and was the court of the royal family, as well as the location for receiving foreign trade missions from China, Japan and elsewhere in East and Southeast Asia.

The castle is part of a larger Shurijo Castle Park, which houses both the royal palace buildings, the fortified walls, and a spacious grassed area.

The main building "Seiden" was burnt in a fire in 2019 and is presently under reconstruction and scheduled for re-opening in 2025.

There are still many buildings of significance and other educational parts of the castle complex open and it is very worth a visit.

The castle is included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Map: Shuri Castle