Shuri Castle 600 years old, the heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom,

The admission ticket is 400 yen, overlooking Naha's historical hill. I took a 40-minute walk from Kokusai-dori. Shuri Castle is located on the high ground of Naha City in the southern part of Okinawa Island. It was the political and cultural center of the Ryukyu Kingdom (1429-1879) and a unique architectural wonder born from the fusion of Chinese and Japanese cultures. Standing on the ruins of Shuri Castle or the surrounding city walls, you can overlook the entire city of Naha and the East China Sea in the distance. The scenery is magnificent and it is an excellent place to appreciate the intertwined landscape of Okinawa's city and nature. Historically, Shuri Castle was built by the Ryukyu Chushan Kingdom at the end of the 14th century. Later, Shang Hashi unified the three mountains and made it the capital. From the 15th to the end of the 19th century, it became the political and diplomatic center of the Ryukyu Kingdom, welcoming Chinese envoys and serving as the stage for royal ceremonies. After the Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished in 1879, Shuri Castle gradually lost its political function. By 1945, it was almost completely destroyed during the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. It was not until 1992 that it was rebuilt based on historical data and opened to the public. In 2000, the ruins of Shuri Castle were listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. However, due to a fire in 2019, the main hall and main buildings were destroyed again. It is currently under reconstruction and is expected to be completed by 2026. As of Spring 2025, you can now take a look at the parts of the tour. Even though the main hall is being rebuilt, visitors can still enter Shuri Castle Park, including: • Ancient buildings such as Shurei Gate, Fengshen Gate, and Guangfu Gate • Heritage Trail and Exhibition Hall • The high stone wall trail overlooks the entire Naha and the Cote d'Azur, which is especially suitable for visiting at sunset In addition, you can see craftsmen repairing the building using traditional methods and observe the process of Shuri Castle's "rebirth" in person. Traffic Information • Monorail (Yui-Rail): Take the train to Shuri Station and walk for about 15 minutes. • Bus: Many city buses arrive in the Shuri area, and "Shurijomae" and "Giho Station" are popular get-off points. • Self-driving or taxi: The park has a parking lot and convenient transportation. Tips • It is recommended to go there in the evening so that you can capture the beautiful sunset of the city and the sea and sky. • Wear comfortable shoes as there are many stone steps and ramps in the park. • Audio guides in Chinese and English are available in some exhibition areas. Shuri Castle is not only a historical relic, but also a cultural landmark that allows people to immerse themselves in the past, overlook the present, and look into the future. If you want to include a moment of history, scenery, and reflection in your trip to Okinawa, Shuri Castle is worth a visit.