Shuri Castle, Ryukyu Kingdom Heritage

WeXpats

2022/02/18

Shuri Castle is an architectural relic of the now long gone Ryukyu Kingdom. Having suffered several rounds of destruction and reconstruction over the years, it was completely burnt down not too long ago in 2019. Reconstruction is ongoing and the rest of the grounds are still open for visiting.

Table of Contents

Introducing Shuri Castle
Highlights of Shuri Main Castle (Reconstruction In-Progress)
Exploring Shuri Castle Park
Visiting, Access, Opening Hours, Ticket Information
Takeaway

Introducing Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle is 1 of 9 properties that are collectively recognized by UNESCO as “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”.

What is the Ryukyu Kingdom?

The Ryukyu Kingdom existed right before the Meiji era, from 1429 up till 1879. The area it covered is now known as Okinawa. The Ryukuans, people of Ryukyu, have a unique and interesting culture including their own Ryukyuan language whose dialects are in danger of extinction, as well as Ryukyuan court cuisine. The Ryukyu Kingdom had strong ties with China which greatly influenced their architecture, food, language, and culture.

※ UNESCO, “Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu”
※ Be Okinawa, “History”

History of Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle or Shurijo 首里城 is a great symbol and memory of Ryukyu Kingdom. It is unknown when the castle first came about as it existed prior to the Kingdom’s establishment in 1429. It is 1 of 5 castle ruins in Okinawa, called Gusuku, that are registered by UNESCO as world heritages sites. The castle functioned not just as the royal family’s residence but also as the Kingdom’s religious ceremonial site, the centre of governance, as well as a place for cultivating fine arts and culture.

※ Google Arts & Culture, "Then and Now: Shurijo Castle From The Sky"
※ Be Okinawa, “History”
※ Shurijo Castle Park, "About Shurijo Castle"

Shuri Castle suffered several rounds of fire and destruction and was reconstructed 4 times. One of which was during World War II in what became known as the Battle of Okinawa. Each time, the castle with the support of locals and the government would restore the buildings upon its original castle ruins.

※ Shurijo Castle Park, "Shuri Castle and the Kingdom of Ryukyu"

2019 Incident

After the castle’s complete restoration in 1992, a tragic incident occurred in the late night of 31 October 2019. Short circuits were believed to be the cause of the fire that consumed seven of the most important buildings. Thankfully, the castle’s original foundations are mostly intact and its value as a world heritage unaffected.

Reconstruction work began in 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2026.

※ BBC News, "Shuri Castle: Fire destroys 500-year-old world heritage site in Japan"
※ The Japan Times, "Fire at Okinawa's Shuri Castle barely damaged original ruins"
※ NHK World Japan, “Okinawa contemplates Shuri Castle reconstruction”

Writer's Pick

Highlights of Shuri Main Castle (Reconstruction In-progress)

The most striking feature of Shuri Castle are its vermillion red castle buildings. From the exterior’s roof tiles and walls, to the pillars and windows, the vibrant red stands out under the bright blue sky.

There’s actually a reason for the tiles being red. They were actually supposed to be gray, but red tiles were more economical. Check the link below for the full story.

※ Shurijo Castle Park, “Red Tiles of Shurijo Castle”

Some of the important structures that were burnt down include:

Seiden 正殿 was Shuri Castle’s main hall and the palace’s most important structure. It had three important functions, namely the throne room, royal quarters and ceremonial venues.
Hokuden 北殿 was the North Hall where visiting envoys were welcomed and entertained as well as governmental affairs were conducted.
Nanden 南殿 was the South Hall where traditional Japanese ceremonies were held and envoys from Satsuma were greeted and entertained. Compared to the other buildings, it has Japanese architecture.
Bandokoro 番所 was the guardhouse or reception for receiving guests.

Note: We will update this part when the reconstruction is done.

Replica on Virtual Okinawa

A VR replica of Shuri Castle is expected to be released on
Virtual Okinawa in 2022.

What is Virtual Okinawa?

A virtual space for exploring Okinawa via VR from the comforts of your home, especially during Coronavirus time when travelling is difficult. Aside from visiting realistic replicas of Okinawa, you can also virtually fish, watch concerts, shop online, and more.

Exploring Shuri Castle Park

Even if the main castle is burnt down, there are still plenty of sights to see in Shuri Castle. The park authorities have also helpfully provided a selection of recommended walking tour courses you can follow, available here.

Some notable places to visit are:

Sonohyan-Utaki Ishimon - a National Treasure, Important Cultural Property, and also a UNESCO heritage property
Shureimon - a beautiful vermillion Chinese-style gate that is depicted on 2,000 yen notes
Agari no Azana - an observation platform for enjoying a view of the surrounding area as well as nearby islands on clear weather days
Iri no Azana - located on the opposite side of Agari no Azana, is another observation platform
Restaurant Suimui for Ryukyuan cuisine and other Okinawan food

Visiting, Access, Opening Hours, Ticket Information

Visiting Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle is in the midst of reconstruction after the main buildings had been burnt down in a huge fire in October 2019. Visitors are still allowed to visit the other areas of the castle park as well as see the reconstruction efforts.

Please check the link below for a map of the castle park. Aside from the grey striked out area that is prohibited from entry, the other areas are accessible.

※ Shurijo Castle Park, “Map of Facilities”

From Okinawa to Shuri Castle

You’ll first need to make your way to Okinawa before heading to Shuri Castle. From Naha Airport, take the Yui Rail to Shuri Station for 340 yen. The entrance to Shuri Castle is a 15-minutes walk from there.

If you want to skip the walk, you can also take the local city bus from Shuri Station to Shuri Ekimae bus stop.

※ Shurijo Castle Park, "Access"

Opening Hours

Free Entry Areas
8:30~18:00

Paid Entry Areas
9:00~17:30, entry ticket sales stop at 17:00

Closing Days
First Wednesday and Thursday of July

Ticket Admission

Shuri Castle Park where Shuri Castle is located can be separated into areas, namely free entry and paid admission areas. The paid areas cost 400 yen (Adult) to enter.

To find out which are paid areas, check the castle park map here. Paid areas are marked with a red dot.

※ Shurijo Castle Park, "Operation Hours" "Admission Fee"

Takeaway

Shuri Castle is not just a symbol of Okinawa’s history, it is also a symbol of resilience and the people’s love for their heritage and culture. This marks the 5th reconstruction of Shuri Castle and hopefully the last. If you would like to contribute to the reconstruction efforts of Shuri Castle, there is a fundraising programme. Click here to find out more.

For more places to visit in Okinawa, have a look at this tag:
#Okinawa