Shuri Castle

Information

Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Shuri was the capital of Okinawa (Ryukyu); that titie passed to Naha in 1879. Shurijo Park contains most of what's left of the old Ryukyu royal capital. At the entrance is a building with a restaurant and information booth. Just up from the entrance to the park is the reconstructed old residence of the Okinawan royal family, Shuri Castle.
Shuri Castle is the symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom stands on a 120 meter-high hill. The castle is said to have been built at the end of the 14th century and it was the center of politics, culture, diplomacy and ritual of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shuri Castle has a lot of similarities with the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Gyeongbokgung in Seoul in its structure because the Ryukyu Kingdom had frequent trade with other Asian countries. The castle was once burnt out during the World War II, but reconstructed in 1992 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Okinawa's reversion to Japan in 1972.
Shureino-mon Gate is the ceremonial entrance to the castle. The Chinese-influenced gate was originally built nearly 500 years ago and was rebuilt in 1958. Also worth checking out is the 15th to 16th century Kankai-mon Gate with its traditional Okinawan design. It was rebuilt right after the World War II. The Kyukei-mon Gate, built in 1508, has also been restored. The third large gate, the Keisei-mon Gate, was originally built in 1546.

Opening Hours

8:30 - 19:00
8:30 - 20:00 (July - September)
8:30 - 18:00 (December - March)

Closed

1st Wednesday and Thursday of July

Price / Entrance Fee

820 yen (General, Adult)
620 yen (Student)
310 yen (Child)

Access / Public Transport

3 minutes from Shuri Station on the Yui Rail by the #8 bus. Get off at Shurijo-mae Bus stop.

Address / Location

1-2, Shuri Kinjocho, Naha-shi, Okinawa, 903-0815

Tweets

Kanpai! Japan @KanpaiJapan - 2019-12-09: [Today's Kanpai picture]
Shuri Castle - Karate's cradle in Okinawa
https://t.co/BxIefw3USk https://t.co/0hT1VMiqNF
Mai @ysdrizing_mai - 2019-12-08: WE SUPPORT SHURI CASTLE 🌺🏀 https://t.co/tKYbTPc2BF
Okinawa Association @oaamensore - 2019-12-08: THIS SUNDAY! – Finish your holiday shopping early and support Shuri Castle Restoration by purchasing an Uchinaa Art… https://t.co/IcaXqxvJgD
brian rose @brianrose - 2019-12-08: @themaxi60061726 Excellent work, it’s a wonderful way to memorialize Shuri Castle.
hellaspoopywarmaiden113 @S_p_arrow113 - 2019-12-08: had a nightmare that terrorists deliberately set fire to Shuri Castle an Notre dame in an attempted to erase all wo… https://t.co/w3j38tJyur
Japan Foundation, LA @JF_LosAngeles - 2019-12-07: Thank you @oaamensore! Our upcoming Japanema on December 11, 2019 @ 7PM will have a free screening for Jimami Tofu… https://t.co/eVathY24rF
SaveOurOkinawa @saveourokinawa - 2019-12-07: More call for 32nd Army headquarters trenches under #Shuri Castle to be opened to the public as castle is rebuilt https://t.co/zK9CnaajX7
Travis Seifman @toranosukev - 2019-12-07: Kind of random, but maybe interesting. Focusing in on one historical event, it can often be surprising to realize w… https://t.co/OeoGP47pWB
Nippon.com @nippon_en - 2019-12-06: Shuri Castle was most recently rebuilt in 1992, more than 40 years after being destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa.
https://t.co/CkaYBkVWos
Susan Jordan @Moonbootica - 2019-12-06: More call for 32nd Army headquarters trenches under Shuri Castle to be opened to the public as castle is rebuilt https://t.co/tRKoyS1pFO
ヘルット @SumoFollower - 2019-12-06: The Yokozuna dohyo-iri at Shuri Castle may not actually take place. So far the NSK has not set up a concrete plan.

https://t.co/gwsgWUg09j
Anonymous @DwKleckner - 2019-12-05: @GavinNewsom Shuri Castle entered Cheyenne Mountain Complex by which to hostage virgule hegemonize… https://t.co/Oi3vXm1BpV
Brandon Marc Higa, Esq. (HI) @SalamanderEsq - 2019-12-05: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Office Okinawa General Bureau will convene a panel discussing reconstruction of Shuri c… https://t.co/31zH7Pn1JX
Cristina Samaniego🇵🇾 @Cristina1873 - 2019-12-05: https://t.co/wMvMk12Z61: 'Negative rumors continue to spread' Nevertheless, why make merchandise for the reconstruc… https://t.co/fkQHc47NR1
Cristina Samaniego🇵🇾 @Cristina1873 - 2019-12-05: @GACKT ♈🏯♈💕🇯🇵 Shuri Castle 🏯 https://t.co/DGi0Kp0a0M
Doloriis @BlueEyes_D - 2019-12-05: Beautiful Shuri Castle ❤️ 😥 #shuricastle #shuri #shurijo #shurijocastle #okinawa #japan #japonia #nippon #nihon… https://t.co/6Gmxjp4ewG
GACKT ITALIA @GacktItalia - 2019-12-05: [ENG/IT] DOT.ASAHI. COM: 'Negative rumors continue to spread' Nevertheless, why make merchandise for the reconstr… https://t.co/iqQlbroVuM
bittenapple @bittenapple - 2019-12-05: #Japan
Shuri Castle, a world heritage just before being destroyed
https://t.co/XlxHbH7oJa
Ma$e @KarateManMase - 2019-12-04: @jonhurwitz @CobraKaiSeries The castle at Shuri burned down 😢 You guys staying in Naha? You have to visit the Dojo… https://t.co/vyElZnDdRa
Mad Cornish Proj @MadCornishProj - 2019-12-04: Draft policy for rebuilding Shuri Castle compiled https://t.co/HkWQjJCl1w
Mike Oxlong @FG_MOx - 2019-12-04: @Mulboyne Thank you. I found this article informative. While the author has been attacked for his politics, I have… https://t.co/4EgCUCmlyu
SaveOurOkinawa @saveourokinawa - 2019-12-04: #Japan to launch panel to draw up restoration plans for #Okinawa's #Shuri Castle | The Japan Times https://t.co/WGITfxaUBc
The Japan Times @japantimes - 2019-12-04: Japan to launch panel to draw up restoration plans for Okinawa's Shuri Castle https://t.co/EbDqH7Df8r
vanderfullife @vanderfullife - 2019-12-04: Tourism concerns seen 1 month after Shuri Castle fire - The Japan News https://t.co/i9Omd129lC #news #today #travel… https://t.co/60rhQQ3xvI
AboutWorldHeritage @AAWorldHeritage - 2019-12-03: Donations for rebuilding Okinawa's fire-ravaged Shuri Castle top ¥1.2 billion; The Japan Times https://t.co/SZhHPIx8Io via @wordpressdotcom
AboutWorldHeritage @AAWorldHeritage - 2019-12-03: Shuri-jo castle to be restored from designs that led to resurrection; The Asahi Shimbun https://t.co/Q45XEqw1vk via @wordpressdotcom
Andy Vermaut @AndyVermaut - 2019-12-03: Japan to launch panel to draw up restoration plans for Okinawa’s Shuri Castle https://t.co/UlFqrlaaM7 https://t.co/9M27Tp0wRn
Asahi Shimbun AJW @AJWasahi - 2019-12-03: #Shuri-jo castle to be restored from designs that led to resurrection：The Asahi Shimbun
#Okinawa
https://t.co/g6VH82HROr
AsiaOne @asiaonecom - 2019-12-03: Shortage of materials blight reconstruction of World Heritage site Shuri Castle in Okinawa after fire… https://t.co/YFxyO2bATt
Klaus Ammann @klausammann - 2019-12-03: “Shuri Castle: The History of a Cultural Landmark” by Unseen Japan https://t.co/4c7Upvxyex https://t.co/6Gdteawria