Shuri Castle

Shuri was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which ruled these islands as an independent state trading with China and Southeast Asia until the nineteenth century, and its architecture is Ryukyuan rather than Japanese - deep red lacquer, Chinese-influenced roof forms, dragon pillars and a stone gusuku wall of coral limestone curving with the hilltop. The palace was destroyed in 1945 and reconstructed by 1992 using photographs, drawings and the memories of craftsmen; in October 2019 fire destroyed the main halls again. The stone walls, the gates and several outer structures survived both times and are original or early. Reconstruction is under way and is being done deliberately in the open, with viewing platforms over the work, the timber-shaping and lacquer processes explained, and a completion target for the main hall in the second half of this decade. The site is UNESCO-listed as part of the Ryukyu gusuku inscription.

What you actually see

• Ryukyuan architecture - red lacquer, dragon pillars and Chinese-influenced roofs.
• Coral limestone walls - the gusuku ramparts, which survived both fires.
• Reconstruction in the open - viewing platforms over the current rebuilding work.
• A UNESCO gusuku site - part of the Ryukyu kingdom inscription.

When to go

All year. Two to three hours. The rebuilding work is itself the current interest.

Honest expectations

The main halls are not there - they burned in 2019 and are under reconstruction. The site is on a hill with a long uphill approach and steps. Okinawa summer heat is severe with little shade. Entry is still charged.

Nearby

Naha and Kokusai-dori are west; Sefa-utaki is south-east.