Shuri Castle, a World Cultural Heritage Site

#2月好去地方2025

Shuri Castle~"The catastrophe of world heritage, the glory of the Ryukyu Kingdom"

Shuri Castle is listed as Japan's "11th World Cultural Heritage", but after an unidentified fire in 2019, it is still under reconstruction. Although the interior cannot be fully visited, there are still many places around that are worth exploring. Tickets are now sold to enter and visit the restored appearance of Shuri Castle~ Today, let's introduce the "battle-damaged version" of Shuri Castle! !

📕History:
The construction year of Shuri Castle is unclear. It was around the mid-15th century. At that time, Okinawa was not under the jurisdiction of Japan, but was controlled by the "Sho Dynasty". They ruled Okinawa from 1429 to 1879 and established the "Ryukyu Kingdom". In addition to being a royal palace, Shuri Castle was also a political, economic, and diplomatic center. During this period, Okinawa frequently conducted foreign trade with Japan and China, so you can see a rich combination of Chinese and Japanese elements here. In 2000, it was registered as the 11th World Cultural Heritage in Japan by UNESCO under the name of "Ryukyu Kingdom Castle Ruins and Related Heritage Group".

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~Reconstruction Exhibition Room~
There are three floors in total, where you can directly watch the workers repairing the temple up close. There is also a video on the side explaining the situation when the fire occurred in 2019 and the current restoration progress. This is the first time in my life that I have bought a ticket to watch people working. Although it feels ridiculous, it is also very novel. After all, these fees will also be fed back to the restoration of these relics, so why not! ! We invite everyone to contribute to the restoration of world heritage sites! !

🎭Important Events:
~Gate Opening Ceremony~
Every day from 8:25 to 8:45, a gate opening ceremony will be held at the "Hoshinmon Gate". The staff will shout "Gate Opening" and beat the gong accompanied by the Ryukyu court music "Gazura". The gate will slowly open, and the sense of grandeur is immediately maximized!

~ Nighttime Lighting ~
When the sun sets, the park will turn on the night lights until midnight, which is completely different from the daytime scenery, adding a bit of romance to the overall feeling!

~Shuri Castle Festival~
Currently, due to restoration work, the festival name has been temporarily changed to "Shuri Castle Restoration Festival"! ! The "Ancient Procession" at Shuri Castle recreates the parade of old to pray for national well-being and a good harvest, while the "Ryukyu Dynasty Picture Scroll Procession" at Kokusai-dori will mobilize about 700 people dressed in the gorgeous costumes of Ryukyu nobles. Even the king and queen will line up to participate, making the scene quite spectacular! : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : ?
2. Travelers who are interested in history and culture
3. I hope everyone can buy a ticket to go in and contribute to the restoration! !
4. The lights at night are perfect for couples to go on dates~~

#100 ways to travel
#Okinawa travel
#Shuri Castle
#Shuri Castle fire
#Ruins of the Ryukyu Kingdom
#Gate opening ceremony