Shuri Castle

슈리성

Shuri Castle is a Ryukyuan hilltop castle, called a gusuku, in the Shuri district of Naha, the capital of Okinawa, Japan. From 1429 to 1879 it was the palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, and for those 450 years it was the royal court and the centre of trade, politics and culture.

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At a glance

Country: Japan
Location: Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Built: 1429
Type: Castle

Quick answers

Where is Shuri Castle?

Shuri Castle is in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

When was Shuri Castle built?

Shuri Castle was built in 1429.

The palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, Okinawa's symbol with its red tiles and golden dragon ornaments.

The castle was almost completely destroyed in 1945 in the Battle of Okinawa and rebuilt from 1992. In 2000 its site became part of a World Heritage listing. On 31 October 2019 a fire destroyed the main courtyard buildings, and reconstruction is still going on. Beyond the castle itself, its Shoen and Sasu-no-ma gardens are also protected as a National Place of Scenic Beauty.

A royal palace by the sea

King Shō Hashi united the three small kingdoms of Okinawa and made Shuri his residence in 1429. The castle was a hub of trade with other lands. In 1609 samurai from the Satsuma domain took Shuri, and the kingdom stayed under their control for about 250 years. In 1879 Japan annexed the kingdom, and the last king, Shō Tai, had to move to Tokyo.

Burned, rebuilt, burned again

The records say the castle burned down several times and was always rebuilt. After 1945 the site was used as a university campus. Archaeological work and photographs guided the new reconstruction that began in 1992. Today the Shuri castle site is a National Historic Site, protected since 1972. Those gardens were named a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2009. According to Wikipedia, the rebuilding is expected to be fully finished around autumn 2026, with a ceremony planned for 22 November.

Fun facts

Its main hall was destroyed by fire in 2019.
Its hall was destroyed by fire in 2019, but people keep rebuilding it.
In the 1850s Commodore Perry forced his way in twice but was refused a meeting with the king.
For about 450 years it was the heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom.