What other travelers are saying about Shurijo Castle
Most scenic spots do not require tickets for entry. During the New Year period, there are special activities where you can witness the New Year ceremonies from the Ryukyu Kingdom era. If you visit during the holidays, it is recommended to park your car at a farther parking lot because most of the nearby parking lots are usually full.
Really nice place. Arrived in the morning before all the hoards of mainly school kids. Walked around the grounds, and enjoyed the sounds of birds I never heard previously, the smells of freshly cut grass and other flora. So many unusual ducks. So friendly and non scared, got to walk close by. The castle walls were pretty, and the area vast. Incredible how the reconstruction is going, and got to view the actual building happening. Would not have any interest in visiting the reconstruction, as it's not the original masterpiece of history. However, it's all very good to see. The military camp area was cool.
Surrounded by garden, it is an interesting castle which was unfortunately severely damaged by fire in 2019 and still in a state of reconstruction as of 2024. While not a huge compound, you still can see much of Okinawa from the observation deck, as the castle itself is located on a hill.
You can also view the reconstuction story and progress as the entire castle is sheltered up for visitors to see.
Visited in September 2024.
What a pity the main castle was burnt down in 2019. Be aware that active restoration is happening. The grounds are beautiful. Well worth the admission price of ¥400
Don’t go until 2026. We knew that the castle was under construction but I did not expect it to be this bad. The castle is surrounded by a temporary building and you cannot see any of the actual castle. It’s a nice walk up to the castle though and there is nice views. The staff did not warn us of the limited or shall I say the zero amount of the main castle. Disappointing but it was a fun memory.
