Okinawa Island Guide

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Okinawa Island Guide

Some areas in Shurijo Castle Park open after fire

The entire Shurijo Castle Park closed temporarily to the public after the Oct. 31st fire that destroyed the castle. Some areas of the park re-opened on Nov. 5th, including the Sonohyan Utaki Ishimon and Shureimon.

[Open Park Facilities]
Areas outside of the burned down main buildings are now open, including “Suimuikan” Rest Center that houses the Shurijo General Information Center, restaurant, cafes and souvenir shops. The parking lots are also open.

*Please note there are still areas where entry is not permitted (see the shaded areas on the map)

Many of the Shurijo Castle buildings, including Seiden, Hokuden, Nanden, and others at the site, were reduced to ash by a large fire on Oct. 31st. The Shurijo Castle, a designated World Heritage Site, was a symbol of Okinawa’s unique history from the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom.

The loss devastated people from Okinawa and around the world. Immediately following the tragedy, crowdfunding and other donation projects were started in support of the speedy reconstruction of the Shurijo Castle lead by the City of Naha and civic organizations in Okinawa. 

The Shurijo Castle burned down in the Battle of Okinawa during WWII but was restored and opened in 1992. The fire brought back painful memories for those who experienced the war and was also a shocking and heartbreaking event for many younger people. However, donations from supporters around the world are pouring in at unprecedented speed.

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