Shuri Castle is one of the most important symbols of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It served as royal court and administrative center of Ryukyu kings for many centuries. It is included as one of the UNESCO World Heritage designated Castles of the Ryukyu Kindgom sites. The castle takes its name "Shuri" from the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Unfortunately, in the night of October 31, 2019, the main buildings of Shuri Castle were destroyed by a fire. The fire was put down 11 hours later, after destroying an area of 4,200 square meters. This is not the first time that Shuri Castle was destroyed, after its construction during the Gusuku period (1187 - 1314). It is actually the fifth time, with previous accidents in 1453, 1660, 1709, and 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa. The latest reconstruction started in 1992 and lasted 30 years, with a total costs of roughly 67 million US dollars. Nowadays, it is possible to visit the outer gates and walls of the castle, that were not involved in the fire. The view from the top of the hill is very enjoyable, with a 270 degrees panorama on Naha city, its harbor, and the sea. Admission Free Opening Hours 8:00 - 18:30 (December to March) 8:00 - 20:30 (July to September) 8:00 - 19:30 (Rest of the year) TEL 098-886-2020 Address Shuri Castle, 1 Chome-2 Shurikinjocho, Naha, Okinawa Prefecture 903-0815 Near Shuri Castle:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |