What other travelers are saying about Shurijo Castle
The Castle of Okinawa which contains the history of the Island. It is a pity when we went there, the main building was under major construction and rebuild. It was burnt down few years ago due to an unexpected fire. And it really took us 1 hour or so to complete the whole journey of the Castle boundary. It also provides panoramic views of Okinawa since we near the high elevation of Okinawa.
Secondly, do try to have your meal in Restaurant Suimui whenever you are in the vicinity. This restaurant serves authentic local Okinawa dishes and the taste was fantastic. The staff was friendly and attentive.
Wonderful experience being able to view the castle grounds. I enjoyed the many plant life surrounding the castle and garden areas.
It wasn't too crowded, so it was easy to have space on the paths around, especially near areas that were more tedious. The speaker helped with both messages in English and Japanese to watch your step. The views were amazing to witness and oversee Naha and the ocean view.
The renovation over the temple was interesting to see, but I was disappointed with how little room there was inside the observation building with only a small room in and out to see construction for all 3 floors.
The gift shop was wonderful, and I found a few magnets, charms, scrunchies, and some postcard art to purchase! I do recommend for sight-seeing and history buffs!
Castle burned down in 2019 fire, so there is no castle to see. You can walk around the castle areal, enjoy the views on Naha and Okinawa. I hope the castle will be rebuild soon, but it looks still like very long journey. Entry is 400 yen for adult.
One of the highlights of my Okinawa trip was visiting Shuri castle and it was a dream come true. It was an elegant experience. While the castle is undergoing reconstruction it was sure worth the trip coming up and seeing it in person.
The gates loom large around the castles wall. The reconstruction process of the castle is very interesting too. It can get a bit busy due to tourism but go early, it’s worth it.
The view from the observation deck is splendid. You can see all of Naha.
It would be better if the main building was opened but it was closed for renovations in we were there- June 2025. The castle grounds were sparse and nice to explore but it’s not that spectacular compared to other castles in Japan. You could easily skip this if you’re time poor.
