Shuri Castle

Shuri Castle (Okinawan: Sui Gusiku) is a Ryukyuan-style castle in the southern part of Okinawa Island, east of central Naha, built between the late 13th and 14th centuries. From the 15th to the 19th century it was the capital and royal palace of the Ryukyu Kingdom, giving it a history of more than 500 years. Used as a military bunker at the end of WWII, it was heavily destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa. Reconstruction began in 1986, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, and after a fifth major fire in 2019 it is being rebuilt again, expected around 2026.