Shuri castle | 首里城, Japan

Postcard

The castle is located on Okinawa Island which is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu Islands. The Kingdom of the Ryukyus reigned over Japan's southwestern islands for approximately 450 years from 1429 to 1879.

Shuri Castle was both the royal residence for the king and his family and the administrative center of the Shuri Royal Government. It also served as a religious center to administer the rituals performed by the cultural and artistic activities, with many musicians, dancers, artisans and craftsmen active in the castle area.

In the spring of 1879, the king was exiled from Shuri Castle, and Okinawa Prefecture was established. Shuri Castle then became the military headquarters of the Japanese troops and served as school buildings. 

The castle was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2000.