Ryukyu Kingdom: Shuri Castle and the Gusuku of Okinawa

Before Okinawa had one king it had three. Nakijin Castle was the capital of Hokuzan, the northern principality, and the seat of its king. In 1416 Shō Hashi of Chūzan destroyed the Hokuzan kingdom. In 1609 Satsuma forces prevailed here and burned the castle, which has been in ruins since. Roughly 1,500 metres of limestone wall still stand, and the ruins are known for their view over the East China Sea.

訪問のヒント: The ruins are also known for their early cherry blossoms.

Zakimi Castle was built between 1416 and 1422 by the Ryūkyūan general Gosamaru, with workers brought from as far away as the Amami Islands. It stayed his stronghold until he was transferred to Nakagusuku Castle in 1430. The two inner courts have arched gates built with keystones, an older style of arch, and from the high ground you can see the sea and the Kerama Islands. The castle was severely damaged by aerial bombardment in October 1944.

訪問のヒント: Climb to the inner courts for the view over the sea to the Kerama Islands.

After Shō Hashi united the island, he built Shuri Castle and its town as his capital and constructed Naha harbor. For 450 years from 1429 it was the royal court and administrative center of the Ryukyu Kingdom. New kings were confirmed here in investiture ceremonies attended by envoys from the Emperor of China. Satsuma samurai seized Shuri on 6 May 1609. The castle was destroyed in 1945, rebuilt from 1992, and its main hall burned again on 31 October 2019. It is a World Heritage Site since 2000.

訪問のヒント: The main hall burned in October 2019, so check which buildings are open before going.

Katsuren Castle stands on a limestone hill with the Pacific on two sides, which earned it the name "Ocean Gusuku". Its golden age came in the mid-15th century under Amawari, who promoted international trade. He tried to unify the Ryūkyū Islands, but was defeated by the royal court in 1458, and the castle fell into ruins. Chinese ceramics found here point to trade with Japan, Korea, China and Southeast Asia. In 2016 excavators found Roman coins, a first for Japan.

訪問のヒント: The hilltop walls look out over the Pacific on two sides.

Tamaudun was finished in 1501 under Shō Shin, whose reign of 1478 to 1526 is called the kingdom's golden age. It was built for his father Shō En, the first of the Second Shō Dynasty. Seventeen of that dynasty's 19 kings are entombed here. The central chamber was used for the Ryukyuan tradition of senkotsu. Much of the structure has since been restored.

訪問のヒント: The tomb complex was damaged in 1945 and has been largely restored.