My partner is deeply interested in the history of Japan and thus, we absolutely had to drop by Shurijo Castle as it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Shurijo Castle served as the political and cultural heart of the Ryukyu Kingdom for centuries. Its unique blend of Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian architectural styles reflects Okinawa's historical role as a cultural hub.

As the Castle was recently destroyed by a fire in 2019, the main portion of the Castle was still undergoing reconstruction. Fret not as the reconstruction process can be viewed by the public and the team even provided educational panels on the reconstruction process, including the materials used, process taken and even pieces from before the Castle was burned down in 2019. We were extremely impressed with the professionalism and dedication the team had in rebuilding the Castle, demonstrating an inspiring testament to the resilience of preserving the Okinawan Culture

Apart from the main Castle, the Castle grounds are still open for public touring. We walked the ground and made it all the way up to see the whole of Okinawa, just as the King did in the past. We were also able to see other areas of the old palace, including the garden, rest house and bath area.

At the end of the tour, there is a nice restaurant serving traditional Okinawan food and a small gift shop, a nice and refreshing rest stop after dealing with the Okinawan heat!

Do note that the Castle is situated on a very high point of Okinawa, which means that the tour would be largely uphill before heading back downhill when you complete the tour. This may not be friendly towards the elderly.