Shurijo Castle, pride of the Okinawan people, is said to date back to the 12th century or earlier. Shurijo was
the control tower of the Shuri Monarchy, which ruled over the Ryukyu Islands and expanded its diplomatic
and trading links to China, Japan, Korea, and the countries of Southeast Asia. This was also the setting for
developments in Ryukyuan culture, which integrated cultural influences from these countries. In 1945 during
the battle of Okinawa, the castle was destroyed. Construction and restoration began in the early 1990’s and
today it is the most visited tourist attraction on the island.
Year 2000 - Shurijo Castle designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site