I visited Shuri castle on the 18th, and while there were a lot of tourists to contend with, that did not detract from the amazing architecture and rich history of the site. It was once the palace of the Ryukyu kingdom which ruled the Okinawan islands.
The Ryukyu's actually had closer relations with the Kingdoms of China than with Japan and much of the architecture and design of the throne room reflects that.
Once a bastion to protect the Emperor and his court, Shuri castle now must protect the Ryukyu history against the relentless assault of time and modernization. Shuri castle is located in the heart of Naha, Okinawa's bustling metropolitan capital.
More pictures to come, when I return to a faster network connection.
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