Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For almost 500 years, the castle was the seat of the Ryukyuan Royal Court and adminis-
trative center of the kingdom. It was the central point of foreign trade as well as the political,
commercial and cultural heart of the Ryukyus. Perhaps due to its great historical and cultural
significance, it was selected, along with a half dozen
gusuku
and other places, as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. However, it must be said that this castle, even though fully restored and
not a ruin by any means, is in many ways the least impressive of the Okinawan
gusuku
. Al-
though its massive coral stone surrounding walls are spectacular, the castle itself seems more
like a red-painted plywood reproduction. There are some mildly interesting interior exhibits,
but overall, up close and in person, it simply does not seem to be the same impressive edifice
seen in photographs. Having said that, this
faux gusuku
is nevertheless one of Naha's top, if
not the top, attractions.
Shureimon (
守礼門
;
Shurei no mon)
Pictured on the then new 2000 Yen note issued in the Year 2000 in honor of the 26th G-8 Summit
held in Okinawa, the Shuri Gate is the second of Shuri Castle's main entrance-ways. It was built in the
16th century and clearly reflects Chinese influence. The four Chinese characters framed on top,
守禮
之邦
(Shu rei no kuni), roughly mean “the Ryukyus are a Land of Propriety.” The gate was destroyed
in World War II but rebuilt to its original design in the 1970s.
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KOKUSAI-DŌRI
国際通り
From the heights of Shuri Castle we'll drop down and head west for about a mile (2 kilo-
meters) right into the heart of downtown Naha, and its most popular and well-known street,
Kokusai-dōri (
国際通り
; lit. “International Street”). It's the main shopping street for tourists
and for Okinawan young people and considered one of the top tourist destinations in Ok-
inawa. Kokusai-dōri is a 1-mile (1.6 kilometer)-long selection of restaurants and bars, coffee
shops, souvenir stands, clothing stores, music emporiums and everything else in between.
The street gives an overall view of modern Okinawan culture in the heart of Naha. It runs
from the Asato area to the prefectural area, which includes Palette Kumoji and Naha City
Hall. It's served by a monorail at both its ends and by public bus along its length. Kokusai-
