Okinawa, Japan’s southernmost prefecture, is home to the “Gusuku Sites and Related Heritage Sites of the Kingdom of Ryukyu,” which includes 5 castles and 4 archaeological sites, and which were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2000. The reconstructed Shuri Castle is one of the most striking and beautiful parts of the site, but in 2019 it was sadly damaged by fire. Repair work is underway and is expected to be finished by 2026.
The islands were unified as the Ryukyu kingdom in 1427, before becoming the prefecture of Okinawa under the new Meiji government in 1879. The Gusuku Sites are an important part of the island’s history.