Shuri Castle Seiden Opening — November 23, 2026
Shuri Castle's Seiden (Main Hall) — the symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom, lost in the October 2019 fire — has been fully restored. Here is what is confirmed so far, verified against the official site (last verified: 2026-07-21).
Confirmed
- Public opening: Monday, November 23, 2026 (a national holiday in Japan). A completion ceremony is held the day before, on November 22 (2026-11-22).
- Timed-entry reservations will be required to enter the Seiden, with visitor numbers limited per time slot. This is to manage crowding and protect the building.
Not yet announced (as of 2026-07-21)
- When reservations/ticket sales start, and the booking website
- The fee for Seiden entry (separate from or included in the paid-area admission — TBA)
- Time-slot sizes and any changes to opening hours after November 23
- The schedule of commemorative events
We monitor official announcements daily and update this page when details are released. Bookmark this page, or check the official English site.
Current hours & fees (subject to change after the opening)
- Free area: 8:00–19:30 (Apr–Nov) / 8:00–18:30 (Dec–Mar)
- Paid area: 8:30–19:00, last entry 18:30 (Apr–Nov) / 8:30–18:00, last entry 17:30 (Dec–Mar)
- Admission (paid area): Adults ¥400 / High school ¥300 / Elementary & junior high ¥160 / Under 6 free
Practical advice for the opening period
- Come by monorail, not by car. The prefectural parking lot has only ~116 spaces with a 3-hour limit and will fill up. Take the Yui Rail monorail to Shuri Station and walk (about 15 minutes uphill) — see our access guide.
- Mornings are best. The park opens at 8:00; the first hours are far less crowded. November 21–23, 2026 is a three-day holiday weekend in Japan — book hotels early.
- The castle grounds are free to enjoy even without a Seiden reservation: gates, stone walls, the sacred forest of Kyo-no-uchi, and nightly illumination of the walls (sunset to sunrise, every day).
What you will see
The restored Seiden is a full-scale reconstruction using traditional techniques: the vermilion "Ryukyu red" made from natural pigment, lacquer applied in 24 stages, roughly 60,000 red roof tiles, and the stone dragon pillars — one pair survived the fire and became a symbol of the restoration. Shuri Castle has burned down five times in its history and has been rebuilt every time; you will be seeing the newest chapter of that story.
More in Japanese
Our full coverage — 15 in-depth articles on the castle (history, the 2019 fire and restoration, the dragons, crowd tactics, hotels, night views and more), 57 nearby spots and model walking courses — is available in Japanese and works well with browser translation. See also: Visitor FAQ in English.
Sources: Shurijo Castle Park official announcements (oki-park.jp). Last verified 2026-07-21. Details may change; always check official information before your visit.