Shuri Castle in Naha (Okinawa): The Rebuilt Main Hall Opens on November 23, 2026, With Timed Tickets

Seven years after the fire of October 2019, the main hall (Seiden) of Shuri Castle is opening to the public again on November 23, 2026. To keep visits safe and avoid overcrowding, going inside the hall will need a timed reservation, and admission prices are changing on the same day. This guide sets out what the official Shuri Castle Park pages say, so you can book the right ticket and plan your time.

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A short history: why this opening matters

Shuri Castle was the royal palace and seat of government of the Ryukyu Kingdom, which lasted from 1429 to 1879. According to the Okinawa General Bureau, the main hall was designated a national treasure in 1925 and destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1992, and the castle site was registered as a World Heritage site in 2000. In the early morning of October 31, 2019, a fire destroyed the main hall and eight other buildings. Construction of the new main hall began in November 2022; its exterior was finished in July 2025.

The opening on November 23 is from noon, according to the official site for the completion events. The other buildings lost in the fire, such as the North and South Halls, are part of the government's restoration plan; detailed design of the North Hall, to be built after the main hall, is under way.

Two kinds of ticket

From November 23, 2026, the park sells two tickets for the paid area:

• Admission with main hall interior (reservation required): you choose a date and a 30-minute slot for going inside the main hall. There is no extra charge for the time slot. Even people who enter free (see below), and annual pass holders, need this reservation; preschool children don't.
• Admission without the interior (no reservation): the rest of the paid area at any time, including the outside of the main hall seen from the viewing deck and the exhibition rooms. It's sold online from one month ahead and at the ticket window on the day.

The park's booking guide for groups says visitors take their shoes off inside the main hall and asks them to bring a bag for their shoes.

Prices from November 23, 2026

Holders of a disability certificate (and Okinawa residents aged 70 or over) enter free; the park asks them to bring official proof, or the normal price applies. The park's announcement explains the increase by stronger fire-safety measures and higher running costs.

When tickets go on sale

• For November 23 to December 31, 2026: sold online in two batches, from September 1 and from October 1, 2026, each at 13:00 (Japan time), first come, first served.
• From January 1, 2027: sales open at 13:00 on the 1st of the month, two months before your visit. For example, for a visit in March 2027, sales open on January 1.
• Up to 9 tickets per online purchase.
• On the day: if slots remain, you can buy online up to 15 minutes before a slot, or at the Kofukumon ticket office. If the slots are full, you can still enter the rest of the paid area.

Changes and refunds are possible only for tickets bought on the official sales site (Webket). With the main hall ticket, you can change the date and time until the day before, and get a refund until two days before. The ticket without the interior can be changed or refunded until the day of use.

Groups can't reserve the main hall interior from November 23 to December 6, 2026, because of expected crowds; group reservations use a lottery for now.

Getting there and how long it takes

The park recommends public transport, because nearby roads are expected to be congested. Its estimates for the walk from the monorail are below. When choosing a slot, it suggests picking one 40 to 50 minutes after you arrive at Shuri monorail station, or 30 to 50 minutes after arriving near the park by car.

Least crowded times, and closing

The park's crowd forecast: 8:30 to 11:00 very crowded, 11:00 to 12:00 crowded, 12:00 to 14:00 relatively quiet, 14:00 to 17:00 normal, and 17:00 to closing relatively quiet. Closing time varies by season. With the last main hall slot, you must pass the Hoshinmon gate by 17:30 and enter the hall by 17:40 from December to March (slot 17:00 to 17:29), or by 18:30 and 18:40 from April to November (slot 18:00 to 18:29).

Your booking checklist

1. Decide whether you want to go inside the main hall. If yes, book a timed ticket on the official site.
2. For January 2027 or later, note the sales date: 13:00 on the 1st, two months before.
3. Choose a slot 40 to 50 minutes after your monorail arrival at Shuri.
4. Bring the QR code, and a bag for your shoes.
5. Aim for the quieter hours, from noon to 14:00 or after 17:00.

For visiting shrines and temples elsewhere, see how to tell shrines and temples apart. Driving in Naha (Okinawa)? Read our guide to bus lanes and rental cars. Going to the beach? See Okinawa's sea safety guide, and our Okinawa destination page.

Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. This is a new system, and the park says it may change how things work depending on crowds. Please check the official pages below before booking.

References

• Shuri Castle Park: Main hall interior reservations and tickets (Japanese)
• Shuri Castle Park: New prices and timed reservations from the main hall opening (Japanese, July 31, 2026)
• Shuri Castle Park: Main hall opening on November 23, 2026 (Japanese, June 4, 2026)
• Okinawa General Bureau: Opening date of Shuri Castle's main hall (Japanese, PDF)
• Official site for the main hall completion events, FAQ (Japanese)