Okinawa tourism industry left reeling after fire guts Japan’s Shuri Castle, Unesco heritage site

Almost US$1 million has been raised to restore the ancient structure after 400 artefacts were destroyed and six buildings left beyond repair

Hilltop castle overlooking the city of Naha is one of Okinawa’s most prominent tourist attractions and drew 2.8 million visitors last year

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Shuri Castle is seen ablaze in Naha, Okinawa. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 7:30am, 5 Nov 2019Updated: 9:55pm, 5 Nov 2019

More than 100 million yen (US$924,000) has been raised to restore Japan’s Shuri Castle in Okinawa, where a catastrophic blaze on Thursday caused extensive damage and left at least one third – or about 400 – of its artefacts completely destroyed.

The 400 items were being stored in the Unesco heritage site’s Seiden, otherwise known as its main hall, which was among six buildings considered beyond repair after the blaze ripped through the hilltop castle overlooking the city of Naha.

Two adjacent buildings that enclosed the courtyard also sustained serious damage and will have to be demolished. In total, six buildings are thought to be beyond saving.

According to the Okinawa Churashima Foundation, the castle was used to store about 1,500 unique and priceless artefacts from across Okinawa prefecture and the Ryukyu Kingdom, as the islands were known before being annexed by Japan in 1879.

The artefacts, many of which were on display to the public, included paintings, scrolls and documents as well as traditionally dyed fabrics, lacquerware and musical instruments.

People watch as Shuri Castle burns down. Photo: Kyodo