Naha One Day Course Shurijo and Kokusai Dori

This plan covers Naha, the gateway to Okinawa, comfortably by monorail and on foot. It links Shurijo Castle, where the history of the Ryukyu Kingdom remains, with a lively market and a shopping street in one smooth route. You walk a fair amount, so comfortable shoes are recommended.

Course Route

9:00 Start at Shuri Station on the Yui Rail Head to Shuri in the cool morning hours. It is about a 15 minute walk from the station to Shurijo Castle Park. A Yui Rail one day pass (adults 1,000 yen) makes the later moves cheaper and also gives discounts at some sites. 9:30 Explore Shurijo Castle Park (paid area, adults 400 yen) Visit the Shureimon gate and the stone walls of the castle. The main hall is under reconstruction after the 2019 fire, and watching the restoration in progress is a highlight of its own. Opening hours vary by season, roughly 8:30 to between 18:00 and 20:00. 11:30 Visit Tamaudun (adults 300 yen) A royal mausoleum near the castle. As part of a World Heritage site, it lets you feel history in quiet surroundings. Showing the Yui Rail one day pass gives a discount on entry. 12:30 Move to Makishi Station by monorail and have lunch Head to the Daiichi Makishi Public Market. Entry is free, and a local custom is to buy fresh fish on the first floor and have it cooked on the second floor. It closes on the fourth Sunday of each month, so watch your date. 14:30 Stroll the market arcade and Heiwa Dori Browse island ingredients and souvenirs in the covered shopping streets. 15:30 Wander Kokusai Dori This main street runs about 1.6 km. Enjoy shisa figures, crafts and purple sweet potato sweets. 17:30 Finish at Kencho Mae Station A dinner of Okinawan cuisine on the evening Kokusai Dori is a fine way to end.

Highlights

Shurijo Castle was the political and cultural center of the Ryukyu Kingdom, with striking vermilion buildings and stone walls. The Daiichi Makishi Public Market is called the kitchen of Naha, lined with colorful fish and island tofu. Kokusai Dori is the heart of street food and shopping and stays busy into the night.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: You can walk it year round, but the midday heat is harsh in summer, so hilltop Shuri is more comfortable in the cool morning. A downtown stroll is also pleasant in the cooler evening.
• Avoiding crowds: Kokusai Dori and the public market get busy from noon to evening. Eating at the market right after opening or before the lunch peak cuts your wait.
• Time needed: About one to two hours for Shurijo Castle Park, around 30 minutes for Tamaudun, and two to three hours for the market and Kokusai Dori. It is mostly on foot, so wear comfortable shoes.
• Real nearby spots: The Kinjocho stone paved road, Tsuboya Yachimun pottery street and Fukushuen garden are all within a short walk or ride.
• Budget sense: The Yui Rail one day pass at 1,000 yen, the Shurijo paid area at 400 yen, and Tamaudun at 300 yen are the main entry and transport costs, plus meals and souvenirs.

Access and Tips

The Yui Rail monorail is convenient, and a one day pass is good value. The streets around the market are a maze, so use a map app. The summer sun is strong, so drink water often.

A Quick Tip

Doing hilltop Shuri in the morning and the flat downtown in the afternoon helps you avoid uphill walks and is easier on your legs. Even mid reconstruction, the rebuilding of the Shurijo main hall is a rare sight in itself, so reading the information boards as you walk deepens your understanding.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours of Shurijo Castle Park: The free areas within the castle walls are open 8:00-19:30 from April to November and 8:00-18:30 from December to March. The paid area is open 8:30-19:00 from April to November (last entry 18:30) and 8:30-18:00 from December to March (last entry 17:30).
• Opening of the Main Hall to the public and the revised admission fees: The interior of the Main Hall opens to the public on November 23, 2026, and from that day admission to the paid area will be revised to 1,000 yen for adults, 760 yen for senior high school students and 370 yen for elementary and junior high school students for individuals (parties of fewer than 20; free for children under 6), and 800 yen for adults, 610 yen for senior high school students and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students for groups (20 or more). Viewing the interior of the Main Hall requires a reservation for a specified date and time (there is no extra charge for the timed entry), and individual tickets are due to go on sale at 13:00 on September 1, 2026. Allow about 90 to 120 minutes from Suimuikan including a visit inside the Main Hall. Okinawa residents aged 70 and over and holders of a disability certificate (plus up to one carer) are admitted free.
• Prefectural car park (inside Suimuikan): Open 8:30-19:30 from April to November and 8:30-18:30 from December to March. For small cars the fee is 500 yen for the first 60 minutes and 250 yen per 30 minutes thereafter, up to a maximum of 1,000 yen (revised on April 1, 2026); for large vehicles it is 700 yen per 30 minutes up to a maximum of 2,800 yen. Visitors are asked to park for no more than 3 hours, and buses must book in advance.
• Tamaudun Royal Mausoleum: Open 9:00-18:00 (last entry 17:30) all year round (closed while a storm warning is in force). Junior high school students and younger pay 150 yen, groups of 20 or more pay 240 yen for adults and 120 yen for children, and an annual pass costs 600 yen for adults and 300 yen for children. Naha City residents aged 65 and over pay half price, and pre-school children and holders of a disability certificate (plus up to one carer) are admitted free.
• Inquiries: 098-886-2020 (Shurijo Castle Park Management Centre / telephone reception 8:00-18:00) / 098-885-2861 (Tamaudun Administration Office)
• Official information: Shurijo Castle Park official website (Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park) / Naha City official website "Tamaudun"

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.