Shuri Castle in Okinawa (Japan)

Mighty SHURI Castle, which was built in the 15th century as a royal residence of the rulers of Ryukyu State, today it is considered one of the main attractions, not only in Okinawa but also all over Japan. Once in the Castle, as if suddenly transported back to several centuries ago. Here are all the same paved streets and courtyards, buildings, covered red tiles and surrounded by two rings of mighty walls. Ulterior motive in 2000, the castle was recognized as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The long history of Shuri castle dates back to the long-departed time existence of Ryukyuan State. Erected this stronghold was still in 15 century on the orders of the ruler Shō Hashi. Since then the fate of not especially spare Castle — several times he was destroyed by ruthless fiery element, but each time it rose from the flames like the bird Phoenix. This fortress was considered the most beautiful around the Ryukyu Islands and the glory of it went across the country.

In 1879, after Japan invaded Ryukyu State land, last ruler Shō Tai handed Castle a Government delegation of the Japanese emperor. Later there was placed a separate headquarters Okinawan Expeditionary Corps garrison of Kumamoto.

In an era when locks are already long ago lost its strategic importance, under the direction of architect Tûta Ito restoration was carried out of the Castle, it happened in the 20-ies of the last century.
Already in 1925 SHURI Castle was appreciated and included in the list of national treasures of Japan.

Not spared by strengthening and new, the largest in the history of mankind is the second world war. In 1944 after the American air raid here left no stone unturned. The fact of the matter is that the castle was situated 32 5th Army Headquarters in Japan. After the end of the second world war and the defeat of Japan, the United States occupation authorities opened on the ruins of the castle of Rûkûskij University. In 1972, after Okinawa was again composed of Japan, what was left of the once-powerful Citadel was again proclaimed an important historical monument of national importance.

Erected this stronghold was still in 15 century on the orders of the ruler Shō Hashi. Since then the fate of not especially spare Castle — several times he was destroyed by ruthless fiery element, but each time it rose from the flames like the bird Phoenix.
In 1986 were carried out comprehensive work on the restoration of the Castle. Restoration of the affected walls, bridges, gates, buildings and gardens of Shuri. And in 1992, the castle became part of the Okinawan State cultural reserve. 8 years later, at the beginning of the new millennium, Shuri recognized part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

The length of the architectural complex from North to South is about 270 m from West to East is approximately 400 m. looking at Shuri on top, you can see that its shape is oval, which is surrounded by impregnable walls. The total area of its order 46 sq.m. m. impress by their strength and solidity of its fortifications: for entrance of the castle there are four gates in the outer wall. The inner part is separated from the outer wall with 8 gates. These boulders can be seen the Castle courtyard, where once was a luxurious Palace and Government buildings of the mighty State Ryukyuan.

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3 day travel in kyoto - Japan

Kyoto is a city you must visit if going to Japan. This is a brilliant representative of traditional Japan, its historical heritage and therefore you will not be disappointed with droplets of Kyoto.

In this article we'll recommend a few places in the city-Kyoto attractions that you can visit in three days.

Temples Of Kyoto


Your first day in Kyoto


First tip: choose a hotel close to the station (station) of Kyoto, because from here you can easily get anywhere in the city!

So, first of all, visit the Temple of Kiyomizudera, which is one of the largest temples in Kyoto.
Visit the Ginkakuji Temple, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
At the end of the day, visit the most famous Gion Geisha district in Japan. To see a traditional Gion, stroll along Hanami-Koji, along the beautiful old buildings, teahouses and restaurants. In the evenings you can stay an apprentice Geisha.

Gion began to be built in the middle ages for pilgrims visiting shrines of Yasaka. Ultimately, Gion became one of the most exclusive and well-known Geisha districts in Japan. Recently part of the area was declared a national historic landmark.


Here you can see traditional Japanese houses and tea-houses matija otââ. Tea-houses are traditional establishments where earlier amused Samurai, and now-rich businessmen.
Entertainment in tea houses may include cocktails, conversations, traditional musical instruments, songs and dances.

Second day in Kyoto
Visit the Imperial Palace (open to foreigners with 10:00 am to 2:00 pm with lunch, and day excursion lasts about an hour and a half, and here you will see).
When you have finished your acquaintance with the Palace, find the opportunity to have lunch and go on an excursion to the Kinkakuji Temple, where is the famous Golden Pavilion.

If you have time, try to catch a tour of the Toji Temple. This is a very beautiful building, originally built as a fortress to guard the city.

Third day in Kyoto

At the conclusion of his journey can visit the Fushimi Inari Shrine.
He will surprise you with lots of Red doors (Tori), examination of the Temple will take you a few hours.
Tourism-pretty exhausting, so if you still remain force-climb up the stairs leading to the temple, it's worth it. This is one of the places that should not be missed in Kyoto!

Later in the day, you can go to Nijo castle.
After seeing these sights of Kyoto, can safely say, that familiar with this city!

And don't forget that Japan is still and a great place to enjoy the local culinary delights, but the gastronomic route compose themselves.

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Travel Japan how to make cheaper.

Going on a journey, we always plan as needed funds to our tour was comfortable. What do I need to do, try to tell you in this post.

Japan travel tips

1. Order your ticket in advance

Review proposals all tickets airline operators in Japan, which are available on the Internet. So you get a good idea of costs; generally, the higher the cost of the ticket implies a higher level of service. But you have to see for yourself.

Compare the different offers of sites choose what suits you best, and get ready!

Japan on its geographical location is quite far from Europe, so if you have the time, during the flight to Japan, you can make a stop in another country (e.g., in China). In this case, your trip will not be tedious and monotonous.

In addition, under such circumstances, you can save on the cost of tickets approximately within 100 euros.

2. Cheap modes of transport in Japan

The most practical mode of transport for foreigners in Japan is a J-Rail Pass.

There are others such as Kansai-for trips in the area of Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara; Sanyo Himejiou-to get into the western part of the island of Honshu, in the area from Osaka to Nagaoka in Northern Kyushu, Kyushu-allows you to travel around the island of Kyushu, Hokkaido-pass on the northernmost part of Japan.

J-Rail Pass is a package for 1, 2 or 3 weeks to get to this transport line JR (Japan Railways), you can take the train lines in Tokyo. Using this mode, you can make unlimited travel throughout Japan.
For example, the price per 1 week J-Rail Pass for adults (grade 2)-28300 yen (283 euro); The cost of the ticket Tokyo-Kyoto: 26440 yen (264 euros).

What to see in Japan?

If you are young and careless, we recommend you view the youth district of Tokyo-Šibua (Engl. Shibuya), and Šinžuku (Engl. Shinjuku, the huge territory with an atmosphere of Tokyo), Asakusa (neighborhood temples and monuments), or Roppongi (district, popular for night fun and walks among tourists and foreigners).

Tokyo-City big enough, so it must be good to stay there long enough.

Outside Tokyo, you can carry out a journey through the classic route: Mount Fuji (Fuji-San), Kyoto (the town itself and its surroundings will introduce you to traditional Japan), Nara (one of the old provinces of Japan).

Where to stay in Japan

In Japan, to find accommodation, you must also use all sorts of sites that offer search services and booking accommodation for every taste. If we are talking about a cheap trip to Japan, it is worth to visit the website of affordable housing proposals-hostelworld.com. This site offers different room, there is also a cheap accommodation in Japan.

Youth Hostel are cheaper than ordinary budget hotel. You can also use the so-called hotels capsules of Japan, which is also quite democratic costs.

Well, we start to collect suitcases ...

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What they cannot do in Japan

Eight Japanese taboos, the knowledge of which will help the traveler in communicating with descendants of the Samurai.

Japan has many unobvious customs, by which a foreigner traveling like an elephant in a China shop. If you are visiting as a tourist and, briefly, language don't know go on standard routes — you probably have most of the nuances of never even tell Japanese people in general are quite delicate. But if you want to gently blend in with the local culture — then here is small guide on good manners. Use on health!

1. Don't take off your shoes

Japan decided to divide the space-dwelling house separately separate Street, Temple separately etc. Before entering a small bridge will be waiting for you and where you want to take and leave shoes. Dwelling in the shoes come only at funerals (and incense sticks at the funeral only tow too). Don't forget to take off when the go!
Street shoes should be removed before entering the Buddhist temples in the Interior. There are special slippers for toilets and baths. Even just put sneakers into the room in which you walked down the street (the Japanese would say: "the soles which involved Street") is already a violation of decency. Follow the icons please take your shoes off. Walk on the wooden floors of temples barefoot, by the way, very nice.

2. Publicly sniffle

Blow your nose in someone you can only if you would like to inflict terrible insult or give to understand that and do it for the person don't you think. Calmly this custom blend well with noisy hlûpan′em when eating noodles — that usually does not fit in the head of the aliens.

3. Tipping

It's a nice moment. Yes, tipping in Japan don't give almost anywhere and never in cafes, restaurants, bars, taxis add a dime to the account is not accepted and may even offend. In the Café, by the way, by not producing — you need to go to the cashier and pay there, to the table for the money podbegat′. But beyond the accounts won't take anything.

4. There are trains

Trains generally many eaten, many sleep and very many girls painted, especially in the morning before work. But more often the not too excited.
Another thing sinkanseny (high-speed trains): there are tables like in airplanes, and rows of seats — as in airplanes. You look in the back of a neighbor, rather than in person. In conventional same trains local significance are often seats arranged as we have in the subway benches facing each other. And if you decide in this train to eat kotletku with rice, a man sits in front of you and you looks — to the image of foreigners added another couple of impolite strokes. You can and wait till the station.

5. Help another to work

Extraordinary item for us, but in Japan it is not worth to carry out someone else's work. Work here makes a person a member of society, and if you put letter instead of a postman or removed trash instead of cleaner, it can be perceived not as aid but as a fact of what you are trying to take his rightful place. A person can be a deeply earnest.

6. Leave the food nedoedennoj

Food made with. Especially rice, which was expensive and accessible only to the wealthy estates. Yes, the portions are usually not too large, Japanese cuisine is very tasty-finish your lunch generally do not constitute a special problem. Toss cooked for you food is disrespectful to the entire chain of production. Food in General in Japan are very carefully, starting from the cultivation of vegetables and ending with serving dishes on the table. And Yes, delicious.

7. Throw out the garbage without sorting

It is known that in Japan are processed more than 90% of the garbage. Plastic bottles made from plastic bottles from garbage unburnable fill Islands, paper processed several times. The entire collection is disjoint, in principle. Even just Street urns separate: there are bottles, plastic, for food residue. URNs are not just so where horrible — you can put the bottle next to a drinks machine, plastic, pieces of paper — about shops. Household waste is collected and transported on certain days: for example, glass is once a month. Foreigners do not understand the system and throw anything anywhere that the Japanese, of course, annoying. A large part of the waste containers, signed English, incidentally, and pictograms is to understand that you can throw is fairly simple.

8. Wear a black tie wedding

And most subtle. It would seem a trifle for the article, but such stories we have heard several times. It turns out that in Japan it is not accepted to wear a black tie wedding — only at funerals. At the wedding are white or striped. If an alien call for wedding ceremony, he said to necessarily come in black tie. Chances to get to the wedding during a short tourist trip, however, are slim. But if go is not something bind black. And you can have fun!

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