The Spring 2025 Castle Festival & Shuri Handicraft Market offers a unique opportunity to engage with Okinawa’s cultural heritage while witnessing the ongoing restoration of Shuri Castle’s main hall, set for completion in fall 2026. Held over the weekend of March 22–23, 2025, this event invites visitors to explore traditional crafts and participate in hands-on workshops. With the castle’s reconstruction progress open to the public, attendees can see restoration efforts while enjoying a blend of history, art, and regional charm.

A festival highlight is the chance to craft keepsakes from materials tied to Shuri Castle’s restoration. The “Crafting from Scrap Wood” workshop invites participants to create original pendants using leftover Japanese cypress wood from the castle’s restoration. Available both days (10:00–12:00 and 14:00–16:00) for just 300 yen, this family-friendly activity merges sustainability with creativity. For a deeper dive into Okinawan artistry, the “Urushi (Chinkin) Workshop” on March 22 (10:00–12:00), priced at 1,500 yen, offers a rare chance to practice “chinkin,” a traditional lacquerware technique involving gold inlays.

“Guided Shuri Castle Restoration Tours” will also detail the architectural and historical significance of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, emphasizing its revival after a 2019 fire.

On March 23 (8:00–12:00), the festival extends to Ryutan Street for the “Shuri Morning Market,” where stalls sell fresh produce, handmade goods, and Okinawan foods like “goya champuru” (bitter melon stir-fry) and “sata andagi” (Okinawan doughnuts).

Date: March 22–23, 2025
Location: Shuri Castle Park & Ryutan Street (Morning Market)
Admission: Market entry is free; workshop fees vary

Shurijo Castle