Held each autumn, the Shuri Castle Festival (Shuri-jō Matsuri) celebrates the heritage of the Ryukyu Kingdom through a rich programme of cultural events centred on the castle grounds. The centrepiece is the grand reproduction of the Okiyamai procession, in which performers in authentic Ryukyuan royal court costumes re-enact the king's ceremonial parade. Ancient court music (Uchināguchi sanshin performances) and classical Ryukyuan dance (Ryūbu) fill multiple stages daily. The festival spans several days and is one of Okinawa's most culturally immersive autumn events.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Culture
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Late October – Early November
- Region
- Okinawa
- Prefecture
- Okinawa
- City
- Naha
Highlights
- ◆Re-enactment of the Ryukyuan royal Okiyamai procession
- ◆Performers in authentic Ryukyu Kingdom court costumes
- ◆Classical Ryūbu dance and sanshin music performances
- ◆Set within the iconic Shuri Castle grounds
- ◆Multi-day programme with demonstrations and craft stalls