These Photos Got Me Itchin' to Go Back Inside Shuri Castle

UNESCO Shuri Castle Is the Most Popular Attraction in Okinawa

 

 

Something possessed me today, to look at some old photos, I shot back in 2008.

There was a folder from October with undeveloped RAW files so, I processed them.

Just looking at all the bright colors and that shiny gold got me thinking.

The last time, I went inside this room, was almost, six years ago.

It's not like I haven't been to Shuri Castle lately.

If somebody, was keeping score, I've probably been there more than a hundred times.

One year, I even bought a Shuri Castle Park Passport.

That was probably, the smartest thing, I ever did in that town.

It costs 800 Yen admission fee, to visit the castle one time.

If you buy a Passport, for 1600 Yen, you can visit as many times as you want, for a whole year.

They even allow people to go in there, wearing flip-flops.

Well, I think it's high time, I got back down there and, buy me a new passport.

Then, I'll make sure, I follow all the rules and, shoot some more of that gold.

Once upon a time, we got in a bind for not-following-the-rules.

That was the day, I took these pictures. And, I haven't been back in there, since.

Well I'm older and a little bit wiser, nowadays.

If that security guard hasn't already retired maybe, he won't recognize me, anymore.

A few more grey hairs and a bit longer beard, may fool him.

It would probably be a good idea to wear blue, instead of yellow flip-flops, too.

That does it. I'm going back inside Shuri Castle.  Sounds like a plan.

More About UNESCO World Heritage Shuri Castle

 

 

Photo and Travel Tips

Shuri Castle Day and Night at the Moon Viewing Festival

UNESCO Shuri Castle at Night

The Sacred Water of the New Year

The Critters of UNESCO World Heritage Shuri Castle Pond

Shuri Castle Pond Again and Again

Shureimon Then and Now

Five UNESCO Castles on One Small Island: Okinawa, Japan

Well I Figured Kill Two Birds with One Stone

Stuck in the Office

 

The day started off with a plan that went something like this: Do Office Stuff Today.

In the morning emails I found one where my brother-in-law asked if I was wearing socks with my flip-flops.

So, I answered something like this, "Yup."

Then, I decided to start all the paperwork required to apply for a Foreign Press Card.

That meant I needed a recent mug shot.  So, I figure, kill two birds today.

Why pay another photographer to take your own mug shot ?

Trust me.  I am not a studio photographer and don't really have the desire to ever become one.

There ya go.  Here is how I imagined it should be done.

And, my brother-in-law can see one of my socks.  The other one has a hole in it.  You can't see.

Excuse the mess in the background.  This place is always a work in progress.

The first shot was sort of an experiment. I didn't like it. Can you tell ?

Some adjustments had to be made on the height of the camera and tripod.

See, I don't smile when I'm stuck in the office.

That's OK.  This photo is for official government stuff.  So, I don't need to smile.

The dimensions of

a photo for Foreign Press Cards are different from what I'm used to doing.

So, I'm not sure which of these shots will pass the test.

Maybe, tomorrow I should just pay the five bucks and sit in a Passport Photo Booth.

That way, if the sun comes out I'll have time to go shoot some real birds.

Visit my website for today's Feature Photo

UNESCO Shuri Castle Okinawa (Photo) and Travel Tips

The most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in Okinawa, Japan is Shuri-jo (Castle) and it probably gets visitors, from around the world, numbering in the millions every year.

This photo reminds me of two very important things a visitor needs to know.

The red building, on the left side of the frame is the main attraction.  At the time the photo was taken, scaffolding covered the left third of the structure.  Maintenence was being done to restore the brilliant colors for the annual King and Queen's Coronation held each year in November.

There is a website SHURIJO CASTLE PARK  updated regularly, that would have informed me of this project.  I wouldn't have planned on going to take castle pictures with the site under construction. 

Living here, in Okinawa, Japan, I can go anytime, year round.

Another thing visitors may want to know, especially if they are on the island for any length of time, is the admission fees.

An adult pays 800 yen for admission each time they enter the castle. But, if you plan on visiting more than twice, during the course of a year, an Annual Passport is the way to go.

It costs 1600 yen, giving you unlimited visits to the castle and a few more benefits, like 10% of at the gift shops and a chance to win a 10,000 yen gift certificate.

So, my travel tips would be check the website for Shuri Castle before you go and get an annual passport if you think you may visit, like I do, several times a year.