Shuri Castle Park in Naha City, Okinawa, will host a lavish New Year celebration, “New Year’s Banquet,” from January 1 to January 3, 2024. This event promises a blend of traditional and modern attractions, making it a unique experience for visitors.
Event Highlights
- Chohai Okishiki Ceremony: Witness a part of the traditional New Year’s ceremony from the Ryukyu Kingdom era.
- Uzagaku Performance: Enjoy the regal court music of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
- Royal Procession: The newly introduced King and Queen will make an appearance.
- Crafting Workshops: Participate in workshops like strap-making from the leftover materials of the main hall restoration and original Shuri Castle plaster painting.
- Multiple Event Programs: The event boasts a total of 12 distinct programs.
Practical Information
- Dates: January 1 (Monday, holiday) to January 3 (Wednesday), 2024.
- Location: Shuri Castle Park, 1-2 Shuri Kinjo-cho, Naha City, Okinawa. [Google Pin]
- Admission Fees (Discounted for Okinawa residents from December 31, 2023, to January 3, 2024):
- Adults: 320 yen
- High school students: 240 yen
- Elementary and middle school students: 120 yen
- Free for seniors aged 70 and above
Detailed Program Schedule
- Chohai Okishiki Ceremony
- Dates: January 1-2
- Times: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
- Location: Hoshinmon to Shita no Niwa
- Royal Procession
- Date: January 3
- Times: 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 12:30 pm
- Location: Hoshinmon
- Uzagaku Performance
- Dates: January 1-3
- Times: 8:30 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am
- Location: Keizuza & Yomotuza
- Ryukyuan Performance Feast
- Dates: January 1-3
- Times: 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, 4:00 pm
- Location: Keizuza & Yomotuza
- Plaster Painting Workshop
- Dates: January 1-3
- Time: 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (last admission at 3:30 pm)
- Location: Zuizenmon Lower
- Fee: 1,000 yen per person (limit of 50 participants per day)
- New Year’s Calligraphy Experience
- Dates: January 1-3
- Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (last admission at 3:30 pm)
- Location: Zuizenmon Lower
- Fee: 100 yen per person (limit of 150 participants per day)
- Strap Making with Hall Restoration Materials
- Dates: January 1-3
- Time: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (last admission at 3:30 pm)
- Location: Women’s Officer’s Terrace (paid area)
- Fee: 100 yen per person (limit of 150 participants per day)
- Additional admission fee required
- Shuri Castle Message Cards
- Dates: January 1-3
- Time: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
- Location: Restoration Exhibition Room (paid area)
- Additional admission fee required
- Year of the Dragon Commemorative Exhibition: “Dragons in Shuri Castle and Art Craft”
- Dates: Until March 31, 2024
- Time: 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
- Location: Shuri Morikawa Guidance Hall, Basement Floor 1
- Chohai Okishiki Video Screening
- Dates: January 1-3
- Time: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
- Location: Sekoden (paid area)
- Ryukyuan Sweet Shop Corner
- Dates: January 1-3
- Time: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Location: Shuri Morikawa 1st Floor “Shop Bingata”
- New Year Special “Gurutto Tour”
- Dates: January 1-3
- Times: 9:15 am, 4:00 pm (75 minutes each session)
- Registration Location: Near the General Information Office, Basement Floor 1, Shuri Morikawa
- Fee: 1,000 yen per person (limit of 10 participants per session)
- Free for elementary school children and younger
- Additional admission fee required
- Reservation required
Please note that the program schedule may change due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Limited parking is available, so it is recommended to use public transportation such as buses, taxis, or the monorail.
Disclaimer
Our passion for supporting local businesses drives us to share information about events in the Okinawa area. Please note that Oki Social is not responsible for hosting this event. It’s important to be aware that the event’s host reserves the right to make changes or even cancel the event without prior notice. Some photos and videos may come from various sources on the internet, whether official or unofficial. It is possible that some photos and videos may have been taken from the same event in previous occurrences.