Castle of Ryushu kings

The rain has, as predicted, disappeared so we visited the Shuri castle today. It is on top of the mountain that overlooks Naha port. It was completely flattened in1945 during the Okinawa war = Battle of Okinawa. The local kings hadn't lived there since the Japanese had taken over (they came from Kagoshima.) So when they decided to rebuild in the early 1990's they had to do some research about what it looked like in its heyday. They found one bloke who said that it was red. So red it is.

 Outside and in. 

Although original tools were not used, traditional materials and joints were. It smells deliciously of the cedar that it is built of. And the views are stunning.

We also visited an old fashioned department store because it is said to have the best collection of woven fabrics. It certainly had more than I have seen elsewhere. But the prices! There was one piece of printed banana fibre, plain weave, about 5 ins by 10ins for $15. A place mat sets you back $50. Oh to get those prices for handwoven in Sydney.

The store caters for the older women, mostly. Very greyed palette, loose fit, easy care fabric. There was one nice, shibori dyed, indigo, man's shirt for $450 . . . on sale.