The fire started in the early morning of Thursday (October 31).
The Naha City Fire Department received a call to report the castle fire at 2:40 a.m. local time.
The fire is believed to have burned down the main temple of the castle.
Location of Shuri castle and Naha city.
Image from the scene of the fire.
More than 10 fire trucks were dispatched to the scene to put out the fire. There have been no reports of casualties.
Local authorities said other buildings in the complex may have also caught fire.
Image of the fire from afar.
The castle was built about 500 years ago under the Ryukyu Dynasty and was recognized as a national treasure of Japan in 1933.
The newly burned castle is also considered a symbol of the Ryukyu Kingdom.
The Ryukyu Kingdom has a history of existing for 450 years until Okinawa was annexed by Japan in 1879.
The police are currently investigating the cause of the fire.
Shuri Castle was devastated after World War II but was restored and reopened in 1992.
The castle is Japan's 11th world heritage recognized in October 2000.
The ancient castle is a tourist attraction in the southwestern province of Japan. Photo:
