Okinawa | The Architectural Aesthetics of Shūji Nonose at the Okinawa Museum Inspired by the Ancient Ryukyu Castles

When visiting Okinawa, the unpredictable weather often calls for backup plans. The Okinawa Museum and Art Museum, located in the Shintoshin area, is an excellent choice for such occasions. Completed in 2007, this museum was designed by Japanese architect Shūji Nonose. Covering an area of 23,000 square meters, the building draws inspiration from the ancient castles of the Ryukyu Kingdom. Its translucent openings resemble defensive loopholes while also evoking the texture of woven fabric. The rounded angles mimic the stone walls of castles, creating a layered and majestic visual impression. On cloudy days, the openings allow light to filter through; on rainy days, they shield against the rain; and on sunny days, they showcase fascinating light and shadow effects. The architecture alone is worth admiring repeatedly and photographing endlessly. Thanks to this design, Shūji Nonose won the Japan Institute of Architects Award in 2008 and the Architectural Institute of Japan Award in 2009. Known for blending local characteristics into his works, Nonose has also designed the Ehime Budokan, the Kochi Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum, and the Oita Budokan Sports Center. Originally located in Shuri Castle, the museum moved to its new Shintoshin building in 2007, with the art museum joining it to form Okinawa's cultural and artistic hub. Interestingly, the exterior features a relocated Ryukyu-style ancient house, arranged like a castle town. It also includes traditional climate-adaptive granaries and the excavated Yomitan ancient kiln site, which has been fully relocated for display. This setup vividly recreates the glory days of the ancient Ryukyu Kingdom. 📍 Address: 〒900-0006 Okinawa Prefecture, Naha City, Omoromachi 3-1-1 🚗 Accessible by a 10-minute walk from Omoromachi Station on the monorail.