Though the Japanese garrison which had originally occupied Shuri Castle in 1879 withdrew in 1896, the castle, and a series of tunnels and caverns below it, were made to serve as general headquarters for Japanese military forces on Okinawa during World War II.
Meskipun garnisun Jepang yang awalnya menduduki Istana Shuri pada tahun 1879 sudah ditarik mundur pada tahun 1896, istana dan serangkaian terowongan dan gua di bawahnya dijadikan markas besar angkatan bersenjata Jepang di Okinawa selama Perang Dunia II.