Nijo Castle: 7 highlights you should check before visiting

Nijo Castle, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, is a castle that has been watching the transition of Japanese history, including the rise and fall of the Tokugawa family. You can see the remains of the Momoyama culture, which is about 400 years old, such as Ninomaru Palace, Ninomaru Garden, and Karamon.

Admission fee / Ninomaru palace viewing fee (exhibition and collection hall viewing fee is +200 yen)
* The price in parentheses is for entrance only.
• Adults: 1,030 yen (620 yen)
• Junior high and high school students: 350 yen
• Elementary school students: 200 yen
* Nijo Castle is compatible with electronic money, so you can purchase tickets and shop at cash stalls without cash.

Castle opening time
• From 8:45 to 16:00 (closed at 17:00)

History of Nijo Castle and Tokugawa Shogunate

Nijo Castle was built in 1603 by Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun of the Edo shogunate, to protect the Imperial Palace in Kyoto and to serve as an accommodation for the Shogun. When the Shogun was absent, the castle was protected by samurai dispatched from Edo.
In the era of the third shogun Iemitsu, the castle was extensively renovated for Emperor Gomizuo, and many arts such as the wall paintings by Tanyu Kano was added to Ninomaru Palace.
It is too famous in Japanese history that the 15th Shogun, Yoshinobu, expressed his willingness to resign in the Great Hall of the Ninomaru Palace in 1867.

East Otemon Gate (Important Cultural Property)

After you buy a ticket, the first place to visit is East Otemon, an important cultural property. East Otemon is the main gate of Nijo Castle, and the current gate was built in 1662. As you pass through East Otemon, pamphlets in 8 languages (Japanese, English, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Korean, Spanish, French, and German) will be on your left! Get some here and go around the castle. There was also a reception for guided tours on the right hand side. It is fine to see the castle with a pamphlet, but if you have a guide who is familiar with Nijo Castle, you can enjoy more! The event is held twice a day, from 9:30 and 11:30. The fee is 1,000 yen per person. There were also audio guides available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, French, and Spanish. The fee is 520 yen per audio guide.

The gorgeous Karamon Gate welcomes you

On the way to the national treasure "Ninomaru Palace", there is a gorgeous "Karamon gate". This Karamon gate is the main gate of the Ninomaru Palace, and is one of the important cultural properties that have been restored to its former appearance through restoration work in 2013.
In addition to the roof shape called Kirizuma-zukuri, it features a Hiwadabuki (cypress-roofed) four-legged gate and a Karahafu (a Chinese styled gable) located before and after it. Also look out for gorgeous, colorfully engraved gates decorated with Shochikubai Crane, which means longevity, and Karajishi(Chinese Lion), which protects the sanctuary.

Gorgeous! National treasure "Ninomaru Palace"

The Ninomaru Goten (Ninomaru Palace) consists of a total of six buildings, and is an important relic in the history of Japanese architecture as a representative example of Shoinzukuri, a residential style completed in the early Edo period. The palaces of Edo Castle, Osaka Castle and Nagoya Castle were all lost, so this is the only palaces remaining in castles in Japan.
The interior is decorated with Shoheki-ga (wall painting) by the Kano school, the largest school in Japanese painting history, and various sculptures, making it a gorgeous space suitable for the Shogun's palace.

○ The Great Hall

The Great Hall is the official meeting place between the Shogun and the Daimyo and the Lord. In 1867, the Edo Shogunate returned the government to the court, setting the stage for the resignation of the great government

○ Corridor of Ninomaru Palace

It is called "Uguisu-bari" because it sounds like a bird singing when people walk. The sound is caused by rubbing the glaze and the nails.

○ Shoheki-ga (wall painting) of Ninomaru Palace

About 3,600 wall paintings, including those from the Kan-ei period, are left in Ninomaru Palace. In 1982, 1016 of them were designated as Important National Cultural Properties. The wall painting of the Kan-ei period was made at the time of renovation in 1626 by Kano Tanyu for Emperor Mizuo's visit.

Honmaru Palace

Honmaru is located in the center of the castle, protected by the inner moat. The third general, Tokugawa Iemitsu, built a new castle area on the west side to welcome Emperor Gomizuo in 1626. At that time, a palace was built in the precinct of Hommaru, but it was destroyed by fire in 1788. At the end of the Tokugawa period, the 15th shogun Yoshinobu Tokugawa built a palace, but it was demolished around 1881.

In 1894, the Emperor Meiji relocated the part of the Katsuramiya family's palace, which was built in the north of Kyoto Imperial Palace in 1847, to the current Honmaru place, because, at that time, Nijo Castle was used as a villa of the Emperor's family.
The Honmaru Palace is designated as a national important cultural property as a valuable example of the prince's living space at that time.

Ninomaru Garden -a Special scenic spot-

It was made in harmony with the structure of Nijo Castle and partially renovated in 1626.
Ninomaru Garden, a Shoin-style garden, is said to be a garden that represents the world of Shinsen Horai (ancient Chinese folk belief in the existence of mountain wizards). The garden is built as a courtyard garden surrounded by a palace. There is a small house is built in a pond, and has three islands and four bridges.
It is thought that the castle tower could be partially viewed from the main hall through the garden.
After the reign of the government, the renovation was carried out at least five times, and it is considered that the basic landscape to this day has been completed. Ninomaru Garden has been designated as a scenic spot in 1939 since it was gifted to Kyoto City, and designated as a national scenic spot in 1953.

Honmaru Garden

The current Honmaru Garden, was rebuilt in 1895 when the Emperor Meiji visited. The emperor ordered the renovation of the existing Karesansui style (dry landscape) Garden, and after about seven and a half months later, it was changed to Tsukiyama-style (a lawn garden with hill). In the middle of the Meiji era, many Western-style gardens were planted, so it is thought that the Honmaru Garden was affected to some extent.
In the garden, Tsukiyama (a hill) is arranged in the southeast corner, the lawn is spread, a curved garden path is established, flowers are planted along the stone steps, and lanterns and garden stones are in some places.
○ "Remains of the castle tower" overlooking the cityscape of Kyoto
When you pass through Honmaru Garden, you will reach the castle tower. Originally, there was a five-story and six-floor castle tower which was relocated from Fushimi Castle. However, it was burned down in 1750 by lightning. It has not been rebuilt since then, and only the basement remains. It is a great location to overlook the Honmaru Palace and Honmaru Garden! You can also see the cityscape of Kyoto. In April, the cherry blossoms are just under your eyes!

Seiryu-en Garden

This garden is a relatively new created between 1964 and 1965, with an area of approximately 16,500 square meters. There is a Japanese-style garden and a Western-style garden, and you can enjoy beautiful seasonal views. The garden used a part of the former residence of the Kadokura house in Nijo, Kawaramachi, such as garden stones, garden trees, etc. The garden was named "Seiryu-en" by Mayor Takayama of the time.

Entering from the East-Otemon gate, there is a great rest area on the right hand side. In the rest area, there are shops where you can purchase Nijo Castle original products, and a cafe corner where you can get Japanese sweets.
• Opening hours: 8: 45-16: 45
• Regular holidays: None (excluding castle's closed days)

■ Nijo Castle

HP: http://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/?lang=en
Address: 541 Nijo-jo Horikawa Nishiiri Nijo Castle Town, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Phone: 075-841-0096
Admission fee: 1030（adult）
Opening time: 8:45-16:00 (closed at 17:00) * Depends on season
Closed days: December 29-Decemb

《Access》

➡➡➡Nijo Castle is recommended to be accessed by public transport, as you can use the "one-day subway ticket" or "one-day subway / bus ticket" to get a discount on entrance fees.

Train/Subway
• Subway Karasuma Line・・・Kyoto Station to Karasuma Oike Station (about 6 minutes). Transfer to the Subway Tozai Line and get to Nijojo-mae Station. About 2 minutes' walk after getting off.
• JR Sagano Line・・・Kyoto Station to Nijo Station (about 5 minutes)After getting off, walk about 17 minutes.

Bus
• From Hankyu Shijo Station, take the City Bus No. 12.or 101 and take about 9 minutes to reach Nijo Castle-mae.
• From Kyoto Station, take the city bus # 9, 50, 101, or Express # 111 (Nijo Castle / Kinkakuji Express), and take about 16 minutes to reach Nijo-jyo Mae.