Nijō Castle Travel Guide

Nijō Castle (Nijōjō) was constructed in 1603 as the Kyoto base of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period. His grandson, Iemitsu, completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later, adding a five-story castle keep. The castle served as a symbol of the shogunate's power over the weakening emperor, intentionally built to overlook the nearby Imperial Palace.After the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867, Nijō Castle was briefly an imperial palace before being donated to Kyoto and opened to the public as a historic site. In 1994, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle is divided into three main areas: the Honmaru (main circle of defense), the Ninomaru (secondary circle of defense), and surrounding gardens. Stone walls and moats surround the entire castle grounds and the Honmaru.Visitors enter through a large gate on the east side, where English audio guides are available for rent. The Chinese-style Karamon Gate leads to the Ninomaru, home to the Ninomaru Palace, which served as the shogun's residence and office during visits to Kyoto. The palace's nightingale floors were designed to chirp underfoot, alerting residents to potential intruders. The Honmaru was the site of another palace complex and a five-story castle keep, but both were destroyed by fires in the 18th century and never rebuilt. However, the Honmaru Palace was reopened to the public in September 2024, requiring advance reservations and an additional fee. Visitors can also explore the Honmaru gardens and climb the stone foundation of the former castle keep for panoramic views. Cherry trees are planted throughout the grounds.