Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle

Introduction

Nijo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was originally built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu. The castle is surrounded by walls approximately 500 meters east-west and 400 meters north-south, along with a moat. The wooden floors in the corridors are designed to squeak like a nightingale when walked upon, serving as a security measure against intruders. In 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu carried out the Taisei Hōkan here, returning governing power to the Emperor. The existing Ninomaru Palace consists of six large shoin-style buildings. The painted screens are the works of the Kano school, showcasing the essence of Momoyama-period art, including carvings and metalwork decorations. The Honmaru Palace was destroyed in a fire during the Tenmei era, and the current structure was relocated from the Kyoto Imperial Palace’s Katsura Imperial Palace. Nijo Castle is also renowned for its rich variety of cherry blossom species, making it one of Kyoto’s premier hanami spots. In the Sakura Garden within the castle grounds, you can admire the noble and majestic beauty of the yaezakura, known as the “king of cherry blossoms.” Transportation

Nijojo-mae Station on the Tozai Subway Line.

 Kyoto, Japan