Nijo Castle was built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. Located in the heart of Kyoto, this flatland castle was constructed to protect the city and serve as a residence for the shogun when visiting the imperial capital.
After his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, Ieyasu established the castle as a strategic base in Kyoto. In 1603, he held a ceremony there to celebrate his appointment as the first shogun of the Edo shogunate.
More than 260 years later, in 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the 15th and final shogun, announced the return of political authority to the emperor. He formally presented the decision at a grand meeting in the main hall of Ninomaru Palace, paving the way for the Meiji Restoration. For this reason, Nijo Castle is remembered as a place associated with both the beginning and the end of the Edo period (1603–1868).
In the modern era, the castle came under the administration of the Imperial Household Ministry and was known as Nijo Imperial Villa before opening to the public as Nijo Castle, also called the Former Imperial Villa Nijo Castle. It also played an important role as an imperial residence during the Meiji period.
The six buildings that make up Ninomaru Palace have been designated National Treasures, preserving the castle’s original architectural character. Another 22 buildings, along with 1,016 painted sliding-door and wall panels from Ninomaru Palace, are designated Important Cultural Properties.
The extensive grounds contain several beautiful gardens, including Ninomaru Garden and Honmaru Garden. Ninomaru Garden is designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government.
The entire castle grounds are designated a National Historic Site and form part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.
Nijo Castle consists of two main compounds: Honmaru and Ninomaru. An outer moat surrounds Ninomaru, which can be entered through the main East Gate or the North Gate, the latter of which is generally kept closed.
An inner moat separates Honmaru from Ninomaru. Access to Honmaru is through the Honmaru Turret Gate.
Compared with other castles designed for a shogun’s residence, Nijo Castle is relatively compact, and its defensive strength might seem limited. According to a traditional account, when his retainers questioned its defenses, Tokugawa Ieyasu explained that reinforcements would arrive from nearby areas if the castle could withstand an attack for a day or two. He also reportedly reasoned that if an enemy captured a heavily fortified castle, reclaiming it would take considerable effort.
Ninomaru Palace stands west of the East Gate. Its six connected buildings are arranged in a staggered formation resembling a flight of geese. All six structures are designated National Treasures.
The interiors feature magnificent paintings on sliding doors and walls, created by artists of the Kano school, including Kano Tanyu. These decorative works reflect the power and refined taste of the ruling shogunate.
The palace was originally even more lavish than it appears today. Its metal fittings were once covered in gold leaf, creating a brilliant and opulent effect.
Ninomaru Garden is a pond-centered strolling garden designed in the Momoyama style. Also known as the Garden of Eight Formations, it is designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and is often regarded as one of the finest works associated with the celebrated garden designer Kobori Enshu.
Three islands rise from the pond. The largest, Horai Island, lies slightly north of the pond’s center. To its north are Turtle Island and Crane Island, whose stones are arranged to suggest the shapes of these auspicious creatures.
The design is especially ingenious: depending on the viewing angle, the stone arrangement of Horai Island appears to form a crane when viewed alongside Turtle Island, or a turtle when viewed alongside Crane Island. In this way, the garden repeatedly evokes the traditional pair of the crane and turtle, symbols of longevity and good fortune in Japanese culture.
Opening hours
8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Closing time: 5:00 p.m.)
Ninomaru Goten viewing hours
8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Exhibition and storage hall hours
9:00 - 16:45 (reception closes at 16:30)
Closed: December 29-December 31
Year-end: December 29-December 31
Ninomaru Palace closed
Tuesdays in December, January, July, and August, January 1 - January 3, and December 26 - December 28 (If these days are holidays, the castle is closed on the following day.)
Adults: 800 yen (500 yen is required to enter the Ninomaru Palace)
Junior high and high school students: 400 yen
Elementary school students: 300 yen
Admission to the Nijo Castle Barrier Paintings Exhibition and Collection
Elementary school students and older: 100 yen (separate admission fee is required)
Subway
1 min. walk from Nijojo-mae Sta. on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line
Bus: 1 min. walk from Nijojo-mae Sta.
Take Kyoto City Bus No. 9, 12, 50, 67, 101, or 111 and get off at Nijojo-mae bus stop.
2 minutes walk from Horikawa-Oike bus stop on Kyoto City Bus No. 15 and Kyoto Bus No. 61, 62, 63, 64.
Six-minute walk from Horikawa Marutamachi bus stop on Kyoto City Bus routes 10, 93, 202, and 204.