Kyoto Nijo-jo Castle’s Gardens

Nijo-jo Castle was the official lodging for the Tokugawa Shogun when staying in Kyoto. Tokugawa Ieyasu (the 1st Shogun) started the construction of the buildings in 1603 and Iemitsu (the 3rd Shogun) completed them in 1626. This was also the place where the last Shogun, Yoshinobu, restored Imperial Rule in 1867. There are three beautiful gardens inside the moat; Ninomaru Garden built in 1626, Honmaru Garden in 1893, and Seiryu-en Garden in 1965.