Museums
Nijo Castle: Former Imperial Residence
Katrina WebberBuilt under the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nijo-jo has served as the home of the Tokugawa shogun, an Imperial property, and is now..
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle is one of the most accessible UNESCO spots in Kyoto, being just a short walk from Nijojo-mae Station. The former residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, the sprawling castle grounds are surrounded by a wide moat and massive stone walls. Spanning over 275,000 square metres, Nijo Castle is one of the biggest historic sites in all of Kyoto.
Notice
Structural reinforcement and restoration will be carried out on all historic structures within Nijo-jo Castle. The various renovations are planned as follows: Honmaru-goten Palace (2017-2023), Tamarigura (2024-2027), Ninomaru-goten Palace (2024-2036), and Tonan Sumi-yagura (2028-2036). Read more
Established in 1626, Nijo Castle was built by a combined effort from all the feudal lords in Western Japan at the time. Since then, multiple buildings have been damaged by fires or storms, and extra effort is taken by the city to preserve and restore this cultural site. Nijo Castle is designated as a Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto, making it one of the prefecture's most significant sites.
Within the castle grounds is Ninomaru Palace, a 3,300-square meter complex made almost completely out of Hinoki cypress wood. The palace interior is adorned with gold leaf-plated decor and exquisite wood carvings, making it a fitting place to entertain powerful political visitors during the shogunate's ruling period.
Overview
Address
541 Nijojocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8301 (Map) (Directions)Hours
Closed todayOpening Hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
Closed
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
Closed
Friday
Closed
Saturday
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Holidays
Closed
Phone Number
075-841-0096Website
Highlights
Ninomaru Palace
The 3,300-square-meter palace grounds are a must-see when at Nijo Castle. The palace buildings are made entirely out of Japanese Hinoki cypress wood and contain a wealth of original historical artefacts within the building. Elaborate paintings adorned with gold leaf decorate the sliding doors of the palace rooms, intentionally done to impress important visitors.
General Amenities
- Coin lockers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair rental
Payment Method
- Credit cards accepted
Access
A short walk from City Bus Stop Nijo-jo-mae (from JR Kyoto Station/Hankyu Railway Karasuma Station), or Nijo-jo-mae Station on the Tozai Subway Line
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