The gorgeous style of Nijo castle, the world heritage is surrounded by green space and cherry, plum, maple, ginkgo trees lined along walking paths.
Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period, which ruled Japan from the early 17th century.
His grandson, Iemitsu, completed the castle’s palace 23 years later. However, the donjon was destroyed by a lightning-caused fire in 1750. After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1867, Nijo Castle served briefly as an imperial palace before being donated to the city and opened to the public as a historic site. The outer structures of the castle are designated as a National Treasure.
The castle grounds span a vast area of about 500 meters east to west and 400 meters north to south, surrounded by stone walls and moats. Nijo Castle is divided into three main areas: the Honmaru, the Ninomaru, and the gardens. Visitors can enter the grounds through a large gate on the east side.
The Ninomaru Palace
The Ninomaru Palace served as the residence of the shogun during his visits to Kyoto. Preserved in its original state, the palace comprises several buildings connected by corridors. Inside, the rooms are adorned with tatami mats, intricately painted sliding doors, and elegantly decorated ceilings, showcasing the artistry of the period.
The Ninomaru Garden
The Ninomaru Garden, a traditional Japanese landscape garden featuring a large pond, stones, and pine trees, extends beyond the palace, offering a serene and picturesque setting.
The Honmaru Palace
The Honmaru was the second palace complex at Nijo Castle and housed a five-story donjon. Unfortunately, the donjon was never rebuilt after it was destroyed by fire in the 18th century. After the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1867, the Honmaru served briefly as an imperial palace and remains today as the Honmaru Palace.
The Honmaru Palace is not regularly open to the public. However, visitors can explore the surrounding gardens and climb to the foundation stones of the former donjon, where they can enjoy panoramic views of the castle grounds.
Both the Honmaru and Ninomaru are surrounded by lush green spaces and tree-lined walking paths, featuring about 400 late-blooming cherry trees and a plum orchard. In late November, the area is transformed with brilliant autumn colors from maple, ginkgo, and other trees.
Address : 541 Nijojocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8301
Access : 10-minute walk from Nijo station on the JR Sanin line
Hours : 8:45 to 17:00 (admission until 16:00), entry to Ninomaru from 9:00 to 16:00
Admission : 600 yen
Events
Nijo Castle Sakura Festival
Within the castle’s grounds, there are approximately 400 cherry trees of late blooming varieties in a cherry orchard. The special night illumination is on during the bloom.