CastleFlatland castle (hirajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 49
What makes this castle distinctive
Built in the year the Tokugawa shogunate began, it still has the hall where the shogun announced he would give power back.
Why?
Tokugawa Ieyasu built Nijo Castle in 1603 as his base in Kyoto, the year he became shogun. In 1867 the fifteenth and last shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, gathered senior retainers of the domains in the Ohiroma hall of the Ninomaru Palace and announced that he would return governing power to the emperor. The stage for both the beginning and the end of the shogunate survives, buildings and all, in this one castle.[1][5][6][15]
The Ohiroma hall of the Ninomaru Palace (National Treasure)
Where
Inside the Ninomaru Palace, beyond the Kara-mon gate (extra ticket; you follow a set route through the building).
What to look at
The raised first chamber where the shogun sat, with its alcove and staggered shelves; the pine-tree wall paintings by Kano Tan'yu; and the famous "Pine and Hawk" painting in the fourth chamber. Listen too for the "nightingale floors" that chirp as you walk.
Why it's interesting
The palace is a chain of six shoin-style buildings set on a diagonal, with 33 rooms and more than 800 tatami mats. The Ohiroma was the formal hall where the shogun received daimyo (feudal lords) and court nobles, and it is where the decision to return power to the emperor was announced in 1867. The official site explains that the floor's chirping comes from metal clamps rubbing against nails under the boards.[2][4][8][10][13]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleYou can walk through, but photography is not allowed inside. Most paintings in the palace are reproductions; some originals are shown in the Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery. The palace is closed to visitors on Tuesdays in January, July, August and December, among other days.
In front of the Ninomaru Palace. Enter through Higashi Ote-mon and it is ahead after the guardhouse.
What to look at
The curving karahafu gables on the front and back of the roof, and the carvings inside the gate: cranes, pine, bamboo, plum and Chinese guardian lions.
Why it's interesting
This is the main gate of the Ninomaru Palace, announcing that beyond it lies the shogun's residence. The official site explains that the cranes with pine, bamboo and plum stand for long life, and the lions guard a sacred space. It is an Important Cultural Property and can be viewed freely.[4][13]
Can you see it?
Visible from outsideViewable with a basic admission ticket.
The keep base, and a prince's palace moved to the main enclosure
Where
The honmaru (main enclosure) inside the inner moat. The keep base is in the southwest corner, next to the Honmaru Palace and Garden.
What to look at
The stone keep base, and the view from the top over the Honmaru Palace, its garden and the city of Kyoto.
Why it's interesting
A five-story keep, said to have been moved from Fushimi Castle, stood here until lightning burned it in 1750; it was never rebuilt. Today's Honmaru Palace is part of the residence of the Katsura-no-miya princely family, moved here in 1893-94 from north of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. According to the official site, it is the only large princely residence dating back to the Edo period that survives. It reopened to the public in 2024 after 18 years.[3][4][11][13]
Can you see it?
Partly visibleThe keep base and Honmaru Garden are included in basic admission. The inside of the Honmaru Palace needs an advance reservation and a separate ticket; no photography inside.
At a glance for visitors
Nearest station
1 min walk from Nijojo-mae Station
Climb
No climb
Time neededEditors' estimate
About 1.5 hours for the grounds and Ninomaru Palace; allow 2.5-3 hours if you add the Honmaru Palace.
Admission
Grounds: adults 800 yen, junior high and high school students 400 yen, elementary students 300 yen. Grounds + Ninomaru Palace: adults 1,300 yen. Free for preschool children. Groups of 30+: 700 yen / 1,100 yen.
Hours
Entry 8:45-16:00 (grounds close at 17:00). Ninomaru Palace entry until 16:10.
Access
Partly open
Entry to the grounds requires a ticket. The Ninomaru Palace costs extra (a combined ticket is available), and the Honmaru Palace requires an advance reservation and a separate ticket. Turret interiors are normally closed, as are parts of the Seiryu-en garden and the Koun-tei building. No photography inside the palaces; no drones anywhere on the grounds. The Japan 100 Castles stamp is at the General Information Office.
A castle to guard the emperor and house the shogun
The shogunate ruled from Edo (today's Tokyo), but the emperor lived in Kyoto. Tokugawa Ieyasu completed Nijo Castle in 1603 to guard the Imperial Palace and to give the shogun a place to stay on visits to Kyoto. When no shogun was in residence, samurai sent from Edo, called the Nijo Zaiban, guarded it.[1][6]
02
Historical record
Built by Ieyasu, enlarged for an emperor
Ieyasu ordered daimyo from western Japan to build the castle in 1601, and the part that is now the Ninomaru (second enclosure) was finished in 1603. From 1624, in the time of the second and third shoguns, Hidetada and Iemitsu, the castle was greatly enlarged; by 1626 it had a main enclosure and keep and reached its present size. That year Emperor Go-Mizunoo visited and stayed for five days. Wall paintings by Kano Tan'yu and his workshop were made for the visit.[1][2][5][6]
03
Scholarly interpretation
Showing power by hosting an emperor
By welcoming the emperor to a splendid castle, the shogunate showed the country that its rule was secure, according to the official site. The main east gate, Higashi Ote-mon, was originally two stories high, but it is thought to have been rebuilt as a single story for the imperial visit so that no one would look down on the emperor from above.[1][4][13]
04
Historical record
1867: power handed back
On October 13, 1867, the fifteenth shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, gathered senior retainers of 40 domains who were in Kyoto in the Ohiroma hall of the Ninomaru Palace to hear their views. The next day he offered to return governing power to the imperial court, which accepted on the 15th. This was the Taisei Hokan (Restoration of Imperial Rule), and it brought roughly 260 years of Tokugawa rule to a close.[5][6]
05
Historical record
The keep lost to lightning, the main palace to fire
The five-story keep burned after a lightning strike in 1750, and in 1788 a great fire in Kyoto destroyed the original Honmaru Palace and the northern corner turrets. The Ninomaru Palace, however, survives as it was in the Edo period: its six buildings are National Treasures, and 22 other structures, including Higashi Ote-mon, Kara-mon and two corner turrets, are Important Cultural Properties. After 1884 the castle became an imperial villa, and in 1893 a princely residence was moved into the main enclosure.[1][3][4][6]
06
Historical record
Passed to Kyoto City, then World Heritage
In 1939 the Imperial Household Ministry gave the castle to Kyoto City, and it has been open to the public since 1940. In 1994 it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. A major repair program for the buildings began in 2011, and the Honmaru Palace reopened in September 2024 after its restoration.[1][3][6][15]
The five-story keep of around 1626 (said to have come from Fushimi Castle) burned after a lightning strike in 1750 and was never rebuilt. Only its stone base remains.
The site today
Managed by Kyoto City as the Former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle, the whole area inside the outer moat is open with paid admission. It covers about 275,000 m2 with a perimeter of about 2 km. Most paths inside are gravel.
Main buildings
OriginalNational Treasure
Ninomaru Palace (6 buildings)
Tozamurai, Shikidai, Ohiroma, Sotetsu-no-ma, Kuroshoin and Shiroshoin. 1,016 wall and door paintings are Important Cultural Properties (mostly reproductions are shown in the palace).[1][2][4]
Original, relocatedImportant Cultural Property
Honmaru Palace
Part of the Katsura-no-miya residence, moved here in 1893-94. Reopened in September 2024 (reservation required).[3][11]
OriginalImportant Cultural Property
Kara-mon gate
Main gate of the Ninomaru Palace, with a cypress-bark roof and curved gables front and back.[4]
OriginalImportant Cultural Property
Higashi Ote-mon (East Gate)
Today's entrance. The present gate dates from 1662.[4]
OriginalImportant Cultural Property
Southeast and Southwest Corner Turrets
The only two of the castle's nine turrets that survive. Interiors are normally closed.[4]
Flatland castle (hirajiro)built on flat ground, defended by moatsEditorial article
Period
Early modern (1570s–1871)Editorial article
Keep (tenshu)
Keep lostthe castle had a keep, but it no longer stands (its stone base may remain)Editorial article
Built by
Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tokugawa IemitsuJapan Castle Foundation
Built
1603Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords
Tokugawa clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned
1873Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see
Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Gates, Turrets or turret bases, Keep base (tenshudai), Stone walls, Moats, WellsEditorial article
Designation
National Historic Site (entire grounds); National Treasure (six Ninomaru Palace buildings) (1952); Important Cultural Properties (22 structures incl. Higashi Ote-mon) (1952); Special Place of Scenic Beauty (Ninomaru Garden) (1953); Important Cultural Properties (1,016 Ninomaru Palace paintings) (1982); UNESCO World Heritage: Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (1994)Editorial article
Selection
Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 49Japan Castle Foundation
Visiting
Access
Partly open
Entry to the grounds requires a ticket. The Ninomaru Palace costs extra (a combined ticket is available), and the Honmaru Palace requires an advance reservation and a separate ticket. Turret interiors are normally closed, as are parts of the Seiryu-en garden and the Koun-tei building. No photography inside the palaces; no drones anywhere on the grounds. The Japan 100 Castles stamp is at the General Information Office.
Nijojo-mae StationKyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line
about 1 min walk · No climb
Right outside the station ("a short walk" per the official site). From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike (about 6 min), then the Tozai Line (about 2 min).[9]
Checked: 2026-10-03
JR Nijo StationJR Sagano Line (about 5 min from Kyoto Station)
Entry 8:45-16:00 (grounds close at 17:00). Ninomaru Palace entry until 16:10.
Closed
Closed December 29-31. The Ninomaru Palace is also closed on Tuesdays in January, July, August and December (the next day if Tuesday is a holiday), December 26-28 and January 1-3.
Admission
Grounds: adults 800 yen, junior high and high school students 400 yen, elementary students 300 yen. Grounds + Ninomaru Palace: adults 1,300 yen. Free for preschool children. Groups of 30+: 700 yen / 1,100 yen.[7][8]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Honmaru Palace
Hours
Entry 9:30-16:00 by timed advance web ticket (on sale 30 days ahead).
Closed
Third Monday of each month and the following day (open if a holiday), December 26-28, January 1-3.
Admission
Adults 1,000 yen, junior high and high school 300 yen, elementary 200 yen (plus grounds admission).[7][8][11]
Checked: 2026-10-03
Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery
Hours
Not confirmed (open about 240 days a year; exhibits change each season).
Paid parking for castle visitors only. Lot 1 (east side; 120 cars, 54 in Mar-Jun and Sep-Nov) costs 600 yen per 40 minutes, max 1,800 yen per day (700 yen and max 2,800 yen from March 10 to April 10 and in November). Entry 8:15-16:00, exit by 18:00. The castle recommends public transport.[9]
About 1.5 hours for the grounds and Ninomaru Palace; allow 2.5-3 hours if you add the Honmaru Palace.
Steps, slopes and footing
The grounds are mostly flat but largely gravel. Stone steps lead up the keep base. From Higashi Ote-mon to the Honmaru Palace is about 850 m, 15-20 minutes. Shoes come off inside the palaces (socks required in the Honmaru Palace).[11][12]
Wheelchairs and strollers
Because paths are gravel, free electric wheelchairs are lent at the General Information Office (the assist function must be operated by a companion). Indoor wheelchairs are available at both palaces (no reservations). Free tactile maps are available for visitors with visual impairments.[12]Checked: 2026-10-03
Toilets and rest
Not confirmed (check the official guide map for locations).
English signs / audio guide
The official website has English pages. Paid audio guides can be rented, and official guided tours by professional guides run daily. Languages offered for the audio guide and tours were not confirmed.[12][13]
Seasons
The autumn Nijo-jo Castle Festival 2026 runs October 23 to December 6; daytime admission during the festival is 1,300 yen for adults including the Ninomaru Palace. The evening light-up (October 23 to December 5, 18:00-22:00) needs a separate ticket.[16]
Photography
Photos and video are allowed along outdoor routes. Both are prohibited inside the Ninomaru and Honmaru palaces. Monopods and tripods are discouraged, and drones are banned. Professional shoots and use in publications require an application at least 10 days in advance.[10]
Works, closures and restrictions
On Sunday, December 6, entry closes at noon because of a re-enactment of the 1626 imperial procession. The Honmaru Palace has limited capacity; only a few same-day tickets are sold at the General Information Office.[16][11]Checked: 2026-10-03
Editors' guide
An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.
Who will enjoy it
For anyone who wants to stand in the very rooms where major moments of Edo-period history happened, and see what a castle palace was really like. A good pick if you want a castle that is rewarding even without a keep.
What makes it interesting
Start with the Ninomaru Palace. As you move from the Tozamurai with its tiger paintings through the Ohiroma, Kuroshoin and Shiroshoin, the paintings and mood change room by room. Then cross into the main enclosure and climb the keep base to look over the Honmaru Palace and the city; from there the scale of the castle and its double moats make sense.
Before you go
The Honmaru Palace needs an advance reservation and is a 15-20 minute walk from the entrance, so arrive with time to spare. The Ninomaru Palace closes on some Tuesdays in winter and summer, so check the date. Shoes come off inside the palaces.
Ways to enjoy it
In the Ninomaru Palace corridors, listen for the chirp of the nightingale floors under your feet. Most paintings in the palace are reproductions, so visit the Painting Gallery to see originals. Autumn brings colored leaves and evening light-ups, and cherry blossom season in spring is busy.
Photos
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Open questions
That the keep came from Fushimi Castle is a tradition, and Kobori Enshu's role in reworking the Ninomaru Garden is described by the official site as involvement by him and other commissioners.
The descriptions of the Ninomaru Palace as the only surviving group of castle palace buildings, and of the Honmaru Palace as the only large Edo-period princely residence left, come from the castle's official site.
Ieyasu's appointment as shogun in 1603 is from a supplementary source (Wikipedia); the official timeline lists 1603 as the year the castle was completed and Ieyasu first entered it.
Painting Gallery opening days and hours, toilet locations and audio-guide languages could not be confirmed.
CCP2017CC BY-SA 4.0Wikimedia Commons
