Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle is a popular site for visitors to Kyoto but most don't realize that the palace was not the castle. They skip all the other artifacts and go straight to the ornate Karamon and then the palace. The entire compound along with the main keep (that no longer exists) would have been the castle.

History

Nijo-jo began as a mansion built by Nobunaga in 1569. The castle Nijo-jo was erected in 1603 to be Tokugawa Ieyasu's headquarters when he was in Kyoto. The main keep was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in 1750. It was never rebuilt. Ieyasu's palace is filled with beautiful works of art and is very well preserved. The Ninomaru Palace was mainly used for administrative affairs and reflects this in the many offices and meeting rooms it contains. It is designated a National Treasure.

Field Notes

Nijo Castle is a popular site for visitors to Kyoto but most don't realize that the palace was not the castle. They skip all the other artifacts and go straight to the ornate Karamon and then the palace. The entire compound along with the main keep (that no longer exists) would have been the castle. All those old gates and other buildings are important historical relics too. Nijo Castle provides something a little different If you get tired of visiting all the temples in town. Be sure to pay attention to the many original gates, storehouses, walls, turrets and other structures that also make this a magnificent castle ruin and must see for any castle fans.

The Honmaru Goten was re-opened to the public in Sept.2024. It is open most days through an online reservation system. If you don't reserve a ticket in advance you can buy tickets at the castle information center if tour spots are available. I need make it clear this was not originally part of the castle. The palace was the Kyoto villa of the Imperial Family. It originally belonged to a branch family of the imperial family, and was located in the northeast corner of the Kyoto Imperial Palace (gosho). It was moved to this location after the Meiji Restoration when the imperials moved to Tokyo and Nijo Castle became the Nijo Villa of the Imperial Family.

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Gallery

Ninomaru Palace
Southeast Corner Yagura
Southeast Corner Yagura
Ninomaru Palace
Ninomaru Palace
Ninomaru Palace
Ninomaru Palace and gardens
Ninomaru Palace
Ninomaru Garden
Karamon Gate and tsuijibei walls
Karamon Gate
Karamon gate
Karamon gate
Karamon Gate
Karamon Gate
Karamon Gate
East Main Gate
East Main Gate
Supports for the walls next to the East Otemon
West bridge and moat
inner moat stone walls
Inner moat and main keep foundation
Stone walls of the West Bridge
Inside the Nishibashi gate
Honmaru gangi steps
Inner moat bridge and yagura
Honmaru and palace
Honmaru Palace
Kita Nakashikirimon
Kita Otemon.
Heijuumon style gate of Ninomaru
Tsujibei walls
Momoyama Gate
Momoyama Gate
Momoyama Gate
Minami Naka Shikirimon Gate
Minami Naka Shikirimon Gate
Minami Naka Shikirimon Gate
Southwest Storehouse
Southwest Storehouse
Southwest Storehouse
Northwest Storehouse
Northwest Storehouse
Northwest Storehouse
Honmaru stone walls
Honmaru East Gate
Honmaru East Gate
Inner moat and the Honmaru Higashimon gate
Narukomon Gate
storehouse and nagayamon of the ninomaru
Nagayamon
Storehouse
Outer moat
East Main Gate
Outer moat
North Main Gate
Outer moat
Outer moat
Outer moat
West Gate
West Gate
Southwest Yagura
Outer moat
Minami Gate
Southeast Yagura and East Main Gate
Southeast Yagura
Stone walls moved here from Nijoko Castle site
Map of the castle grounds

More Galleries and Feature Pages

East Main Gate

(8 photos)

Southeast Corner Yagura

(8 photos)

Nijo Castle Nishimon Gate (West Gate)

(11 photos)

Nijo Castle Night Opening

(18 photos)

Castle Profile
English Name	Nijo Castle
Japanese Name	二条城
Founder	Tokugawa Ieyasu
Year Founded	1603
Castle Type	Flatland
Castle Condition	No main keep but other buildings
Designations	Top 100 Castles, UNESCO World Heritage Site, has Important Cultural Properties, has National Treasures, National Historic Site
Historical Period	Edo Period
Artifacts	Ninomaru Goten Kurumayose & Toozamurai, Ninomaru Goten Shikidai, Ninomaru Goten Ohiroma, Ninomaru Goten Kuroshoin, Ninomaru Goten Shiroshoin, Ninomaru Goten Sotetsunoma, Ninomaru Karamon, Southeast sumi yagura, Ninomaru Goten Tsuiji wall, Ninomaru Goten Daidokoro, Ninomaru Goten Okiyodokoro, North Otemon, West Gate, Southwest Sumi Yagura, North dozo, South dozo, Naruko Gate, Momoyama Gate, North Naka Shikirimon, South Naka Shikirimon, dozo and nagayamon gate, Southeast Sumi Yagura Northern Wall, East Otemon, Honmaru Yagura mon, Honmaru Goten Goshoin, Honmaru Goten Genkan, Honmaru Goten Daidokoro & Karinoma, Honmaru Otsune Goten
Features	gates, turrets, bridges, palace, water moats, stone walls, walls
Visitor Information
Access	Nijojomae Station (subway Tozai Line) 4 min walk
Hours	Park open 8am-5pm (gate closes 4pm); park closed 12/29-12/31; Ninomaru Palace also closed other days; 1030 yen
Time Required	120 mins
URL	Castle Website
Location	Kyoto, Kyoto
Coordinates	35.01406, 135.74769
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Admin
Added to Jcastle	1999
Contributor	Eric
Admin Year Visited	1992, 2004, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2025
Admin Visits	July 1992; March 23, 2004; July 28, 2017; August 17, 2019; Oct/Nov/Dec 2021; Dec 9, 2024; March 23, 2025

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