Originally built in 1603 and holding World Heritage Site status, Nijo Castle presents an exemplary look at Japanese feudal architecture. The castle served as a residence to the first Edo shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the complex contains two concentric circles of moat and wall fortifications, surrounding the central palace and auxiliary buildings. Observe the sound you make as you walk through the corridors connecting various buildings on the "nightingale floors" designed to make noise and warn guards against intruders. PutNijo Castle into our Kyoto road trip site and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next.
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Nijo Castle reviews
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The palace was not open due to the New Year holidays but the garden was open. Most of the buildings were being renovated anyways so we wouldn’t have been able to go inside. It would be worth visiting.... more
The palace was not open due to the New Year holidays but the garden was open. Most of the buildings were being renovated anyways so we wouldn’t have been able to go inside. It would be worth visiting.... more »
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Beautiful castle interiors. If only they allowed pictures inside!! There’s a bit of construction / restoration in some areas but the main halls are accessible.
Beautiful castle interiors. If only they allowed pictures inside!! There’s a bit of construction / restoration in some areas but the main halls are accessible. more »
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The castle itself is under repair so it was completely off limits and covered by tarps. There were other areas and buildings that were still accessible and walking the grounds was lovely! We had a snack in the tea house that was absolutely delicious!
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Enormous to just walk by and wonder how did they build that so long ago with the huge stones. Great history. Warriors challenged the existing emperor in Kyoto. Moats. Nightingale floors that squeaked to signal the presence of an invader. Build in 1600. Unique.
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