Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle, formerly the Imperial Villa, is a historic castle located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto. It was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603, the eighth year of the Keicho era. It was constructed to serve as lodging for the shogun during visits to Kyoto, to protect the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and to stand as a base for demonstrating the shogunate’s authority close to the Emperor. Nijo Castle is a place that symbolizes the beginning and end of the Edo shogunate, and it is an important cultural property deeply connected to Japanese politics and culture.

In 1994, it was registered as part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.” Within the castle grounds, visitors can enjoy seasonal natural beauty throughout the year, including spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage, as well as many highlights such as buildings designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and superb Japanese gardens.

Historical Background
In addition to serving as lodging for Tokugawa shoguns during their stays in Kyoto, Nijo Castle was also built to display the authority of the shogunate near the Emperor. Most notably, in 1867, the 15th shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, declared the “return of political authority to the Emperor” here. This historic event marked the return of governing power from the Edo shogunate to the Imperial Court and became a major turning point in Japan’s transition toward a modern nation.

Ninomaru Palace (National Treasure)
Ninomaru Palace is a group of buildings that represents early Edo-period shoin-style architecture. It consists of six buildings, with 33 rooms and a total of about 800 tatami mats. Inside, splendid sliding-door paintings by artists of the Kano school are displayed throughout, and the transom carvings and decorative metal fittings are also extremely intricate. These features vividly convey the cultural richness and dignity of the Edo shogunate.

The palace corridors also feature a device known as “uguisubari” or “nightingale floors,” which produce a chirping sound like birds singing when walked upon. This was a security measure intended to detect intruders and demonstrates the high level of architectural technology of the time.

Karamon Gate (Important Cultural Property)
The Karamon Gate, which serves as the front gate of Ninomaru Palace, is a highly prestigious gate in the four-legged gate style, with karahafu gables on both the front and back. The entire gate is covered with carvings symbolizing longevity and good fortune, such as dragons, tigers, cranes, turtles, and pine, bamboo, and plum, while its brilliant polychrome decoration overwhelms viewers.

Ninomaru Garden (Special Place of Scenic Beauty)
The “Ninomaru Garden” adjacent to Ninomaru Palace is said to have been renovated in 1626, the third year of the Kan’ei era, by Kobori Enshu, the chief construction magistrate, in preparation for Emperor Go-Mizunoo’s visit. This garden takes the form of a shoin-style garden and is characterized by stone arrangements shaped like Mount Horai, the legendary home of immortal sages. The pond is designed so that it can be admired from three directions, creating a landscape that is both powerful and graceful.

Honmaru Palace (Important Cultural Property)
The current Honmaru Palace was relocated in the Meiji period from the main section of the Katsura-no-miya residence, which had originally stood north of the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It consists of four buildings: the entrance, the study room, the main living quarters, and the kitchen and Gannoma room. Among them, the main living quarters feature a mezzanine structure, making the exterior appear as though it is a three-story building.

This Honmaru Palace is scheduled to reopen to the public in September 2024 for the first time in 18 years, offering a rare opportunity to view this precious cultural heritage up close.

Other Structures
Ninomaru Palace Oseisho (Important Cultural Property): A building that was called the “Koryori-no-ma” in the Edo period, equipped with a hearth and a well (not open to the public).

Ninomaru Earthen Storehouses (Rice Storehouses, Important Cultural Properties): Three earthen storehouses still remain within the castle grounds, a very rare example among castles throughout Japan (not open to the public).

Honmaru Yaguramon Gate (Important Cultural Property): Among the buildings in the Honmaru compound built during the Kan’ei period, this is the only remaining structure that survived the great fire of 1788, in the eighth year of the Tenmei era.

Annual Events and the Fusion of Contemporary Art
Every autumn, the “Nijo Castle Festival” is held, featuring a variety of events that blend historic architecture with contemporary art. At night, visitors are captivated by beautiful scenes where tradition and modernity harmonize, such as the flower-themed projection mapping “NAKED FLOWERS” and the fantastical underwater art exhibition “Art Aquarium Castle,” where goldfish and koi appear to swim through illuminated spaces.

Seasonal Natural Beauty
Within the castle grounds, plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, satsuki azaleas, camellias, and autumn leaves delight visitors throughout the year. In spring, especially, about 300 cherry trees bloom in full splendor, and the “Nijo Castle Cherry Blossom Festival” also features magical nighttime illumination, allowing visitors to enjoy the cherry blossoms after dark.

From its construction by Tokugawa Ieyasu to Tokugawa Yoshinobu’s declaration of the return of political authority to the Emperor, Nijo Castle has witnessed major turning points in Japanese history. Its solemn architecture, refined gardens, and abundant natural beauty make it a precious place that conveys the essence of Japanese culture to the present day. When you visit Kyoto, be sure to stop by and experience the depth of Japan’s history and beauty.