A place story by Momo
Castle
About this place
A vanished bridge, palace paintings, and a garden of shaped islands ✨
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A two-story wooden bridge once connected Ninomaru Palace, Honmaru Palace, and the castle keep, letting people travel between them without walking on the ground!? It was finished in black lacquer and laid with a red carpet 😲
Surrounded by two moats and walls, Nijō Castle covers about 275,000 square meters. Begin at Higashi Otemon, the main entrance facing Horikawa-dori, then take in the palace grounds and the keep platform.
Nijō Castle was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu to guard Kyoto Imperial Palace and provide a place to stay during visits to Kyoto. It later hosted Emperor Gomizunoo’s visit and Tokugawa Yoshinobu’s announcement of the return of political power. The entire castle grounds are a National Historic Site, and in 1994 they became part of the UNESCO World Heritage property Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. There’s a lot to trace here—take your time 👀
Palace and garden
Six buildings make up Ninomaru Palace, arranged diagonally from southeast to northwest. Look for wall paintings by Kano Tan'yu and other members of the Kano school 🎨 The six buildings are National Treasures; 22 buildings and 1,016 paintings are Important Cultural Properties. Next, explore Ninomaru Garden, designed by Kobori Enshu in the Momoyama style. Its pond has three islands: Horai Island, Turtle Island, and Crane Island. Stone arrangements shape the latter two like their namesakes 🌿
Honmaru and the keep
Today’s Honmaru Palace consists of five buildings moved here from the Katsura-no-miya residence. The original palace burned in the Great Tenmei Fire and was never rebuilt. The castle keep was destroyed by lightning and also never rebuilt, leaving its platform behind. It’s described as the only keep ever climbed by an emperor—imagine its former outline from the spot 🏰 Honmaru Palace has been open year-round by advance reservation since September 2024, so book ahead if you plan to visit it.
Gates and access
Higashi Otemon, facing Horikawa-dori, is the main gate; Momoyamamon and Kitanakashikirimon are among the other gates within the grounds 🚪 The West Gate and South Gate aren’t currently in use, and North Otemon is usually closed, so check which gates are open as you explore. Tokugawa Ieyasu began building Nijō Castle to protect Kyoto Imperial Palace and provide lodging during his stays in Kyoto.
TripNaru photos
Opening hours
- Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun 08:45–17:00