 | Kyoto Nijo Castle Reviews | Tips 1 - 10 of 50 |  |
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This is my favourite old building in Japan. If you have read James Clavell's "Shogun" then this is the place where the events actually took place. The nightingale floor, designed to detect the footsteps of ninja assassins, really does exist. Nijo Castle was built in the early 1600s by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. The castle complex is surrounded by an outer moat and a high stone wall. Inside is the main complex of buildings, known as the Ninomaru Palace. This was the shogun's residence and it is here that you will walk on the famous uguisu bari or nightingale floor. Outside, the beautiful Ninomaru Garden is designed to display the best of the four seasons. In its centre there is a small lake containing islands connected by bridges. It is on UNESCO's World Heritage List and it truly is one of the world's great historical buildings. Walk around it slowly, listen to your footsteps and treasure every moment. Open daily: 8.45am-5pm Leave a Comment Address: 541 Nijojo-cho, Nijo-dori, Horikawa nish-iruPhone: 075 841 0096Directions: Take bus numbers 9, 12, 50, 52, 61or 67 to Nijo-mae bus stop. The nearest subway station is Oike station, from which it is a 10-minute walk to the castle.
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| | | | Nijo Castle: Nijo-jo | Tip Rating:  | | | | |
Nijo Castle (Nijojo) was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo Shogunate, as the Kyoto residence for himself and his successors. The palace building now known as Ninomaru ("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them - a security measure against intruders. Iemitsu also added the Honmaru ("main castle") including a five storied castle tower to Nijo Castle. However, the original honmaru structures were destroyed by fires in the 18th century, and the present building was moved there from the Imperial Palace in 1893. From the entrance, visitors follow a unidirectional course through the Ninomaru passing the Retainers Room, Reception Room, Grand Chambers, Inner Audience Chamber and finally the Shogun's living quarters. During the sakura period, the castle is illuminated at night. Leave a Comment Directions: Take the subway to Nijo-jo mae Station on the Tozai line. Admission is Y600.
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