Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle, or Nijo-jo, is located in Kyoto; Japan, which is one of Japan’s most powerful shoguns and founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Nijo Castle is a walled fortified castle surrounded by a moat. Nijo Castle began as a mansion built by Nobunaga in 1569. The castle Nijo Castle was erected in 1603 to be Tokugawa Ieyasu's headquarters when he was in Kyoto. The donjon 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. In 1994 it was registered by UNESCO for inclusion on its list of World Heritage monuments
Nijo Castle was built as a symbol of his power; the castle is filled with many fine works of art, including beautiful paintings of trees and animals by some of Japan’s most famous artists of the period. The Nijo Castle is made up of a series of ornately-decorated reception rooms within the Ninomaru complex. Particularly impressive, it is known for its "nightingale floors" - wooden flooring.
Nijo Castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace; various support buildings and several gardens. The surface area of the castle is 275,000 square meters, of which 8000 square meters is occupied by buildings.
The most spectacular structure in the castle is the Ninomaru complex of several rooms linked by open wooden walkways.   The complex served as the center of authority for powerful shoguns and included reception areas for visiting dignitaries, living quarters for shoguns and geishas, and rooms for entertaining fellow shoguns and their entourage.  The silk screen walls throughout the complex are stunning representations of pastoral gardens, landscapes, and wildlife.

Tip: From Kyoto station buy a bus pass. The place to buy a pass is outside the station, straight ahead on the right hand side. You will want to take the City bus 9, 12, 50, or 101. You can alternatively take the subway from Kyoto Station to Nijojomae station on the Tozai Line. Open: 8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Gate is closed at 5:00 p.m.); close: Year End/New Year, Tuesday of January, July, August and December; General: 600 yen, Junior and Senior High School Students: 350 yen, Elementary School Students: 200 yen; Tel: 075-841-0096