All Reviews of Nijo-jo Castle

The most impressive thing when entering Nijo-jo Castle is the magnificent gold wall paintings inside Ninomaru Palace. Large golden backgrounds are paired with intricate designs of flowers, birds, and pine trees, making them especially dazzling in the light. Each one is so exquisite that you can't help but stop and take a closer look.

The old wooden building is filled with such lavish colors, and the contrast between the gold and dark wood creates an even more dignified and elegant atmosphere. Walking through the palace feels like stepping into a historical scroll painting.

Nijo-jo Castle is not only a place to experience Japanese history; these preserved wall paintings also reveal the splendor of the imperial court and samurai culture of the time. Seeing those golden wall paintings in person feels completely different from seeing them in photos.

Nijo-jo Castle, a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Kyoto, transforms into a romantic cherry blossom hideaway every spring. Many varieties of cherry trees are planted throughout the castle grounds, with Somei Yoshino, mountain cherry, and double-flowered cherry trees blooming one after another. The scenery changes as you admire them along the castle walls, moat, and gardens. Strolling through this historic World Heritage Site while viewing the cherry blossoms and experiencing Kyoto's rich historical atmosphere is well worth adding to your itinerary!

Kyoto has many temples and shrines, but Nijo-jo Castle has a completely different atmosphere. It was an important historical stage left behind in Kyoto by Tokugawa Ieyasu. Once inside, the main attraction is Ninomaru Palace, a National Treasure that has been preserved to this day. Its magnificent architecture and gardens are filled with traces of history from the Edo period.

The weather was very nice that day. The blue sky, sunshine, and lush green gardens, combined with the old castle walls and buildings, made the entire scene especially beautiful. Taking my time to walk around and look at everything without rushing made it easier to appreciate the charm of Nijo-jo Castle.
Admission: JPY 1,300. If you like Japanese history and historic architecture, Nijo-jo Castle is definitely worth adding to your Kyoto itinerary. Rather than just rushing through to take photos and check it off your list, I recommend setting aside some time to walk around and take in the historic atmosphere of this old castle.

Nijo-jo Castle is very famous for its cherry blossoms. There are many varieties inside the castle grounds, from early-blooming to late-blooming ones, so the viewing season lasts longer than at places with only one variety. The Nijo-jo Castle Cherry Blossom Festival and nighttime illuminations are also held every spring. Although I visited near the end of cherry blossom season, luckily I still saw quite a few trees in full bloom.
Nijo-jo Castle is also very important in Japan’s modern history. It was at Ninomaru Palace that the 15th shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, asked for opinions on returning political authority to the emperor. He later formally returned power to the imperial court, symbolizing the end of Tokugawa shogunate rule. Today, when visiting Ninomaru Palace, you can also see mannequins in the Great Hall recreating this historical scene.
Another interesting feature of Ninomaru Palace is the corridor commonly known as the “nightingale floor.” It makes a sound when you walk on it. I tried really hard to see if I could cross without making any noise, but it was simply impossible. As soon as you put any weight on it, it chirps.
My personal favorite is still the Karamon Gate before entering Ninomaru Palace. The cypress-bark roof has karahafu gables on both the front and back, and the gate is covered in vividly colored carvings of pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, cranes, Chinese guardian lions, and more. It’s truly magnificent. Many traditional buildings in Kyoto tend to have a more understated feel, but the Karamon gates at Nijo-jo Castle and Toyokuni Shrine take a completely different approach. Just looking at them, you can really feel the difference that comes with being in power.
Nijo-jo Castle originally also had a five-story keep, said to have been relocated from Fushimi Castle, but it burned down after being struck by lightning in 1750 and was never rebuilt. Today, you can only climb the former keep’s stone base to see the ruins and surrounding scenery, which feels a little unfortunate. But from another perspective, the truly valuable part of Nijo-jo Castle isn’t the keep, but the fact that Ninomaru Palace has survived. Most of the original palaces at Edo Castle, Osaka Castle, and Nagoya Castle have disappeared, and Nagoya Castle’s Honmaru Palace was only recently reconstructed based on historical records. Although part of Kawagoe Castle’s Honmaru Palace remains, it is no longer a complete palace complex. Nijo-jo Castle’s Ninomaru Palace, however, has been preserved intact, along with its Kano school wall paintings, transoms, and decorative metal fittings. This is what truly makes it irreplaceable among Japanese castle architecture.

I was really lucky to visit right when they were holding a nighttime cherry blossom viewing event, so I got to see a completely different side of this place from the daytime. If you happen to come during cherry blossom season, I highly recommend planning a night sakura visit and experiencing a totally different atmosphere! 🌸

A peak example of the "shoin-zukuri" style from the early Edo period in Japan.

The Kano school sliding-door and wall paintings feature extensive gold-leaf landscapes, pine trees, and birds of prey on the interior walls and screens, expressing the authority and power of the Tokugawa family.

You can really feel the history here—the moment you walk in, it feels so majestic! The gardens are beautiful too. It's great for strolling around and imagining what it was like when samurai and generals were here. The cultural atmosphere is really strong.

The buildings inside the castle are classic Japanese style.

This is where Tokugawa Ieyasu stayed when he visited the Emperor in Kyoto, and it's also the site of the historical return of power. There are 33 rooms in total, and everything is really well preserved and maintained.

The grounds are huge, making it a nice place to take a relaxing walk.