Originally built in 1603 and holding World Heritage Site status, Nijo Castle presents an exemplary look at Japanese feudal architecture. The castle served as a residence to the first Edo shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and the complex contains two concentric circles of moat and wall fortifications, surrounding the central palace and auxiliary buildings. Observe the sound you make as you walk through the corridors connecting various buildings on the "nightingale floors" designed to make noise and warn guards against intruders. PutNijo Castle into our Kyoto road trip site and find out what's close by, where to stay, and where to head next.
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Nijo Castle reviews
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This is a UNESCO world heritage site. As of June 2022, the Honmaru-Goten Palace is closed for major restoration/renovation. The various gardens inside the castle walls are all accessible and...
This is a UNESCO world heritage site. As of June 2022, the Honmaru-Goten Palace is closed for major restoration/renovation. The various gardens inside the castle walls are all accessible and... more »
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Good historical site made better by the lore of shogun and “nightingale” floorboards designed to creak to give warning of assassins which you can walk on
Good historical site made better by the lore of shogun and “nightingale” floorboards designed to creak to give warning of assassins which you can walk on more »
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It is easy to locate even by walking from the nearest station. I visited this place with my friend on our 2020 trip, it was superb, the entrance was easily spotted from the station exit. It may look like it'll only take a few moments to explore the place, but it took us more than an hour and still not fully explored yet. The castle was as good as those that you seen on movies and it was well maintained. You can enter the inner castle but no photograph or videography was allowed. The gates, stone walls, garden and interior of the waiting area was so amazing. Will visit again!
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Enormous to just walk by and wonder how did they build that so long ago with the huge stones. Great history. Warriors challenged the existing emperor in Kyoto. Moats. Nightingale floors that squeaked to signal the presence of an invader. Build in 1600. Unique.
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