Nijō Castle

An extremely impressive castle dating back to the feudal era, with some considerable historical significance. The grounds are fairly large and the walls and other structures are very impressive to see. The castle itself is also very interesting to see the inside of, with an abundance of explanatory placards. Know that you will have to remove your shoes to walk around the inside in case that informs your footwear decision. Beautiful garden areas are also within the walls. Take your time and take it all in.

Came on the last day of the light up during cherry blossom season in April. Bought the tickets ahead of time online. Line to get in was long and winding but moved fast. Once in, we walked around the property and admired the light shows sometimes accompanied by music. They have lanterns for kids to carry if they want. There were a lot of people, but most people moved with the flow of traffic. Lots of nice trees and colored lights. We enjoyed it overall.

A must visit in Kyoto. Do yourself a favor and purchase the ticket pack that includes entry into the palace. What an amazing inside view of the Shogun's audience rooms. You can definitely feel the empowering ambiance. A tour around the castle is a nice walk as well.

It's quite impressive through its preservation, you will have to purchase a ticket to enter. Don't forget to bring your stamp book towards the souvenir store after you finish your walk. I recommend bringing a bottle of water as the walk can break a sweat. Enjoy!!

Pretty nice place. Admission is easy and it doesn’t seem to busy either, even when there’s a lot of people. The castle and grounds are really big. Going inside the buildings costs extra and you couldn’t take photos inside. The walls and the gates are also really nice. There are shops selling souvenirs and snacks which tasted nice. Overall a nice castle to wander in.

Feed on carps! For 200 JPY you can buy fish food and experience a nice entertainment. There are so many fish, all of them are pretty big. Overall the territory and temple itself are stunning and well-kept. Inside you are not allowed to take pictures, interiors are beautifully painted and well-preserved.

Such beautiful castle! We paid 1300 yen at the time of writing to go in to the castle. You have two types of tickets. A ticket to walk around the court (which is cheaper at 800 yen) and another ticket which allows you to walk around the court and go inside the actual castle (1300 yen). The second option is worth it… great history. What they have done in the inside takes you back to the edo period. You will need around 2 hours for this, especially in the heat. The area is exposed to the sun. Not much shade. There is an observation deck (not high.. but there steps involved to get up there. Not wheelchair accessible) where you can see Kyoto. At the back of the court, there are plenty of rest areas, with vending machines and toilets. at the end of the route, there is gift and souvenirs shop. Overall, great experience

Underwhelming and overpriced. First off, it’s 1,200 yen per adult not 800 like Google says. To each their own, but I personally found the inside of the castle to be boring. Wasn’t as grand as I expected, I guess. The grounds surrounding are pretty but not as beautiful as in the pictures. And def not worth the ticket price in my opinion. *Also, last entry into the area is 4pm and last entry into the castle itself is 4:10 FYI*

An extremely impressive castle dating back to the feudal era, with some considerable historical significance. The grounds are fairly large and the walls and other structures are very impressive to see. The castle itself is also very interesting to see the inside of, with an abundance of explanatory placards. Know that you will have to remove your shoes to walk around the inside in case that informs your footwear decision. Beautiful garden areas are also within the walls. Take your time and take it all in.

Came on the last day of the light up during cherry blossom season in April. Bought the tickets ahead of time online. Line to get in was long and winding but moved fast. Once in, we walked around the property and admired the light shows sometimes accompanied by music. They have lanterns for kids to carry if they want. There were a lot of people, but most people moved with the flow of traffic. Lots of nice trees and colored lights. We enjoyed it overall.

A must visit in Kyoto. Do yourself a favor and purchase the ticket pack that includes entry into the palace. What an amazing inside view of the Shogun's audience rooms. You can definitely feel the empowering ambiance. A tour around the castle is a nice walk as well.

It's quite impressive through its preservation, you will have to purchase a ticket to enter. Don't forget to bring your stamp book towards the souvenir store after you finish your walk. I recommend bringing a bottle of water as the walk can break a sweat. Enjoy!!

Pretty nice place. Admission is easy and it doesn’t seem to busy either, even when there’s a lot of people. The castle and grounds are really big. Going inside the buildings costs extra and you couldn’t take photos inside. The walls and the gates are also really nice. There are shops selling souvenirs and snacks which tasted nice. Overall a nice castle to wander in.

Feed on carps! For 200 JPY you can buy fish food and experience a nice entertainment. There are so many fish, all of them are pretty big. Overall the territory and temple itself are stunning and well-kept. Inside you are not allowed to take pictures, interiors are beautifully painted and well-preserved.

Such beautiful castle! We paid 1300 yen at the time of writing to go in to the castle. You have two types of tickets. A ticket to walk around the court (which is cheaper at 800 yen) and another ticket which allows you to walk around the court and go inside the actual castle (1300 yen). The second option is worth it… great history. What they have done in the inside takes you back to the edo period. You will need around 2 hours for this, especially in the heat. The area is exposed to the sun. Not much shade. There is an observation deck (not high.. but there steps involved to get up there. Not wheelchair accessible) where you can see Kyoto. At the back of the court, there are plenty of rest areas, with vending machines and toilets. at the end of the route, there is gift and souvenirs shop. Overall, great experience

Underwhelming and overpriced. First off, it’s 1,200 yen per adult not 800 like Google says. To each their own, but I personally found the inside of the castle to be boring. Wasn’t as grand as I expected, I guess. The grounds surrounding are pretty but not as beautiful as in the pictures. And def not worth the ticket price in my opinion. *Also, last entry into the area is 4pm and last entry into the castle itself is 4:10 FYI*

While visiting Japan, one of the items on my bucket list was to visit a castle. My boyfriend and I decided to visit the Nijo Castle. The Nijo Castle was built in 1603 under the orders of Tokugawa Leyasu, the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate. He unified Japan after a long period of civil war and ushered in a period of peace and prosperity for 260 years. We got the Admission Tickets with the addition of the Ninomaru-Goten Palace for 1300 Y per adult. Hang on to your tickets because they will check it for the palace tour. It was glorious to experience a Japanese castle in real life. I remember learning it in world history, but seeing it live is so much more impactful. From a functional point of view, you can see the defensive design structures protecting from intruders. From an artistic point of view, you can see the craft and artistry that went into the palace. I highly recommend paying extra for the Ninomaru-Goten Palace. You leave your shoes outside in cubbies and proceed to walk through a linear route, that has signs for historic and cultural explanations throughout the tour. No photos allowed indoors, so it's worth witnessing firsthand. The palace was breath taking and stunning. The garden was also one of the most beautiful well-maintained ones while visiting Japan. I heard the shogun personally oversaw the design of the garden. He has good taste! What a treat! Highly recommended while exploring the Kyoto area.

A serene castle situated in the middle of Kyoto that also seems to be a hot spot for Japanese field trips. The castle has a pretty historic significance, but a lot of the parts were remodeled or rebuilt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (though we couldn't tell). There were two main buildings in the castle premises, both of which required an additional entrance fee beyond the main entrance fee to the courtyard. The insides of the castles were rather plain and traditional, with endless tatami mats and sliding wooden doors. The only standout quality with regards to these rooms were the decorations and paintings on the room doors. The vibrancy of the colours and the details present even after all these years were truly impressive. Unfortunately no photos inside were allowed, but this enabled everyone to better appreciate the beauty in person, which was a nice plus! Make sure to wear socks when visiting, as you have to take off your shoes to enter the buildings. Even beyond the castles, the premises were beautiful. There were small ponds and a lot of greenery that really feels a world apart from the modern city just a stones throw outside of the castle. There's also a cafe by the north side of the castle, but we were unable to try it as people were lining up to get the shaved ice to beat the heat!

Nijo Castle is such a beautiful landmark both on the inside and outside. We stayed at the hotel directly across the street from it so we had an amazing view even at night. The lights are super beautiful at night. In the the castle is huge with multiple layers. There is also an indoor area where you can walk with your shoes off to explore the inner areas of the castle. My favorite part was the garden area however and the river and water surrounding the castle. The price of the castle is very fair. I think it was about $8-10 USD. Very worth it! spent a total of about 2-3 hours inside the castle. Came early near opening and it wasn't crowded at all but it definitely gets crowded in the afternoon time. Lots of restaurants and bakeries around the castle as well if you want to find a place to eat. There's also food inside (ice cream and coffee). Overall, definitely worth coming by to see!

Touring Kyoto, Japan... Our tour bus dropped us off here and waited for us. We walked through the Nijo Castle, but we were not allowed to take photos. Our tour guide explained about the different rooms, wall paintings (example: subdued style with less colors in the Shogun's resting room), wall carvings (birds on one side of the wood and pine trees on the other side), and floor levels... (Shogun is on the highest level)... Outside, we got a chance to roam the beautiful garden. Visitors had a choice of Western or Asian toilets at the washroom. There was a gift shop attached to a cafe. There also was a type of fair going on outside with many vendors. My friend bought a bottle of Kyoto Sake for her family. We hope the box will protect the bottle in her check-in luggage...

Very beautiful palace and grounds. You can learn a lot about ancient Japanese history by visiting here. No photos were allowed inside, but there are beautiful murals on gold walls throughout. The floors sing like nightingales. Do be warned, no shoes inside. Outside is very scenic with many photo opportunities. Well tended gardens.

Day 3 After eating a sumptuous lunch at Roku Kyoto Kinugasa Kagamiischo's grand hall and strolling their picturesque property surrounded by a bamboo forest, Japanese maple, pine, and cherry blossom trees, we headed off to Nijo Castle to complete our Highlights of Kyoto full-day tour excursion. Since we started our cruise tour excursions at the Shizuoka, Japan's Kunōzan Tōshōgū (Shinto shrine), the first shrine dedicated to Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu along with two esteemed commanders (Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga) tombs, our guide proudly spoke about Shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu as Japan's Unifier and founder of the Tokugawa Shōgunnate in Edo (now Tokyo) that lasted nearly 300 years while bringing peace, civility, foreign trade/commerce and modernization. Our curiosity about this shōgun's personal and political life and accomplishments as the first in line shōgun of the Tokugawa Shōgunate was piqued by our Shizuoka guide's words. So, when we found an excursion to Kyoto's Nijo Castle, we added it to our itinerary. As our tour bus approached the castle, we could only see the moat, tall fortification walls, and entry gate. It was stunning to see the ancient structure contrasted by modern-day apartments, asphalt-paved streets, vehicles, and street lights in the heart of Kyoto. Our driver found a parking space, and our group hurried out to see the interior structures and garden landscapes. The castle layout comprises two concentric rings of fortifications that include a wall and a wide moat. The castle's outer wall has three gates, and the inner wall has two entrances. We entered through The Great Eastern Gate (Higashi-Ōte-mon), where we passed by the Ninomaru-goten Palace (the tour didn't include admission to this palace) and roamed around the peaceful and manicured Ninomaru Garden up to the entrance of the Honmaru Palace (not open to the public) before quickly making our way back toward the Painting Gallery and the entrance. Unfortunately, the time allotted wasn't enough to view everything nor to even access the lovely and historic Ninomaru-goten Palace, for which we would've gladly paid the extra admission fee and removed our shoes to enter. Although photography or videography isn't allowed in the Ninomaru-goten Palace, I think I would have gained a better understanding of the cultural and historical background understanding of Tokugawa Ieyasu if I could have seen the palace's wall paintings and art objects. However, while looking at the gardens and structures within the castle grounds, I could sense the respect and admiration for this shōgunnate by the beautiful craftsmanship and rich materials used in construction and design. We vow to return (maybe 2025) and look forward to touring the Ninomaru-goten Palace.

Nijo Castle is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Kyoto and was recommended by another family at our kids' school who moved from Japan to California a few years ago. Unfortunately, the day we visited, the palace was closed and the only part that was open was the garden due to construction. After paying for admission, you walk through the big white gate and there you have it! You entered the Nijo Castle grounds. Nijo is one of the very few remaining castles from one of the golden ages of Japanese architecture and design - the early Edo period. That it has survived over the years, through earthquakes and wars and then declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1994. The castle is huge, and it was a whole lot of walking. It took us over an hour walking nonstop to get through everything on the outside. I really enjoyed the garden and the huge trees with yellow leaves falling everywhere. Oh, and the lake in Ninomaru Garden has fish and a vending machine where you can buy carp food to feed the fish. The food comes in a capsule that you can break into pieces to feed the fish with too. I thought that was pretty cool.

Loved touring the castle though if I knew I'd be without shoes on the creaky floors, I'd have brought slippers. The gold and reproduction pictures were amazing and the history on the storyboards of shogun were amazing. Enjoyed the gardens and feeding the carp as well. A nice day with good sights.

So, my husband really wanted to check out some castles while in Japan. We happened to be staying down the street from Nijo Castle. With it being walking distance from the hotel, we wandered over and decided to go in. I forgot exactly how much admission was but we paid and walked in. Nijo Castle is one of 17 Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle and grounds take up 86,000 sq ft so it's quite a bit to explore. It was getting hot so we tried to get around the grounds and the inner structure as fast as we could. The grounds are beautiful. The castle is from the Edo period. My husband was really excited and he was in his element exploring the grounds. He watched a bunch of documentaries on Shoguns and Ninjas so he was super excited. I, on the other hand, was hungry, hot, and tired due to the heat & humidity of the day. There is a small cafe and gift shop at the castle where I was able to grab a matcha soft serve and sit in the A/C. We were on a bit of a schedule so we spent the morning at Nijo but had to make our way over to Nishiki to get to our tea ceremony reservation.

I feel weird rating a world heritage site anything less than 4 stars and it is a cool experience but not one I would repeat. None of the original works are in the main areas- instead there are reproductions. If you want to see any of the originals I highly recommend doing the extra 100 yen for the Painting Gallery where originals are actually kept. We were with kids who were already restless so we skipped that piece and I wish we'd done it. The signage was great and there are guided tours if you desire. Hard to read the plaques with all the crowds but we made our best effort even if it was difficult to follow the timelines of feudal and imperial periods. Overall, recommend for the history buffs. Not very kid or disability friendly.

Nijo Castle, located in Kyoto, Japan, was built in the 1600s. You must buy tickets to access the area, and you can opt to pay for a ticket just to enter the grounds or pay an additional fee to also enter Ninomaru Palace. If you pay to enter the palace, they do require you to take off your shoes before entering and pictures are not allowed. They have security walking throughout the area. It was a bit disappointing to read signs in every room saying the items were replicas and the originals had been moved elsewhere. The grounds were quite extensive. Personally, I'm not too into architecture. While I enjoyed taking in this historical structure and some of the beautifully intricate designs, I would say it was something I wouldn't feel too bad about missing out on visiting.

Before this trip, the only Nijo Castle that I had been to was a teppanyaki restaurant with the same name. Nothing in comparison. But now, I can confidently say I have been to THE Nijo Castle in Kyoto. No food served here but there's so much more to experience. It feels like you are back in time and immersed in the history, the tradition, and the heritage of feudal Japan. The first thing to do as you enter the main castle (Ninomaru Palace) is shed your modern footwear for the more traditional sandals. You are then free to walk the predefined route inside the buildings. It is quite interesting to learn about the separate waiting rooms for the different social classes of people, the living quarters, the audience chambers and the reception rooms of the emperor. Beautiful murals with various themes and functions are featured throughout. Afterwards, there are the inner Honmaru Palace and the zen gardens to explore. The climb up to the top of one of the towers offers a nice view of the city and the watery moat below. I quite admired the simplicity and the thoughtful placement of things. It was an enjoyable tour.

Nijo Castle is A LOT bigger than I thought it would be. We were on a tight schedule since we only had a day and a half in Kyoto. So, I had only allotted one hour to explore the castle. Again, I underestimated just how big the grounds were because one could easily spend three hours here between the castle itself, and all the various gardens. I didn't know there were so many things to explore, which makes me a little sad - we spent most of our time in the castle, which was only okay, so we didn't end up having time to do the gardens. It's worth checking out if you have time, but if you are limited on time, then I would say skip. Note - tickets are ¥600.

Nijo Castle is one my favorite places in Kyoto. The castle is a great example of architecture during the japan feudal era. It's actually what I thought Osaka Palace was going to be like. Now back to Nijo Castle. Coming here wasn't too hard. We had JR passes and after getting off at a close station, we took the taxi here. The entrance fee I believe was 600 yen so pretty cheap. Hopefully you follow the map unlike my friends and I. We unknowingly took the wrong turn and saw everything in reverse order. When you get to the main palace, you have to take off your shoes and are not allowed to take any pictures of the inside. The inside is fantastic. I love old buildings and seeing how unique architecture was back then. They even had some mannequins of samurai. Nijo Castle is a great tourist experience if you're in Kyoto and want to see architecture from feudal japan.

I rather avoid popular destinations that attract ridiculous amount of both domestic and international tourists(e.g Kinkakuji). However, Nijo Castle is exempted from my "dislike" list because of its beauty and authenticity. I'd say the palace building in "Ninomaru"(Courtyard #2) is the main attraction. This magnificent building doesn't only look beautiful from outside but also inside has lots of paintings on the sliding doors and extremely granularly detailed wood carvings on the door frames. After complete your journey in the building, you can stroll through the garden which has very Zen like motif(obviously) that blends in all nature's goods from stones, moss, fish in the pond to recreate the universe. There is a buildings in "Honmaru"(main courtyard) but it's not open to public. But you won't missing much as the building isn't as magnificent as the first one. And last attraction would be the base of the main tower where 5 stories tower once stood(burnt down long ago). It still has pretty good view but it won't be like the one from high rises. Although the attractions ends at the tower base, there are some modest looking gardens in northern part. I, for one as a history buff, enjoy looking at the fortifications like moats and earthworks. But overall, no one cannot be underwhelmed by this site, even without background knowledge. Admission is 600.

I didn't have Nijo-jo high on my list of places to visit in Kyoto, but I am so glad I made it here. The castle is close to the city center, so if you are passing through on the train, you can just lock up your luggage in a storage locker at the train station and come here for an hour or two. The thing that made Nijo-jo stand out so much to me was how educational my visit was. As you walk through the premises and inside the castle, there is a ton of information that explains the historical context of the castle, the art and design elements, and the cultural customs of the time period. Don't just walk by the signs; they give you a really interesting perspective. After you're done walking through the castle (you'll have to take your shoes off to go inside!) the gardens are even more beautiful. It's certainly worth a visit.

One of those sites you just have to go in Kyoto... I didn't have much time to visit the Shogun's castle, as I was on a tour and you know tours: hasty. However, the architecture was beautifully maintained and is a sight to see. The moat was pretty cool and I'm sure kids would find it interesting. Going inside the chambers, you have to take off your shoes. Unfortunately, the air circulation is not optimal, so imagine a bunch of people indoors with their shoes off. You also cannot take pictures inside, but there's not much to see in terms of furniture or props. It's just rooms but with intricate designs and pictures.

Dang, I feel bad writing such a bad review for Nijo Castle. Probably the most underwhelming place we visited during our entire trip. (And every place we've ever been to within our 3x vacations to Japan.) It was a total of $20. I believe it was 600 yen for entry, plus 400 yen if we wanted to go in the castle. Why not? Maybe our experience wasn't the greatest because we just arrived to Kyoto via bullet train from Osaka (not far), but walking to our AirBnB & then walking to Nijo which was about 30 minutes was possibly not the best idea. The day was warm, and just the view alone of this place was..brown. I will say, the castle was pretty cool looking, but nothing else was wow- worthy. Once we walked into the castle, you're asked to take your shoes off..and this was probably what made the experience that much worse. You nostrils get filled with the smells of everyone's stanky ass feet..and I wanted to throw up. It was sooo gross to me, and I hated that I had to walk without shoes on an area where everyone's sweaty feet walks on, too. That includes me as well lol. I did like how they had some mannequins on display that gives you an idea of how they gathered. The disappointing parts were that a lot of the art and decorations inside the castle were remakes. You're paying to walk in a castle, yes..but paying for fake art which kind of sucked. Everything else around were things we've seen before.

Nijo Castle is a popular sightseeing place in Kyoto. There is an admission fee, but it's totally worth it once you go inside. The overall location is great and well-organized since they tell you where the route goes so you don't get lost. There's restrooms available inside as well as many snack eateries (I recommend anything matcha!) For this location, you can come in at any time during the day, but if you really would like a more "less crowded, peaceful experience," then definitely come early in the morning during opening hours before the tour buses arrive.

This was a pretty cool castle to pay a visit to and learn a little history about Japan in Kyoto. I signed up via govoyagin for an english guided tour (forgot how much it costed). It lasts about 2 hours and has one daily at 10AM and 12:30PM. There's also an additional 600 yen admission to enter the castle. (note: you can not take pictures inside castle. Please respect that don't try to sneak a pic) It was super rainy the day I went which really sucked, but thankfully, this is one of the touristy things you can do in the rain when you're in Kyoto. (There aren't many activities one can do in Kyoto or Japan in general when it's raining). We stayed in the rain partially in the beginning when the guide was giving us a brief history of the shoguns. Then, when we actually went inside the castle, we were required to take off out shoes. (Wear thick socks if you can!! it was super cold! and the floors were so cold too that it does get a little uncomfortable as you walk through the whole castle) The english tour guide was great because she gives you alot of information that you wouldn't have known if you strolled through the different rooms yourself. She talked about the period of time when shoguns rose to power and when they fell. The gardens outside the castle were spectacular too, but unfortunately we weren't able to thoroughly enjoy it as much due to the rain. I 100% advise you to pay a visit here if you have time. They also have great souvenirs and snacks on your way out.

This is a nice complex and you can tour the grounds and some of the buildings. You notice right away that there is no furniture of any kind. I am far less interested in looking at the details of paintings on the walls. I wanted to see some weapons or artifacts or something else besides empty rooms. There is a lot of restoration work going on but we did not feel that it interfere with our time here. Everything is understated and the whole place lacks the grandeur of other similar sights around Asia. If you are in the area it is worth a visit but temper your expectations.

It's one of the coolest Castles I've ever been to, and it also costs 600¥to see it. But if you consider that the Shogun and famous Japanese Generals used to stay here, it's definitely worth to visit. It is also the best remaining example of a Japanese style castle and a world heritage site. It takes about two hours and is well worth the time. I regret not ordering the audio tour because I felt there was some things I missed out on. Another option is the English language tours which I think are at 10:00 and 12:30 daily. You can reserve to tickets for those tours in person just inside the main entrance. The floor is loud as thousands birds singing at the same time because the General was worried that he would get killed by Ninjas, so he designs a floor like this and can heard it when anyone walks by. Make sure you check out the gallery for an extra 100¥ for some of the original paintings in a museum setting. It's a more modest design compare to other temples or castles. The garden is very zen and beautiful. Worth to stop by if you have time.

A must see in Kyoto. Go here if you have time for one thing! My family was amazed by this location and the beauty. This is Japan's national treasure and deserves a visit.

x4p* Nijō Castle Castle of shogun; stone walls Tour of the castle was great; 33 rooms Have to take off shoes! Rooms measured by the number of tatami mats Cool art: tigers, cranes Nightingale floors to protect against invaders Officious security guards

Nijo Castle is one of the seventeen Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. And this is the only historical site we visited during our weekend in Kyoto. On an early spring morning, the grounds was quiet and it never got too crowded. There was a few cherry blossom blooming but I can imagine how pretty the garden would have been during spring and summer. A good place to visit if you are interested in Japanese history or just to enjoy the well restored buildings and take some amazing photos. I would suggest a couple of hours to just enjoy the grounds.

This is our favorite place in Kyoto! Came here one afternoon to check it out and noticed that it what's built by the first shogun of Japan, he fought and united the whole country and his descendants ruled Japan for 250 years. At that time he had more power than the Emperor of Japan. And of course along with more power comes more money and thus his castle was more beautiful than the Imperial Palace. I was really impressed with the architecture and the garden art on the grounds. The castle was huge and had many rooms almost the same layout as Imperial Palace but it was more intricate, beautifully designed, and more artistic. The garden was well-maintained and well manicured. I just love the whole garden art of the Japanese culture. The admission price was very reasonable and you can complete the tour in about 2 to 3 hours. We very much enjoyed our time here.

Nijo Castle: Before you start thinking this is some podunk Japanese teriyaki restaurant in Podunkville, U.S.A., let me assure you I'm talking about the real Nijo Castle with mannequins dressed up like shoguns within the walls of Ninomaru Palace (photo: http://bit.ly/1QlN3tP). I was halfway expecting Toshiro Mifune to come out and hand me the sword that would make me a samurai warrior. Now I don't look as good as Richard Chamberlain did in a kimono, at least judging from the yukata robe I wore at the ryokan, and I did walk the hallowed halls of the palace with a hole in my Costco sock, presumably reason enough for harakiri during the Edo Period. Nijo is not an imposing structure like Osaka Castle but a couple of low-lying fortifications in an expansive setting in the middle of the city. The first thing we noticed were the swarms of uniformed schoolchildren who come here on de rigueur field trips, each group with a guide and official photographer. The Ninomaru Palace is the first stop where you take off your shoes and walk a very specific path following the successively elevated chambers that reflect the hierarchy of the shogunate. You're not allowed to take photos, but you could well imagine what that period of history must have been like with the shoguns protected by the nightingale floors, i.e., they squeak should assassins pounce on them. The rest of the tour consists of the gardens which were gorgeous in December as fall took its time to arrive this past year. Colors on many of the maple and gingko trees took on some brilliant hues even on a rain-soaked morning (photo: http://bit.ly/1JtQYWj). The highlight is the Ninomaru Garden which features a large pond with three carefully manicured islands decorated by numerous carefully placed stones and topiary pine trees (photo: http://bit.ly/1Kxhgll). There is another palace, Honmaru, which looks even larger than Ninomaru, but it's closed to visitors (photo: http://bit.ly/1RGsv2s). But if I was the shogun, I would demand they open the doors, but I wasn't in an Akira Kurosawa movie.

For some miscalculation on my part, Nijo Castle was not a top priority site for me to visit, but it really should've been, its awesome! I've been to many castles at this point in my life, but this is one of the very left in the world with an actively maintained moat...sweet! While the moat and defensive walls are impressive on their own, the sizable Ninomaru Palace within is well maintained and full of fun mannequins to bring the exquisite historic Shogun era rooms some life. The beautiful zen gardens with the blooming cherry blossom trees throughout the premises are well maintained providing your visual senses with a beautiful and natural mix of spring colors. We came here late in the afternoon, about 90 minutes before closing, so it pleasantly wasn't so crowded with tourists. *WARNING: Avoid ordering the 650¥ green matcha beer...it looks fun and delicious, but was probably the most disgusting beer to pass through me. Just don't. Though, I finished it anyway because I hate to see any beer going to waste...

Definitely worth the price of admission,y60. This is a fantastic example of a Japanese Emperors castle during the feudal period. . It is very well preserved considering it's over 400+ years old! The architecture and ornate wall murals were more than stunning. They each held a symbolic meaning which added to the experience. Now to complete your understanding of Japanese history....fun fact: Nijojocho castle was constructed to catch Ninja warriors who may have attempted to use thier stealth to assasinate the reigning emperor. The plum blossoms were blooming in March,so it afforded some great photos of the meticulously maintained grounds. Get the audio tour! To really add icing on the cake, do the Kyoto Samurai experience . Now you know the way of the Samurai.

I enjoyed this castle tremendously. On my bucket list of places to come to on my 3 day trip to Kyoto. A must was the Ninomaru palace. I really wanted to be able to walk on the nightingale floors which made the sound of hundreds of birds. It was designed this way as an alarm system to alert the palace of intruders. Nijo Castle is a World Heritage UNESCO site and I'm not surprised. When you first enter, you've got to remove your street shoes and put them in one of many bins near the entrance. Then make your way through the palace which consists of many different rooms. You really do get the feeling of how it must have been during the Edo period and the shogun protocol. You're not allowed to take pictures inside; however I see some posted on Yelp. Later when you're done touring the palace, put your shoes back on and walk through the gardens. I'd allow at least 1-2 hours here depending on your interest level. We were here during Cherry Blossom period just last week, but most of the cherry blossoms peaked before our arrival to Kyoto.

The Nijo-jo castle has two concentric rings of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several gardens. Literally walking through the history here, feel the Edo period.

The subway was just across the street so it was easy getting to. There is a 600 yen entrance fee and 500 yen if you want the audio device to listen to all of the points around the castle grounds. I really liked this place. It was nicely kept and bigger than I had expected. When entering the castle itself, you have to take off your shoes in order to walk in it. Make sure you bring socks as the floor can be very cold in the winter time. I believe most of the setup here are replicas and you are not allowed to take photos while inside the castle. Just be aware that you will spend about 2 hours here. There is a small cafe here if you are hungry, but I was not able to really find any restaurants outside of it. There was a Lawsons about 2 blocks away if you just want to get snacks or drinks.

Although I haven't visited enough castles to make a comparison, this one is awesome just by being one of Tokugawa's residence (Edo Castle was their main residence). Oh, and it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Admission was 600y adults, 350y junior high/high school students, and 200y primary school students. They're open 8:45a - 5:00p (4:00p last ticket sale), but the Ninomaru Palace viewing hours are 9:00a - 4:00p. They're closed every Tuesday in January, July, August, and December (the following day is closed if that Tuesday falls on a public holiday), as well as the New Year period (12/26 - 1/4). My daughter and I came here on a Tuesday around 11:30a or so, and it wasn't that crowded yet. Everything from the Karamon Gate to Ninomaru Palace to the moat and garden were amazing in structure and design. I simply admire all the people who had a hand in building this beautiful and intricate landmark. The Ninomaru Palace was huge with many rooms (33 rooms total!). We had to take off our shoes at the entrance, and photos were prohibited inside. Certain hallways had squeaking floors called Nightingale floors that were intentionally made that way to alert the residents of any intruders. So cool. We also walked around the garden area, and climbed up the stone foundation of the former castle keep where we got a nice view of the castle grounds and moat. Most of the cherry blossoms haven't blossomed yet when we were there, but a few of the weeping cherry blossoms were in full bloom and they were so pretty!

This cool landmark was enjoyable to walk through and read all the information provided. The inside of the castle and interesting to look at. The outside scenery was serene and nicely organized. The koi fish was a fun touch since you could buy food to feed them.

No photography allowed at this UNESCO World Heritage Site; however, everyone still takes photos anyway. What's most intriguing about this site is the "nightingale floors" - which squeak and make noise when stepped on. Its purpose is to warn the occupants of any intruders or assassins that may come to kill the shoguns of the day. Incredible! :) The gate of the Nijo Castle is "gold-plated" -- some stunning beauty. Be sure to check out the gardens as well. More photos here: https://ourwelltraveledlife.wordpress.com/2015/06/10/lovely-kyoto-%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E5%B8%82/

Beautiful castle. It has moat!!! Well it's water but still pretty damn cool. Expect to spend a lot of time here. It's on the expensive side of 600 Yen. This castle is massive! We tried to blow through it all but we still spent around 2 hours taking pictures. You can easily spend more. You have to be in decent shape to reach all interest points. The look out deck is on top of very steep stairs so be careful. No ramps for wheelchairs but the Japanese are GANGSTER they don't need ramps. Fat Americans (like me) beware! You'll have to walk a ton here.

This is a very cool site considering it is a world historical landmark and is almost 500 years old. You could probably spend at least half a day here wandering around, but I was limited to about an hour with a tour group. We were able to go inside Ninomaru Palace. No pictures allowed, but there you could see some replica art and screens. You also get to listen to the "nightingale" floors which were designed to prevent sneak attacks. I was able to briefly walk some of the gardens. Didn't make it to Honmaru Palace, however. The thick outer walls and the moat is pretty cool. The main entrance gate is fantastic and so ornate and detailed.

Nijo Castle was one of the biggest, most touristy attractions we went to during our trip to Japan, but I think it's worth putting up with the crowds to see this historic structure and its beautiful gardens. It's an easy bus ride from Kyoto Station, so don't be scared of riding the bus - get a one-day pass and watch the TV screen on the bus that shows each upcoming stop. The Nijo-jo stop will be announced and, you know, it's a big old castle that you really can't miss. The grounds are extensive, so be ready to do some walking in between buildings and through the gardens. At the main entrance, there's a sign recommending a certain order to visit the sites inside. If you're pressed for time, I'd start with the Ninomaru Palace and Gardens, which you can see in 1-2 hours. If you have more time, you can explore the grounds and see the other gardens, gates and watchtowers. I'd avoid the art gallery, which is a separate building with an additional admission fee - the entrance fee isn't very much, maybe $2 USD, but it really was just one small room and didn't feel worth paying extra for. You will have to take off your shoes and leave them at the entrance of the palace, so plan accordingly! Once you're in, you join a long, ambling line and just sort of shuffle through the roped-off path at a slow pace. This building is where the famous nightingale floors are, too! You'll see lots of tapestries and paintings on the walls, and there are costumed mannequins arranged to show you what life would be like in the palace. English translations of signs are there, but they're pretty minimal, so if you really want details or have lots of questions, it might be worth investing in a guide. We didn't mind wandering through on our own and visually admiring the furnishings, buildings and decor, though. No photography allowed inside the palace, unfortunately. Weather permitting, the other structures on the grounds - the gardens, tower keep and watchtowers - are interesting to check out and there are lots of great photo opportunities here. Be careful on the steep, narrow steps of the tower keep, though! They're a little scary and we saw someone fall down the steps while trying to take a selfie, which looked painful. If you're on the fence about whether to visit Nijo Castle, I say go for it! Admission is reasonable, the grounds and structures are really impressive, and even if you only have an hour or two to spare, you can see a lot of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Surprisingly one of the highlight's of my trip was visiting Nijo Castle. We visited Ninomaru Palace aka the Shongun's Pad. We weren't allowed to take photos, but walking through the palace and seeing the different waiting rooms and the Samurai and Courtesan Mannequins transported me to Feudal Japan. I would be afraid to run into the real Shogun! The palace grounds were tranquil and peaceful. One of the neatest parts of visiting the castle were the squeaky 'nightingale' floors. When people walked over these floors, they squeaked like birds to warn of any intruders. Can't nobody mess with the shogun!

The second castle that I have visited in Japan, the other being Osaka Castle. This one is unique in that it is one story. You get to view the individual rooms and see the full layout of the castle. The second building was under renovation so we did not get a chance to see it, but it was still a great visit. You cannot take pictures inside the castle, but there is plenty to snap while outside.

Absolutely stunning castle in Kyoto will amaze upon entry. Explore the grounds and temples dating back to the Edo Period. Admission is ¥600 and worth it. It's fascinating and even better to visit in the fall for the gorgeous foliage. A mist if visiting Kyoto and highly recommended.

One friend thinks he's a ninja and my other friend watches too many soap opera featuring this castle. So we literally travelled an hour to get here just to check this place out. Historic. Tranquil. Not very crowded. This was like walking into some Japanese movie. Worth the trip and history lesson. You can view the chamber's, walk through the peaceful garden, and observe small shrines. No ninjas here or Hollywood effects but I wound up liking this place, much as one would like a museum.

Came here in mid-September 2018, when half the grounds and castle were closed due to typhoon damage. I think I would have rated it higher if we could have seen more. Even so, was glad we came here. That said, definitely go for the recorded tour.

Nijo Castle is jaw dropping beautiful. I love how authentic, historical, and traditional the building is. I felt like I was going back in time while visiting this awesome landmark. I would of loved having more time going through the gardens and other areas of the castles. This is one of those visits that you need to go early if you want to go through all of the areas before it closes. My boy friend and I still got a chance to explore around and pretend that I was a princess and he was my prince. Love how tranquil the place is. I am also curious to know how they kept warmth back in the day since there are no heated flooring like in modern day Japan. Overall, the halls and walls are beautifully decorated. Super in awe!

Have you ever been to the castle of a shogun???? Well I have and it's pretty bloody cool, now there is no mind melting wow factor here, it's cool in a more subtle way. You ain't allowed to take photos inside and you have to leave your shoes at the door. It's basically all wood, floors, walls, roof, etc. It's pretty bloody big and as you wander round the main attraction is the nightingale floor. Basically a floor that it's almost impossible to walk across without making noise. The reason for this was to protect the shogun from ninjas who wanted to creep in and assassinate him. If you have any interest in history, samurai and ninjas, (I like all three) then this is a must visit. On top of the castle itself there is huge grounds to wander about and views to see. If your in Kyoto you should defo check it out and see if you achieve the silent movement that the ninjas could not!

Love this place! The free tour inside the nijo castle is pretty cool. You may not take photos inside the castle but it is an eye opening experience. The walk around the compound is nice , especially on a sunny day, as you are surrounded by perfectly trimmed manicured trees. What a sight indeed!

Nijo Castle is one my favorite places in Kyoto. Wall painting at Nijo Castle (Important Cultural Property) - Nijo Castle Ninomaru Palace

At first glance, Nijo-jo Castle in Kyoto might not look very intruiging from the outside. Since this castle is hiding its treasures within two concentric fortifications, you will have to conquer the beauty within ;o)! Passing through Karamon Gate you will find Ninomaru Palace, the castle´s main attraction, within the secondary circle of defence. An abundance of gold leaf and wood carvings, both ceilings and sliding doors beautifully painted will delight your senses. All buildings of the palace are connected by corridors with so-called "nightingale floors". They make squeaking sounds like a bird at each step you take and are an example of a perfect and witty security system - the shoguns must have been terribly afraid of enemies. Nijo-jo Castle as a Historic Monument of Ancient Kyoto and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place you should definitely visit when in Kyoto. I only rate it 4 stars because pictures are not allowed inside Ninomaru Palace which made me a bit sad.

Worth a visit for the historical information. Interesting background about the shoguns. Part of our tour, not sure the amount of the tickets.