Nijō Castle

Unclaimed

Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto, offers a captivating journey into Japan's feudal past. It served as the residence of Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo period. Within its ground is the Ninomaru Palace and the beautiful Nonomaru garden. The castle is protected by impressive moats and stone walls. The opening hour is from 8.45 am to 5pm, however last entry is at 4pm. Having arrived there just after 4pm, I can only enjoy the site from outside its castle wall.

A stunning view into old world Japan. We walked inside the grounds and buildings of the castle. The artwork (albeit replicas) are stunning. Make sure to walk around the parameter of the grounds to see all the gardens, walls and structures. Will worth a visit - would recommend you buy tickets in advance or arrive early to beat the queues.

I will highly recommend Nijō Castle if you are interested in the Japanese heritage. It is a great walk both inside (no shoes inside is great! ) and in the park outside. The restrooms are fantastic to be in a public place like this. Clean, advanced with bidet! And easy accessible!

Beautiful and insightful visit! The garden walk is absolutely stunning—peaceful, well-maintained, and full of seasonal beauty. I really appreciated the informative signs and readings throughout the park that brought the history to life. The main castle visit (requires an indoor ticket) was a highlight—beautiful architecture and fascinating interior details. One note of caution: while the signage suggests that the indoor and outdoor areas are included in the combined entry ticket, several indoor exhibitions inside the park actually require additional payment, which wasn’t clearly communicated. Something to be aware of when budgeting your visit. Still, overall a must-see historical site in Kyoto!

Need to book online to see central palace. I went in as I was nearby . I saw plenty to justify the admission so it was fine. I’m surprised it closes entry at 4pm . I went in May when there is plenty of light until late so seems a shame it closes so early. I had time though to see and enjoy the buildings (apart from the central palace (sold out and pre booking online only anyway).