Nijō Castle

The Tokugawa shogun's Kyoto palace and gardens

Nijo Castle in central Kyoto dates from 1603 and was the home of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Tokugawa family. It faces the Imperial Palace and is surrounded by double moats and high stone walls. The main attraction is the Ninomaru Palace, where rooms are decorated with painted screens and the corridor floors squeak underfoot. A traditional garden is beside the palace and plum and cherry trees bloom on the grounds in spring. The castle is beside Nijojo-mae Station, so it's easy to fit into a morning of sightseeing in central Kyoto.

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Castle in Kyoto

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Safety: 8.6

General Safety:	9
Accessibility:	7

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3/5

Tourist areas around Kyoto like Nijō Castle generally have English signs and many staff are trained to assist visitors with basic English.

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Last update: 21 Oct 2026

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Nijō Castle Summary

Great for samurai history and palace architecture. Explore historic castle buildings, walk through large gardens and learn about Japan’s shogun era.

Opening hours:

Mon-Sun:

08:45 - 17:00

Public website:

nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp

Japan – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	100 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A Type A: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Japanese Yen (JPY) £1 ≈ JP¥210
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common, especially in cities, with some shops still preferring cash. Be prepared for occasional cash-only situations in rural areas. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in Japan and can be considered rude. Excellent service is the norm, and tipping is unnecessary in most places.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is legal and commonly accepted, particularly during festivals and events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places but allowed in designated outdoor areas. Some restaurants may have smoking sections.

New Year (January)	One of the most important holidays, expect crowded temples and high prices. Plan ahead.
Golden Week (April-May)	The busiest travel time, expect high demand for accommodation and transport.
Obon (August)	A time to honour ancestors, many businesses close, and transport can be crowded.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 110 (Police), 119 (Fire & Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, JapanTaxi, DiDi
Other:	Japan is a country of respect, so understanding local customs and etiquette is important. Public transport is efficient, but can be crowded during peak hours.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
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Crowdedness:
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Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Nijō Castle, Japan

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High season:	March - May, Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	Sep., Dec.

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Climate details

Closed 26 December to 4 January; also closed Tuesdays in January, July, August and December

Evening cherry blossom openings, late March to mid April: castle open after dark, long queues at the gate

Don't miss

🎶 Hear the eerie chirping on Nijo Castle’s Nightingale Floors
🖼️ Admire exquisite Edo-period paintings inside Ninomaru Palace
🌸 Wander traditional gardens showcasing seasonal Japanese beauty

You've been here?

Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Tokugawa shogun, whose family ruled Japan for more than 200 years. It was placed to face the Imperial Palace as a sign of the shogun's power over the emperor. Double moats, high walls and watchtowers protect the site, though the castle was never attacked and was rarely used after the 1600s. It's a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The highlight is the Ninomaru Palace, five large buildings joined by covered walkways. It's entered through the Karamon Gate, whose carvings include a tiger and a dragon. Many rooms are decorated with screen paintings by Kano Tanyu and Naonobu. The corridor floors are known as nightingale floors because they squeak underfoot. In 1867 the last shogun announced the return of power to the emperor here. The Ninomaru Garden beside the palace is a traditional landscape garden designed by Kobori Enshu.

The grounds change with the seasons. A plum orchard blooms in late February and early March and cherry trees follow in spring. Maple and ginkgo trees turn colour in late autumn. Cherry blossom season has included evening openings with lights, so check the castle's calendar if you'd like to see it after dark.

You take off your shoes to enter the palace and photography isn't allowed inside. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours for the palace and grounds. An English guided tour lasts about 60 minutes and costs JP¥2,500 (£11.81) for adults, with castle admission paid separately. The castle is closed on Tuesdays in December and from 26 December to 3 January. Early and late visits tend to be the quietest.

Why travel to Nijō Castle?

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Great Eastern Gate
2 Honmaru palace
3 Karamon Gate
4 Ninomaru Garden
5 Ninomaru Palace (national treasure)

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Seiryu-en Garden

🎈Events

Nijō Castle Cherry Blossom Light-Up
Autumn Night Illumination

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Photography isn't allowed inside the Ninomaru Palace but is fine outdoors.
Visit just after opening or just before closing, when the palace rooms and gardens are usually quieter.
Wear socks since shoes come off to enter the Ninomaru Palace and the floors are wooden.
The Ninomaru Palace corridors have nightingale floors that squeak underfoot by design, said to warn of intruders.

How to travel to Nijō Castle

The underground is the simplest way to reach the castle. From Kyoto Station take the Karasuma Line to Karasuma Oike Station in about 6 minutes. Change there to the Tozai Line for one stop to Nijojo-mae Station. The castle moat is visible as soon as you leave the station and the entrance faces Horikawa-dori. City Bus 9 and 50 also run from Kyoto Station to the Nijo-jo-mae stop but they make many stops and take longer. From Shijo Kawaramachi take the Keihan Line one stop to Sanjo and walk through the underground passage to the Tozai Line, then ride three stops to Nijojo-mae. Walking from Shijo Kawaramachi to Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai Line takes about 11 minutes. Bus 12 along Shijo-dori is slower because of congestion. From Kansai Airport (KIX) the Haruka express reaches Kyoto Station in about 75 minutes and you continue by underground. Driving isn't recommended in central Kyoto since the underground stops at the castle.

Access summary

From Kansai Airport (KIX): Train to Kyoto Station, then underground/bus, about 2 hours.
From Kyoto Station: Underground via Karasuma-Oike to Nijojo-mae, around 15–20 minutes.
From central Kyoto (Shijo/Kawaramachi): City bus or underground Tozai Line, roughly 15–25 minutes.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay near Nijō Castle

Most visitors stay in central Kyoto and reach the castle by underground or bus. The area around Karasuma Oike and Kawaramachi has many hotels and restaurants and puts you one or two stops from Nijojo-mae on the Tozai Line. The Kyoto Station area has the widest choice and easy train links. The castle is a short ride away. Nearer the castle you'll find business hotels and small guesthouses along the Tozai Line and the streets of central Kyoto. Staying close lets you arrive right at opening time, which is when the palace and gardens are quietest. Rooms across Kyoto fill quickly during cherry blossom season and the autumn foliage, so it helps to book early for those weeks. Prices tend to be lower in the shoulder months.

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Food around Nijō Castle

Food at the castle itself is limited, so most people eat before or after the visit in the surrounding streets. Central Kyoto has a wide range of places to eat, from casual noodle and set-meal restaurants to traditional Kyoto cooking with tofu and seasonal vegetables. Matcha sweets and tea houses are easy to find as well.

Karasuma Oike and Kawaramachi have the most restaurants and cafes and are a short underground ride from Nijojo-mae Station. Convenience stores are close to the station if you want something quick. Lunchtime is busy on weekends and in peak seasons so an early or late meal helps avoid waits. Since the palace visit takes a couple of hours, it's worth eating beforehand.

Packing recommendations for Nijō Castle

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Camera

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Comfortable walking shoes

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Sun cream

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Reusable water bottle

Universal travel adaptor

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Credit card with no foreign transaction fees

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-42 %

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Your exchange rate (GBP to JPY) is 20% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Safety information overview

General safety

The castle is very safe, with low crime and staff throughout the grounds and palace. The main points are crowds in cherry blossom and autumn seasons, uneven gravel paths and polished wooden floors inside the palace that can be slippery in socks.

Accessibility

The grounds are mostly flat but many paths are gravel, which is hard for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Inside the Ninomaru Palace you remove shoes and walk on wooden floors with raised thresholds, so staff are the best source for advice on routes.