Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle - which includes Nimomaru Palace and Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several Japanese gardens. Nijo Castle (Nijojo) was built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Edo Shogunate, as the Kyoto residence for himself and his successors.
The palace building, now known as Ninomaru ("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).
Read MoreThe palace building, now known as Ninomaru ("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).
The palace building, now known as Ninomaru ("secondary castle"), was completed in 1603 and enlarged by Ieyasu's grandson Iemitsu. It survives in its original form and is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).
Although it does not have a castle tower, Nijo-jo Castle is Japan's best preserved and most magnificent castle palace. Built on the order of Tokugawa Ieyasu to serve as the Kyoto residence for the Tokugawa shoguns. The interior is full of paintings (unfortunately photography is not allowed inside). A National Treasure.