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Nijo Castle, Kyoto

The ornate Karamon gate of Nijo Castle with a curved roof, gilded fittings and carved cranes and flowers
Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
¥800; with Ninomaru ¥1,300
Hours
8:45–17:00, last entry 16:00
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h 30 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Castle entry
¥800; high and junior high ¥400, elementary ¥300
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Castle + Ninomaru
¥1,300
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Honmaru Palace
¥1,000, booked up to 30 days ahead, + castle entry
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Ninomaru closed
Tue in Jan, Jul, Aug, Dec; 26.12–3.01
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Getting there
Nijojo-mae station (Tozai line) — 1 minute
Coordinates
35.01417, 135.74750YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

1603construction began for shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu
Sourceen.wikipedia
UNESCOpart of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
Sourceen.wikipedia
Ninomaruthe palace is a National Treasure of Japan
Sourceen.wikipedia
Kanothe school of painters who decorated the sliding doors
Sourceen.wikipedia
'Nightingale floors'chirp underfoot — announcing approaching visitors
Sourceen.wikipedia
Karamonan ornate gate with carving and gilding
Sourcenijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp
¥800adult castle entry
Sourcenijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp
16:00last entry
Sourcenijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp

What is Nijo Castle?

Nijo Castle was the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns. Building began in 1603 for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the dynasty's first shogun, who stayed here when visiting the imperial court. It later became an imperial residence and is now part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.

Its treasure is Ninomaru Palace, a National Treasure of Japan. Its halls are lined with sumptuous sliding doors painted by artists of the Kano school — tigers, pines and cranes. The corridor floors are the famous 'nightingale floors': they creak gently with every step, like birdsong, and are said to have warned of approaching visitors.

How the castle works

You enter through the East Gate by the subway station. Next comes the ornate Karamon gate with gilded carving, and beyond it Ninomaru Palace. Inside you walk the corridors in socks, listening to the 'nightingale' floor and admiring the paintings; the originals are kept in a separate gallery, with exact replicas in the halls.

Behind the palace is the Ninomaru garden with its pond and rocks. An inner ring of walls and moat surrounds Honmaru, home to Honmaru Palace and the stone base of the former main keep, which offers a view over the castle and city. In spring, plum and cherry trees bloom in the gardens.

What to see

  • The Karamon gate with gilded carving.
  • Ninomaru Palace with Kano-school paintings.
  • The 'nightingale floors' in the palace corridors.
  • The Ninomaru garden and its pond.
  • The base of the main keep — a castle view.
  • Plum and cherry orchards in spring.

How to get to Nijo Castle

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Nijojo-mae station (Tozai subway line) — the exit leads straight to the East Gate.
  2. From Kyoto Station — Karasuma line to Karasuma-Oike, change to the Tozai line, about 15 minutes.
  3. City bus — 9, 50 or 101 from Kyoto Station to Nijojo-mae.
  4. JR Nijo station — about 15 minutes on foot.
  5. To Kinkaku-ji — bus 101 from the castle, about 30 minutes.

Castle only or with the palaces

Castle onlyyou are here¥800Gates, gardens, keep base≈ 1 hourOnly 29–31 December
With Ninomaru¥1,300Plus the halls and 'nightingale floors'≈ 1.5–2 hoursPlus Tuesdays in some months

How long do you need?

Allow 1.5–2 hours for the castle with Ninomaru Palace and the gardens. Come at 8:45 opening — before the groups arrive the halls are quieter and you can hear the floors sing.

From the castle, bus 101 takes you to Kinkaku-ji, and from there it's a walk or bus to the Ryoan-ji rock garden.

Is Nijo Castle worth visiting?

Yes: it's the best way to see how the shoguns lived — lavish paintings, 'singing' floors and gardens in the heart of Kyoto.

The YesGo take: it doesn't look like the classic Japanese castle with a tall keep — that disappeared long ago. The value is in Ninomaru Palace, so buy the ticket that includes it, and check it's not a Tuesday in January, July, August or December.

Before you go: checklist

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Northern and central Kyoto in a day

Nijo Castle in the morning, the Golden Pavilion of Kinkaku-ji in the afternoon, and the Ryoan-ji rock garden towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Nijo Castleyou are here1 h 30 min · ¥800; with Ninomaru ¥1,300
  2. 57 min walk from the previous stopKinkaku-ji45 min · ¥500
  3. 19 min walk from the previous stopRyoan-ji45 min · ¥600

3 places · about 4 h 16 min with walks · 76 min on foot in total

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How to do it right

  • Buy the ticket with Ninomaru Palace.
  • No photos inside the palaces.
  • Honmaru by booking only.
  • Come at opening — quieter halls.
  • Next: Kinkaku-ji, bus 101.

Questions

How much is Nijo Castle?

¥800 for the castle, ¥1,300 with Ninomaru Palace.

What are the opening hours?

8:45–17:00, last entry 16:00.

When is Ninomaru Palace closed?

26–28 December, 1–3 January and Tuesdays in January, July, August and December.

What are 'nightingale floors'?

Palace floors that creak underfoot, like birdsong.

Do I need to book?

For Honmaru Palace, yes — up to 30 days ahead online; not for the rest.

Can you take photos?

In the gardens, yes; inside the palaces, no.

How do I get there?

Nijojo-mae subway station (Tozai line) — by the gate.

How long do you need?

1.5–2 hours with Ninomaru Palace.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Castle official site (nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp) — hours, closing days, prices, Honmaru booking (checked 09.11.2026)
  • English Wikipedia: Nijō Castle — history, UNESCO, Ninomaru, Kano school, nightingale floors
  • Travel guides — access, buses, tips (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q1013399 — coordinates
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 09.11.2026 ·
How we checkedHours, closing days of the castle and palaces, prices and Honmaru Palace booking rules are from the official site. The construction history, UNESCO status, Kano-school paintings and 'nightingale floors' are from Wikipedia. The photo ban inside the palaces and bus numbers are from guides. We don't retell the castle's political history.

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