Travelogue of Nijo Castle: Encountering the Legacy of the Edo Period in Kyoto

Getting to Nijo Castle from Kyoto Station is very convenient. If you take the subway from JR Kyoto Station, you can transfer from the Karasuma Line at Karasuma Oike Station to the Tozai Line, and get off at Nijojo-mae Station. Nijo Castle is a 5-minute walk from Nijojo-mae Station, making it easily accessible from the heart of Kyoto. The total travel time is about 15 minutes, and it is well-connected to other attractions in Kyoto, making it a great addition to your travel itinerary. Nijo Castle is truly impressive in its tranquility. Once inside the castle, you can feel the weight of its historical heritage, especially with the sliding doors and splendid murals of Ninomaru Palace. Throughout the tour, you can experience the authority of the shogunate and the traditional Japanese architectural beauty. The expansive gardens show different appearances depending on the season, and when I visited in the fall, the autumn foliage was stunning. It was the perfect place to take a quiet walk away from the busy city center of Kyoto. Nijo Castle is a representative Edo-period castle in Japan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu, this castle symbolizes the power of the shogunate and holds historical significance as it reflects the era when the shogunate ruled Japan. Particularly, Ninomaru Palace is designated as a National Treasure of Japan, and its intricate murals and architectural style showcase the traditional aesthetics of Japan. This place was not just built for military purposes but also served as a center for political exchange and diplomacy, adding to its historical importance.