The Palaces, Gates & Gardens of Nijo Castle – Kyoto

Nijo Castle, or Nijo-jo, as it is called in Japanese, is one of the absolute highlights of Kyoto. The lovely atmosphere, the beautiful Japanese Zen gardens, and the ancient buildings and palaces with their ornate gold-covered architecture and fantastic interiors and wall paintings – I love it all! Therefore, Nijo Castle is a recommended stop on our recommended 3-day Kyoto Itinerary.

The former Imperial Villa Nijo-jo Castle was declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1994. The castle buildings and gardens underwent a huge full-scale restoration in 2011 and are shinier and fresher than ever!

Nijo Castle is one of the very few remaining castles from one of the golden ages of Japanese architecture and design – the early Edo period. That it has survived over the years, through earthquakes and wars, is fantastic.

If you want to get the most out of your visit to Nijo Castle, you should consider joining a Nijo Castle Tour. This tour lasts 1 hour, and you get a guided tour of the whole…