Nijō Castle

Nijō Castle, officially known as "Nijō-jō, the Former Imperial Villa," is a flatland castle located in the center of Kyoto, Japan. It was commissioned by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 as his Kyoto residence and as a base for handling affairs with the Imperial Court, symbolizing the authority of the Edo shogunate over Kyoto. The castle is situated to the southwest of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the direction considered the "demon gate" (urakimon) in Onmyōdō, giving it a protective significance.

The present Nijō Castle, built by the Tokugawa family, differs from earlier castles known as Nijō Castle constructed by the Ashikaga, Oda, and Toyotomi clans. It is the only surviving example of a Tokugawa shogunal palace. Its most representative structure is the Ninomaru Palace, consisting of six connected buildings. This palace functioned not only as the symbolic seat of shogunal power but also as the venue for audiences and ceremonies with the Imperial Court and aristocracy. The interior is richly decorated with golden sliding door paintings created by master artists of the Kanō school, finely carved wooden transoms, and ornate metal fittings, all of which are now designated as National Treasures of Japan.

Within the castle grounds, the Ninomaru Garden was designed by the renowned landscape architect Kobori Enshū. It is considered one of his masterpieces and has been designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan. The garden, with its pond-centered stroll layout, achieves an elegant and harmonious integration with the surrounding architecture.

Nijō Castle also witnessed pivotal moments in Japanese history. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu received his appointment as shogun here, marking the beginning of the Edo shogunate. In 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the last shogun of the late Edo period, presented the Imperial Court with the decree of "Taisei Hōkan" (restoration of political authority to the emperor), thereby ending the shogunate era. As such, Nijō Castle stands as a historic symbol of Japan’s transition from feudalism to modernization.

After the Meiji Restoration, the castle came under Imperial ownership and was renamed "Nijō Detached Palace." In 1939, it was donated to the City of Kyoto and renamed "Nijō Castle, the Former Imperial Villa." In 1994, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto."