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Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)

ArchitectureHistoryOpen until 5pmFrom £800Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 3 min walk

Completed in 1603 for Tokugawa Ieyasu, Nijo-jo Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage site whose Ninomaru-goten Palace, a National Treasure, is the only surviving fortified palace complex of its kind, lined with Kano School wall paintings and "nightingale" floors. The Honmaru-goten Palace, an imperial residence moved here in the 1890s, reopened in 2024 after 18 years of repairs and can be seen by timed reservation. The original Ninomaru murals are shown in rotating exhibitions at the castle's Painting Gallery, and the grounds hold the Ninomaru Garden, watchtowers, storehouses and gates.

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Plan Your Visit

Getting there

541 Nijojo-cho, Nijo-dori Horikawa Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8301, Japan

Nearest station: Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 3 min walk, Nijo (JR Sagano Line / Tozai Line), 15 min walk

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Hours

Mon08:45–17:00
Tue08:45–17:00
Wed08:45–17:00
Thu08:45–17:00
FriToday08:45–17:00
Sat08:45–17:00
Sun08:45–17:00

Admission

From £800

Castle grounds 800 yen (junior/senior high 400, elementary 300, preschool free). Grounds + Ninomaru-goten Palace 1,300 yen. Honmaru-goten Palace 1,000 yen extra, advance timed web ticket required. Painting Gallery 100 yen extra. Kyoto City subway/bus day-pass holders get 100 yen off the grounds ticket.

Nearby

Kyoto International Manga Museum

Art13 min walk

Raku Museum

Art16 min walk

The Museum of Kyoto

Architecture17 min walk

Ryukoku Museum

Art31 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) cost?
Standard adult admission to Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) is £800. Castle grounds 800 yen (junior/senior high 400, elementary 300, preschool free). Grounds + Ninomaru-goten Palace 1,300 yen. Honmaru-goten Palace 1,000 yen extra, advance timed web ticket required. Painting Gallery 100 yen extra. Kyoto City subway/bus day-pass holders get 100 yen off the grounds ticket.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)?
Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) is open Daily 8:45-17:00, last admission 16:00 (Ninomaru-goten Palace last entry 16:10; Honmaru-goten Palace reception 9:30-16:00, reservation only). Castle closed 29-31 December. Ninomaru-goten Palace closed every Tuesday in January, July, August and December (next day if a holiday), 26-28 December and 1-3 January. Honmaru-goten Palace closed the third Monday of each month and the following day (open if a holiday), 26-28 December and 1-3 January. On 6 December 2026 last admission is 12:00 (Kan'ei Imperial Visit 400th anniversary procession).. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)?
Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) is located at 541 Nijojo-cho, Nijo-dori Horikawa Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8301, Japan, in the Nijo area of Kyoto. The nearest stations are Nijojo-mae (Tozai Line), 3 min walk, Nijo (JR Sagano Line / Tozai Line), 15 min walk.
What can I see at Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)?
The Tokugawa shoguns' Kyoto seat: nightingale floors, gold-leaf Kano tigers and pines, moats, gates and gardens Current highlights include A Magnificent Banquet Setting: Ichi-no-ma and Ni-no-ma (First and Second Rooms) of the Kuroshoin, Murals Adorning the Imperial Seat: Ichi-no-ma (First Room) of the Ohiroma, Ninomaru Garden.
Do I need to book Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo)?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Keith Pomakis / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.5)

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