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A Detailed Guide to the History and Overview of Nijo Castle
Table of Contents
Introduction
Nijo Castle is an essential heritage site for gaining a deep understanding of Japanese history and culture. Built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603, this castle symbolizes both the beginning and the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and has served as the stage for many historic events.
This article provides a detailed introduction to Nijo Castle, covering its overview, history, and highlights. Nijo Castle comprises Ninomaru Palace, Honmaru Palace, and three gardens, each possessing its own unique charm.
When visiting Kyoto, be sure to visit this historic castle and experience its magnificent history and beauty firsthand.
Overview of Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle is a historic castle located in Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, built by Tokugawa Ieyasu in the early Edo period. The castle comprises Ninomaru Palace, Honmaru Palace, and three gardens. Ninomaru Palace is designated as a National Treasure and consists of six buildings.
Originally built to serve as a guardian of the Imperial Palace and as a lodging for the Shogun during visits to Kyoto, this castle later became an important stage in Japanese history. In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu built Nijo Castle to demonstrate the authority of the Shogun. It is also famous as the place where Tokugawa Yoshinobu carried out the restoration of imperial rule (Taisei Hokan), making it the stage for both the beginning and the end of the Edo Shogunate. This castle, which witnessed the rise and fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
Like other Japanese castles, Nijo Castle once had a castle tower (tenshu), but it was destroyed by lightning in 1750 and was never rebuilt. One reason the tower was not reconstructed was that by the end of the Edo period, the defensive function of castles was no longer considered as important. The remains of the tower base can still be seen today.
The castle comprises Ninomaru Palace, Honmaru Palace, and three gardens. Ninomaru Palace is designated as a National Treasure and consists of six buildings arranged in a staggered formation, serving as the Shogun’s official reception hall. The interior is decorated with magnificent wall paintings by the Kano school of artists, with the “Pine and Hawk” painting being particularly famous. Honmaru Palace has a simpler appearance compared to Ninomaru Palace, but its interior features exquisite craftsmanship in details such as the tokonoma alcoves and staggered shelves. Restoration work is currently underway to restore its original beauty.
Access is convenient using public transportation within Kyoto. The castle grounds are well-equipped with visitor-friendly services including a tourist information center, a large rest area, luggage storage, and wheelchair rentals.
History of Nijo Castle
The history of Nijo Castle spans from its construction by Tokugawa Ieyasu through many eras of preservation, maintaining its beauty and cultural value to this day. Details are explained below.
1. Construction and Early History
Nijo Castle is a castle built in 1603 by Tokugawa Ieyasu as his residence during stays in Kyoto. Construction began in 1601 and was completed in 1603. Ieyasu himself oversaw the design, and the main buildings including Ninomaru Palace were constructed. Nijo Castle was also used as the lodging when Ieyasu received his appointment as Seii Taishogun (Generalissimo), making it a symbol of the authority of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
2. Tokugawa Iemitsu’s Castle Tower Reconstruction and Emperor Go-Mizunoo’s Imperial Visit
During the era of the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, the castle underwent expansion and renovation. In 1626, Emperor Go-Mizunoo made an imperial visit, and the castle tower and Honmaru Palace were newly constructed for the occasion. The castle was expanded to its current size for this imperial visit, and magnificent wall paintings by the Kano school were created. However, the castle tower was destroyed by lightning in 1750 and was never rebuilt.
3. The Taisei Hokan (Restoration of Imperial Rule) at the End of the Edo Period
On October 14, 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, the 15th and last Shogun of the Edo Shogunate, carried out the Taisei Hokan (Restoration of Imperial Rule) at Nijo Castle, returning political power to the Imperial Court. This momentous event was announced in the “First Room” (upper tier) and “Second Room” (lower tier) of the Grand Hall in Ninomaru Palace. The declaration of the Taisei Hokan ended approximately 260 years of Tokugawa rule and marked a major turning point in Japanese history.
4. Nijo Castle from the Meiji Period Onward
During the Meiji period, Nijo Castle was placed under the management of the Imperial Household Ministry and became a secondary imperial residence known as “Nijo Detached Palace.” In 1915, a banquet celebrating the enthronement of Emperor Taisho was held at Nijo Castle, attended by many members of the Imperial family and foreign dignitaries. Later, during the Showa period, Nijo Castle was transferred to the City of Kyoto and opened to the public.
5. Nijo Castle as a Cultural Property
In 1952, Ninomaru Palace was designated as a National Treasure, and Honmaru Palace, along with turrets and gates, were designated as Important Cultural Properties. The following year, Ninomaru Garden was designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty, and in 1982, some of the wall paintings in Ninomaru Palace were designated as Important Cultural Properties. In 1994, Nijo Castle was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto.”
Highlights of Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle, built by Tokugawa Ieyasu, is a historic castle with many highlights. Below is a detailed introduction of the major points of interest.
■ Ninomaru Palace
Ninomaru Palace is designated as a National Treasure and is the most important building within Nijo Castle. This palace features a magnificent structure of six buildings arranged in a staggered formation and was used as the Shogun’s official reception hall. The interior is decorated with magnificent wall paintings by the Kano school of artists, with the “Pine and Hawk” painting being particularly famous. There are approximately 3,600 wall paintings, of which 1,016 are designated as Important Cultural Properties. These paintings can currently be viewed at the “Nijo Castle Wall Painting Exhibition and Storage Facility.”
Ninomaru Palace consists of the Tozamurai (outer reception hall), Shikidai (entrance hall), Ohiroma (Grand Hall), Kuroshoin (Inner Chamber), and Shiroshoin (Inner Chambers). The Tozamurai served as a reception area for imperial messengers and is decorated with elegant wall paintings of cypress and green maple trees. The Shikidai was where communications with the Shogun were relayed, serving as an important room where senior councilors and feudal lords exchanged greetings. The Ohiroma is the hall where the Shogun officially met with feudal lords and court nobles, featuring distinctive tokonoma alcoves, staggered shelves, and tsukeshoin study alcoves. The Kuroshoin was an inner audience hall accessible only to the Shogun and closely related feudal lords, adorned with wall paintings of cherry blossoms in full bloom and pine branches. The Shiroshoin served as the Shogun’s living quarters and bedroom, offering a quiet and tranquil space.
■ Honmaru Palace
Honmaru Palace was constructed during the era of Tokugawa Iemitsu and served as the Shogun’s residence and administrative office. While it may appear simpler than Ninomaru Palace at first glance, its interior is highly refined with meticulous craftsmanship evident in every detail.
The palace features wall paintings depicting plants, landscapes, and customs across the four seasons, among which the “Pine and Crane” painting by Kano Eigaku is particularly breathtaking. Its precise brushwork and vivid colors make it a masterpiece that adorns this dignified space.
Among the rooms, the Otsune Goten includes the “Oza-no-Ma” (Audience Chamber) for conducting government affairs and the “Oshin-no-Ma” (Sleeping Chamber) for rest, featuring distinctive decorative elements such as tatami ornaments, mosquito net hooks, and wall paintings. The Oshoin includes the “Naka Shoin” (Middle Study), which served as the official reception room, and the “Ko Shoin” (Small Study, also called the Room of Four Seasons), which served as a waiting room for visitors, with tokonoma alcoves, staggered shelves, and wall paintings as notable highlights.
■ Gardens
Nijo Castle has three distinctive gardens.
– Ninomaru Garden:
Source: World Heritage Nijo-jo Castle
Ninomaru Garden was created when Tokugawa Ieyasu built the castle in the early Edo period, and was later renovated by the renowned landscape architect Kobori Enshu in 1626 to welcome Emperor Go-Mizunoo’s imperial visit. This garden was designed as a shoin-style garden and features the characteristics of a pond stroll garden.
At the center of the pond is Horai Island, flanked by Crane and Turtle islands on either side. These islands represent the legendary seas and mountains from ancient Chinese mythology, with garden stones, pine trees, islands, and bridges skillfully arranged within the pond. In particular, Horai Island, Crane Island, and Turtle Island hold symbolic significance, each representing longevity and immortality.
– Honmaru Garden:
Honmaru Garden extends to the south of Honmaru Palace and underwent major renovation by order of Emperor Meiji. Completed in 1896, this garden features Western-influenced design elements and is a tsukiyama-style (artificial hill) garden with lawns. The garden includes an artificial hill (moon-viewing platform) in the southeast corner with curving pathways. Stone lanterns and garden stones are placed throughout, and plantings of live oak and red-leaf photinia enrich the garden landscape.
– Seiryu-en Garden:
Source: World Heritage Nijo-jo Castle
Seiryu-en Garden is a fusion of Japanese and Western garden styles, created in 1965 by incorporating part of the estate of the Suminokura family, wealthy merchants of Kyoto. The garden includes a tea house where visitors can enjoy the blending of different eras and cultures. Seiryu-en is designed to showcase beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons, with cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, autumn foliage in fall, and snow-covered landscapes in winter.
■ Higashi Otemon Gate and Southeast Corner Turret
Higashi Otemon is the main gate of Nijo Castle, an imposing two-story turret gate. Restoration work completed in 2017 revealed its beautiful white plaster walls and gold-leaf-decorated metal fittings. The Southeast Corner Turret is a watchtower built along the outer moat, characterized by its powerful appearance designed for wartime defense. These structures symbolize the defensive capabilities of Nijo Castle and are highly valued for their historical significance.
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Summary
This article has provided a detailed introduction to Nijo Castle, covering its overview, history, and major highlights. Ninomaru Palace, Honmaru Palace, and the three distinctive gardens are places where you can fully enjoy the charm of Nijo Castle. In particular, Ninomaru Palace is designated as a National Treasure, and its interior wall paintings hold tremendous historical value, inspiring many visitors.
When visiting Kyoto, be sure to visit Nijo Castle and experience its history and beauty firsthand. We hope that this castle will continue to be cherished by many people and that its value will be passed on to future generations.