Nijo Castle was built by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603 for the defence of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and to serve as an official residence for visiting shoguns. It was greatly expanded and renovated in 1626. The former Katsura-no-miya Palace, built in 1847, was removed from its original site and rebuilt in Nijo Castle’s Honmaru or main enclosure. The Ninomaru Palace is an excellent example of the buke shoin-zukuri of residential architecture. The rooms are magnificently adorned, each according to its intended use, with exquisitely painted walls and doors and with carved transoms, ornamental metalwork, nail-head coverings and so forth. To the west of the palace overlooked by the Ohirma, is the Ninomaru Garden, composed in the Kaiya or “circuit” style garden. “With few of the grand fortifications of other castles in Japan, Nijo is instead best known for its unusually ornate interiors and so-called nightingale floors. The latter were designed to make bird-like squaeaking sounds when walked upon, a warning if possible intruders. The complex was created by Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu and symbolized the power and riches of the newly established Edo-based shogunate, Ieyasu’s grandson lemitsu commissioned the best Kano School painters for the reception halls, in preparation for an imperial visit. Ironicallly in 1867 the last Tokugawa shogun resigned at Nijo Castle, in the presence of Emperor Meiji.” Eyewitness Travel Ja[an 2017.

1. Nijo-jo Castle
Kyoto
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A Japanese Palace Complex
First created 24 Jun 2018. Version 1.0 - 4 Jul 2018. Daperro. London.
二条城

2. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川 家康 1543-1616) was the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which effectively
ruled Japan from 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. It was he who built the Nijo-jo Castle.

3. Nijo-jo Castle in 17C
Screen painting of Nijo-jo Castle in the
Bukkyo University.

4. Central keep tower of Nijo-jo
The castle was completed in 1626, with a central five stories keep tower or Tenshu. It was struck by lightning and
burned to the ground in 1750. Above is a screen painting of the central keep at the Tokyo National Gallery.

5. Plan of Nijo-jo Castle
The Nijo-jo castle is made up of two palaces – Honmaru (left) and Ninomaru (right).

6. The Main entrance to the Nijo-jo castle over a moat.
Entrance to the Nijo-jo Castle

7. Moat around the Nijo-jo Castle
The moat around the Nijo-jo Castle.

8. Decorative brass protective plates
Brass plates protective covers for the timber columns. Nijo-jo Castle.

9. The Kara-mon Gate
The Kara-mon Gate, a gateway leading to the Ninomaru Palace enclosure.

10. The Kara-mon Gate
Detail on the Kara-mon Gate. Cranes is a symbol of happiness and eternal youth.

11. The Kara-mon Gate
Details on the Kara-mon Gate.

12. The Kara-mon Gate
A butterfly on the Kara-mon Gate.

13. Entrance to the Ninomaru Palace
Entrance to the Ninomaru Palace.

14. Entrance to the Ninomaru Palace
Decorations on the entrance to the Ninomaru Palace.

15. Ninomaru Entrance
Carvings on the entrance to the Ninomaru Palace. Peacock is a symbol of royal and also compassion and
kindness.

16. Ninomaru Entrance
High at the entrance is the symbolic of the Chrysanthemum, a symbol of longevity and rejuvenation. It is also the
symbol of Japanese Imperial seal.

17. Ninomaru Palace
The Ninomaru Palace entrance courtyard with its two giant bronze bells.

18. The Ninomaru is made up of five buildings linked together and aligned diagonally. Each building is sub-divided
into rooms.
Ninomaru Palace

19. Ninomaru Palace, courtyard and garden

20. Ninomaru Palace, Tozamurai
Roof decoration on the Tozamurai of the Ninomaru Palace.

21. Ninomaru Palace, Tozamurai

22. Ninomaru Palace, Tozamurai
Japanese Cypress in the
Lower Level of the
Messenger Room.

23. Ninomaru Palace, Tozamurai
Shelves and cupboards, Tozamurai of the
Ninomaru Palace.

24. Ninomaru Palace, Tozamurai

25. Ninomaru Palace, Tozamurai
The Tiger and the Leopard (in detail). Tozamurai of the Ninomaru Palace.

26. Ninomaru Palace, Shikidai
The Second Councillor’s Station. Shikidai, Ninomaru Palace.

27. Ninomaru Palace, Shikidai

28. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma
The outside view of the Ohiroma building. Note the raised floor of the building.

29. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma
This is the No 1 and No 2 room. The important state room of the palace.

30. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma

31. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma
This is the No 3 room (Sannoma), Ohiroma, Ninomaru.

32. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma
This is the No 4 room (Yonnoma), Ohiroma, Ninomaru.

33. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma
This is the No 4 room (Yonnoma), Ohiroma, Ninomaru.

34. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma

35. Ninomaru Palace, Ohiroma
This is the No 4 room (Yonnoma), Ohiroma, Ninomaru.

36. Ninomaru Palace, Garden
The Tiger and the Leopard (in detail). Tozamurai of the Ninomaru Palace.
The garden pond, Ninomaru Palace.

37. Ninomaru Palace, Shiro-shoin (White Library)

38. Ninomaru Palace, Kuro-shoin (Black Library)

39. Ninomaru Palace, Shiro-shoin (White Library)

40. Ninomaru Palace, Shiro-shoin (White Library)

41. The Honmaru is a fortified palace inside a castle wall. It was the site of the original Central Keep.
Hanmaru Palace

42. An aerial view of the fortified palace.
Hanmaru Palace

43. The entrance to the fort.
Hanmaru Palace

44. The three stories Ostunegoten building of the Hanmaru Palace..
Hanmaru Palace, Ostunegoten

45. The Hanmaru Palace and its enclosed garden.
Hanmaru Palace

46. Hanmaru Palace, Genkan

47. Hanmaru Palace, Otsunegoten

48. Hanmaru Palace, Otsunegoten
Pine and Cranes painted by Kano Eigaku (1790-1867). He was the longest lived and most influential school of
painting in Japanese history.

49. Hanmaru Palace, Otsunegoten

50. Hanmaru Palace, Otsunegoten
Screen painting in the Gozanoma room,
Otsunegoten, Hanmaru Palace

51. Hanmaru Palace, Corridor between
Goshoin and Otsunegoten

52. Hanmaru Palace, Kaninoma
The Kitchen of the Hanmaru Palace

53. The moat around the fort.
An aerial view of the fortified palace.
Hanmaru Palace

54. All rights reserved. Rights belong to their respective owners.
Available free for non-commercial and personal use.
The
End
Music – Anonymous Romance. Ernesto Cortazar.

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