Kyoto's Nijo Castle

      Kyoto's Nijo Castle
      (Nijo-jo)

      The castle was originally built in 1603 to be the offical Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu, and it was completed in 1626 by the third Shogun, Iemitsu, who tranferred some structures from the Fushimi Castle, built in the Momoyama Period (1573-1614). Consequently, lavished decorated Nijo Castle is representative of the height of Momoyama architecture. In its day, it served as a symbol of the power and authority of the Tokugawa bafuku (military government).

      When Toshinobu, the fifteenth Tokugawa Shogun, returned sovereignty to the Emporer in 1876, the Castle was given to the Imperial Family. In 1884 it was renamed Nijo Detached Palace and in 1939 donated to the City of Kyoto when it was once again renamed Nijo-jo or Nijo Castle and opened to the public.

      Nijo Castle: Higashi-Ote-mon (Eastern Main Gate) Nijo Castle: Higashi-Ote-mon (Eastern Main Gate)

      Inside the Eastern Main Gate

      Other areas of Nijo-jo

      Ninomaru Palace | Ninomaru Garden| Honmaru

      Chronological Table of Nijo Castle
      1601 Ieyasu Tokugawa (1541-1616), founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, ordered all feudal lords of western Japan to undertake the construction of Nijo Castle.
      1603 Ieyasu made his first visit to Nijo castle upon completion of its construction (most parts of Ninomaru Palace).
      1624-1626 Iemitsu (1603-1651), the third Tokugawa Shogun, established a system of development of the palace, such as, Honmaru, completion of Ninomaru Palace and donjon.
      1750 The five-storied donjon was struck by lightening and burned down.

       
      1788 Honmaru (Inner Palace) was destroyed in a great city-wide fire.
      1867 Yoshinobu (1837-1913), the fifteenth Tokugawa Shogun, restored sovereignty to the Emperor in a declaration made at the Ninomaru Palace.
      1868 The Imperial Cabinet was installed in the castle.

       
      1884 The castle was returned to the Imperial Family and renamed Nijo Detached Palace.

       
      1939 The castle was donated to the City of Kyoto, and renamed Nijo Castle (nijo-jo).

       
      1940 Nijo Castle opened to the public.

       
      1952 The Ninomaru Palace was designated a National Treasure, and Honmaru and other buildings in the Castle we designated Important Cultural Properties.
      1965 The Seiryu-en Garden was constructed as a reception facility for the City of Kyoto.

       
      1994 Nijo Castle was registered on the World Heritage List of UNESCO.

       


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