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In the middle of the city, surrounded by deep moats and enclosed by stone walls you will find Nijo Castle which is a flatland castle, and strongly demonstrates the power that the Shoguns wielded over Japan for much of its history. 

The construction of the castle was completed to the present day scale during the reign of "Tokugawa Shogun Iemitsu" in 1626. 

​​The castle consists of two concentric rings of fortifications, the "Ninomaru Palace", the "Honmaru Palace"; various support buildings and several gardens. 
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Nijo Castle - Nijo-Jo

Primary attractions of Nijo castle would be Ninomaru Palace and the gorgeous gardens. The surface area of the castle is 275,000 square meters, of which 8000 square meters is occupied by buildings. 

The castle is one of the seventeen assets of Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto which have been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 

It is one of the popular sites and often packed with hoards bus tourists and Japanese school students out on school excursions. ​If you’d like to visit when it is less crowded try to be there just after opening. 
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Ninomaru Garden - Nijo Castle

Access

Bus: From Kyoto Station to Nijo-jo-mae Station - 15 minutes by Kyoto City Bus No. 9 or 50 or Raku Bus 101.

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Train: Kyoto Station to Karasuma-Oike Station by Subway Karasuma Line - Then to Nijo-jo-mae Station by Subway Tozai Line – And then one minute on foot. 
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Honmaru Garden - Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle "Nijo-Jo" - Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture