| History |  |
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The castle was originally built in 1603 to be the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun Ieyasu, and it was completed in 1626 by the third Shogun Iemitsu, who transferred some structures from 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 military government. When Yoshinobu, the fifteenth Tokugawa Shogun, returned sovereignty to the Emperor in 1867, 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 renamed Nijo Castle (nijo-jo) and opened to the public. Nijo Castle in its entirety has been designated a historic relic. The Ninomaru Palace itself is a National Treasure, and twentytwo other structures (including the Eastern main Gate) have been named Important Cultural Properties. The Ninomaru Garden has also been designated a Special Scenic Spot. The total area of the Castle is 275,000 square meters; 7,300 square meters are occupied by buildings.
- 1601 : Ieyasu Tokugawa (1542-1616), 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, complete Ninomaru Palace and donjon.
- 1750 : The five-storied donjon was struck by lightning 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 were designated Important Cultural Properties. |
| Description | |
After the Meiji Restoration, in 1867, the castle came under the jurisdiction of the National Government, passing in 1871 to the Kyoto Prefectural Government, and in 1884 to the Imperial Household Agency, which donated it to Kyoto City in 1939. Considerable restoration work has been carried out since that time.
Nijo-jo is highly regarded as representing the spirit of the Momoyama Culture. Six of the buildings of the Ninomaru Goten (palace) that survived the 1788 fire are National Treasures. This group is a masterpiece of the shoin-zukuri residential architecture favored by the samurai class. It is a complex of connected building forms, arranged in staggered form alongside the pond of the Ninomaru Teien (garden), which is itself a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. In addition, 22 other buildings within the castle enclosure are Important Cultural Properties.
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