Nijō-jō Castle

Nijō-jō Castle, also known as Nijō Castle, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyoto.

Nijō Castle was built in 1603 for Ieyasu Tokugawa, who was the Shōgun at the time. In 1929 the castle was donated to the City of Kyoto, and was eventually opened to the public. Today you can explore the Ninomaru Palace part of the castle grounds — listen for the nightingale-like squeaking floorboards.

How to buy tickets

Entry to Ninomaru Palace costs ¥1,300 for adults, ¥400 for middle and high school students, and ¥300 for elementary school students. Children under elementary school age are free. Tickets can be bought at the entrance, but we recommend buying them online to save time.

Planned change: Kyoto City has announced plans to re-price the castle-and-palace ticket at ¥2,000 for visitors from outside the city (¥1,000 for Kyoto residents) from fiscal 2027. The ordinance amendment goes to the city council in November 2026, so current prices apply for now.

Other parts of the castle grounds require additional payments; also note that the Honmaru Palace area is closed to the public except for special occasions.

How to get to Nijō-jō Castle

Nijō-jō Castle is a 3-minute walk from Nijojo-mae Station on the Tōzai subway line, or a 15-minute walk from Nijo Station, which services the JR Hashidate and San-In Lines, as well as the Tōzai.