Kyoto travel
Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle · Nijo-jo Castle · 元離宮二条城
Visit Nijo Castle to explore a shogun’s palace. See Ninomaru’s wall paintings and carved decoration, then walk in the gardens.
Official sources Official sources Nijo Castle official access map
Visitor information
Address
〒604-8301 京都市中京区二条通堀川西入二条城町541
541 Nijo-jo-cho, Horikawa-nishi-iru, Nijo-jo-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 604-8301
View on the mapAdmission
Individual castle admission costs JPY 800 for adults, JPY 400 for junior and senior high students and JPY 300 for primary students. Younger children enter free. Adult Ninomaru-inclusive admission is JPY 1,300. Honmaru adult admission is JPY 1,000 in addition to castle admission, with advance booking required. Painting Gallery admission is separate.
Opening hours
The castle opens from 08:45 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:00. Ninomaru reception runs from 08:45 to 16:10, and Honmaru reception from 09:30 to 16:00.
What to see at Nijo Castle
Ninomaru Palace paintings and carvings
See wall paintings and carved decoration inside Ninomaru Palace. Buy admission that includes the palace for interior viewing.
Ninomaru Palace paintings, carvings and gardens Nijo Castle admission
A garden walk after the palace
After seeing the interior decoration, walk through the gardens for views of the buildings from outside.
How to get to Nijo Castle
Take the Karasuma subway line from Kyoto and change at Karasuma Oike to the Tozai line. Get off at Nijojo-mae and use exit 1. Walk towards the castle and buy tickets beside the East Gate. Check your date’s trains and fares separately.
Nijo Castle official access map Kyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map
Before you visit
Enter the castle before palace reception ends
Ninomaru reception ends at 16:10, but castle admission ends at 16:00. Do not plan arrival solely around the later palace deadline.
Castle and palace closure days differ
Nijo Castle closes 29–31 December. Ninomaru Palace closes Tuesdays in January, July, August and December, or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday, and 26 December–3 January. Honmaru closes the third Monday and following day each month, but opens if the relevant date is a public holiday. Honmaru also closes 26 December–3 January.
Avoid the inclusive ticket on Ninomaru closure days
You cannot see the palace interior when it closes. Check available areas for your date and buy the corresponding ticket.
Questions about Nijo Castle
Does Ninomaru-inclusive admission cover Honmaru Palace too?
Honmaru needs a separate ticket and an advance booking for your chosen date and time. Ninomaru-inclusive admission does not cover it.
Official sources
- Official sources ·
- Official sources ·
- Nijo Castle official access map ·
- Official sources ·
- Nijo Castle operations and closures ·
- Official sources ·
- Official sources ·
- Official sources ·
- Nijo Castle admission ·
- Kyoto transport bureau Nijojo-mae exits and area map ·
- Ninomaru Palace paintings, carvings and gardens ·
Reviewed on: