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Gate of Ninomaru Palace (Inside the Nijo Castle Wall) |
With just one day for sightseeing in Kyoto, the itinerary was a hard decision. We've both been to Kiyomizu Temple (my favorite Buddhist temple), Kinkakuji (The Golden Temple) and Gion, so we decided on Nijo Castle.
As a castle, all that you'll see is the wall and moat, but inside this castle wall is a real treasure...
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Gate of Ninomaru Palace |
...Ninomaru Palace, the home of the Shogun (Head of the Samurai) since 1603.
(well, 1603 until the end of the Shoguns and Samurai in 1867)
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Ninomaru Palace |
Take off your shoes at the genkan and step into the world of the Samurai.
The first thing I notice as I walk the ancient corridors is the sqeaky floorboards.
No, not just sqeaky floorboards, every floor board sqeaks. No matter how softly you walk. It's called the Nightingale Floor, and it's done for a very clever purpose.
The shogun doesn't want silent-footed ninja from an enemy to come un-noticed.
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Front Detail, Ninomaru Palace |
As you listen to the chorus of nightingales, you pass various rooms, the walls covered with ancient artwork. Each room has a different theme. Unfortunately you can't take photos, so all I have to show you is my postcard:
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- Yanagi-no-ma - Willow Room,
- Wakamatsu-no-ma - Young Pine Room -- has ancient paintings of tigers which were done based on looking at hides, since there were no real tigers in ancient Japan. They're quite strange-looking.
- Tozamurai-no-ma - The Retainers' Room
- Shikidai-no-ma - The Reception Room
- Rouchu-no-ma - The Ministers' Office Room
- Chokushi-no-ma - The Imperial Messenger's Room
- Oohiroma - The Great Hall: Consisting of three sections: Ichi-no-ma - First Grand Chamber, Ni-no-ma - Second Grand Chamber, San-no-ma - Third Grand Chamber, Yon-no-ma - Fourth Grand Chamber --- The Great Hall is one of the highlights.
- Musha-kakushi-no-ma - The Bodyguards' Hidden Chamber
- Sotetsu-no-ma - Japanese fern-palm chamber
- Kuroshoin - The Inner Audience Chamber
- Shiroshoin - The Shogun's private living quarters --- This was quite interesting.
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Exterior of Ninomaru Palace |
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Garden behind Ninomaru Palace |
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Guard Station, just inside the gate of Nijo Castle |
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The wall of Ninomaru Palace |
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Detail of the Gate of Ninomaru Palace |
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Gate of Ninomaru Palace (the white spots are rain drops) |
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Map of Nijo Castle. The large building in the lower half is Ninomaru Palace. |
Entry to Nijo Castle is 600 yen for adults
From Kawaramachi-Shijo, Take bus number 12 (headed for Kinkakuji) and get off at Nijo-jo-mae (you'll see the big white wall and moat)
More Info on How to Get There and Planning your Trip: Here
Thank you for this post! I feel like I visited this Great palace, Wish to be there for real one day^^.
ReplyDelete@lucy luceI'm glad you enjoyed it!♡
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