Nijo Castle・二条城
Hi. Friends. I went to Nijo castle. It is so beautiful; I want to recommend Kyoto fans to visit there.
Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu; his grandson Iemitu completed the castle’s palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the court by adding a five-story castle keep. Nijo Castle is divided into three areas. The central circle of defense is called Honmaru, the secondary reason called Ninomaru; the entire castle grounds and the Honmaru are surrounded by stone walls and moats. These are huge stones, which is very mysterious thinking about carrying so many heavy stones there at the Edo period. How great human power is! Visitors to Nijo Castle enter the castle through a gate in the east. You can get English audio guides for rent (500 yen) at a kiosk just located inside the entrance. The Ninomaru Palace served as the residence and office of the Shogun during his visits to Kyoto. I was very excited to think that I was walking on the same floor that Shogun had been walking in the Edo period. I wonder how the beautiful prince was there! This building survives in its original form, consisting of multiple separate buildings connected by corridors with so-called nightingale floors, as they squeak when stepped upon as a security measure against intruders. The palace rooms, of course, have no fluorescent light. I think they are using candles or something at that period. Until about 150 years ago, we Japanese didn’t even have fluorescent light. It’s extraordinary, and I was surprised to see how fast time changes. Outside of the Ninomaru Palace extends the Ninomaru Garden. You can enjoy a traditional Japanese garden with a large pond, ornamental stones, and so on.
Access
The entrance of Nijo Castle is a short walk from Nijojo-Mae Station along the Tozai Subway Line. If you take the Karasuma Subway Line, you will get off at Karasuma-Oike Station and transfer to the Tozai Line to Nijojo-Mae Station.
Hours
8:45 to 17:00 (admission until 16:00), entry to Ninomaru from 9:00 to 16:00
Closed
Tuesdays in January, July, August, and December (or the following day if Tuesday is a national holiday), December 26 to January 4
Admissions
600 yen
English audio guides
500 yen
90-minute guided tours of the castle in English
Twice per day for 2000 yen
二条城に行ってきました。すっごくきれいで、京都ファンにはお勧めです。1603年に徳川家康によって建てられ、その孫の家光によって23年後に完成しました。なんと五階建てのお城になったのです。二条城は三つの部分に分けられ、ひとつは本丸と呼ばれるメインのディフェンスで、もうひとつは、二の丸と呼ばれる第二のディフェンスです。城全体は石と堀で囲まれています。ものすごく大きな石です。江戸時代にどうやってあれを運んだのかミステリーです。人間ってすごいですね。東口ゲートから入ると、すぐ内側にキオスクがあって、500円で英語ガイドをゲットできますよ。二の丸御殿は将軍の滞在中、住居やオフィスとして利用されていました。お城を歩いていると、将軍が歩いた同じ廊下を歩いているんだと思って、ワクワクします。どんなにきれいなお姫様がいたんでしょうね。建物は当時のまま残っており、それぞれ離れた建物が鴬張りと呼ばれる廊下でコネクトされています。侵略者が入ってくると、床がキーキー鳴って危険を知らせてくれるわけです。部屋には、もちろん、蛍光灯なんてありません。ローソクかなんかを使っていたのでしょうね。約150年前まで江戸時代だったわけです。時代はなんて早く進むんでしょう。びっくりです。
二の丸御殿を出ると、二の丸庭園があって、伝統的な日本庭園をエンジョイできます。大きな池やオーナメントの石がありますよ。
時間や料金は上記のとおりです。変更していたらいけませんから、確かめて行ってくださいね。
Have a nice travel ♥
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