The castle provides an opportunity to walk through the building (and its nightingale floors); however, we really enjoyed the gardens. The view from the wall turret is impressive. It would be easy to spend a couple of hours here. There is a modest snack bar and gift shop inside the complex.

I enjoyed my walk around this castle. I bought the ticket to go inside and in the garden. I was abit annoyed when told no photos inside the castle because it's sacred. They should tell you before you buy that ticket. It was pretty with nice murals inside but unfortunately no photos! The outside was a lovely slow walk with some good photo points. Well worth a visit in Kyoto.

This is an amazing place. We loved walking “around” the main Ninomaru-goten Palace and seeing the panel reproductions that now are displayed in each of the rooms. Be sure to listen as the building speaks to you as you walk! The Honmaru-goten Palace was closed for restorations, but we actually liked to see all that was going on to the building ( peaked through the construction fences). Almost wished they had a viewing area so visitors could see all the work being accomplished. be sure to stop at the castle painting gallery (worth the extra Yen) and see the original panels that have on display. Plan plenty of time to stroll!

The gate is a real insta spot so you may have to wait for your picture! Pleasant grounds to wander with the classic water and rocks. Unfortunately there is some major works going on so a large building is out of bounds. Castle surrounded by moat and there is a view point to climb a few stairs to. Tea house in lovely tea tea garden that you can only access if you are having tea. You can either DIY or have the tea ceremony some bench seating outside and some floor seating inside. We did DIY and was a nice thing to do, although not very comfortable seating on bench and doing the tea beside you a small table would be of benefit.

Nijō Castle is an enchanting experience! The intricate fusuma paintings depicting historical scenes are a true highlight, evoking a sense of Japan's rich heritage. While the crowds can be overwhelming at times, the beauty of the castle and its lush gardens make it worth it. I fell in love with the palace's elegance and serene ambiance, where history comes to life. Exploring Nijō Castle was an unforgettable journey into the past, leaving me with cherished memories of Kyoto's cultural splendor. A must-visit destination for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in Japan's captivating history.

Don’t miss this one. Although the inner palace was under renovation (and probably will be for quite a while), the beautiful castle grounds and the impressive Ninomaru-goten palace alone make the visit worth your while. There’s a separate fee for the palace so simply buy the complete ticket when entering the castle area. No shoes and no photos in this Edo period palace so just concentrate on the place itself. The nightingale floors have a distinctive sound when walked upon, and it was almost disappointing to find out it was apparently mostly just a building technique thing rather than a clever way to spot the otherwise silent assassins. There is an added bonus on the castle grounds, i.e. the cherry grove – we were a couple of weeks late for the main hanami season, but luckily the Nijo grove had quite a few of the late-blooming sakura.

A visit to the Nijo-jo Castle is a must if you are in Kyoto. The structure is excellently well preserved that you can feel the way of life in this castle during the Edo Shogunate period. Do take your time absorbing everything during this visit. I would recommend that you come the earliest possible during opening hours to avoid all the crowd. We visited here first on our tour day (around 9am), spend some time here, and then went to Nishiki Market for wonderful lunch. Enjoy the wonderful & unique Japanese history !!!

This is an impressive part of old Kyoto from shogun times. It's a castle of sorts with a brick wall and a moat, but probably more for show than practicality. The gate and the main house inside the complex are impressive. The main house requires a shoes-off shuffle round a one-way system. The information boards in Japanese and English are very good. There's a shop, cafe & toilets.

This is a really well preserved castle which is well worth a visit. Although the rooms in the castle don’t have much in them, their decoration is very good. The grounds of the castle are very good also, and well looked after.

NHK castle was a wonderland of delight! The castle was rich with history and information at such a reasonable price. It was an easy walk to there and the staff were very helpful in directing us to the ticket machine. When we got inside of the walls it was all in a simple path that lead us to the castles, and the inside was beautiful! So much rich history in such a beautiful place. Would recommend for everyone! But it is quite difficult for someone with a wheelchair since the ground is made out of gravel.