Nijo Castle

Originally built in 1603 by the first Tokugawa shogun Ieyasu, the castle served as both the Kyoto headquarters and residence of the shogun, and can thus be called a "castled palace." On the occasion of an Imperial visit in 1626, the buildings of the Ninomaru Palace were reconstructed and modified into their present state. When the Tokugawa shogunate returned the government to Emperor Meiji in 1867, the castle was also transferred to the Imperial family, and was known as the Nijo Castle Detached Papace afterway. In 1939 the castle was given to the city of Kyoto and since then has been open to the public. Book of photographs and text (some in English, some in Japanese) of the castle and the castle area. The whole caste area has been designated as a historic relic and the Ninomaru Palace itself as a national treasure. In additoin, the Great East Gate and 21 other structures have been designated as culturally important. The Ninomaru Garden has also been designated as a special scenic spot.