Nijo Castle, Kyoto

Enormous to just walk by and wonder how did they build that so long ago with the huge stones. Great history. Warriors challenged the existing emperor in Kyoto. Moats. Nightingale floors that squeaked to signal the presence of an invader. Build in 1600. Unique.

Of course Nijo Castle is beautiful. However, it really does not feel very special compared to some of the other options in Kyoto. If you are staying for several days, by all means go take a look. However, if you're short on time, I'd recommend skipping it. Most of the paintings in the building are reproductions, since the originals are safe elsewhere - which made the visit much less exciting. The garden is nice but there are nicer ones all over Japan. Date of experience: October 2016.

Currently doing some renovations so the outer areas are not as visible right now. Inside of the castle, you can see awesome paintings and lacquered artwork. Each room has a different theme.

Nice nice definitely worth the visit. Centrally located with scenic views. Entry fee a little high at ¥1000+ especially compared to places like Osaka Castle which in my opinion is far nicer.

Less a traditional Japanese castle and more of a self-proclaimed royal villa for the Shogun. Very interesting history of both the first and last Shoguns and the transfer of power to the emperor. The grounds are beautiful and the paintings within the villa, although almost all reproductions, are stunning. Some of the staff seem anti-tourist as my family was frequently and sometimes aggressively reminded to ensure my children didn’t touch anything (they didn’t). I’m guessing some tourists have spoiled it for the lot of us, but it was discouraging to be treated poorly. Definitely pay for the full ticket as you’ll miss the most interesting part of the castle if you only tour the garden.