While Tokyo to the east, is at the pinnacle of a technological metropolis, over to the west, the city of Kyoto still retains the traditional and cultural history of the county. If you are looking for shrines, temples and gorgeous scenery, Kyoto is the place to go. One of the several stops on my trip to the city was to Nijo Castle.
This splendid palace is located a few stops north of the main train station, and can be reached easily on the metro, at the self named station . Built back in 1603 in the Edo period, the palace is a wonderful example of the feudal era architecture commonly seen across the country in that era. The palace grounds itself is serrated by 2 main walls, giving the castle a sense of fortification. The stunning golden Karamon gates guarding the entrances welcome you to the inner grounds, where Ninomaru Palace sits. This is where the shogun would reside when they were visited the city for business. You can get guided tours inside, but no photography is allowed. A fun fact, the entire palace interior was deliberately covered in wooden panels that make noise, to act as a detection system if any would be assassins’ managed to bypass the gates!
The palace exterior is just a joy too, the traditional Japanese landscape garden covered in foliage and stone covers a large portion of the grounds for you to explore. Kyoto has many beautiful attractions, but this one located in the city center is a convenient one to tick off the list.
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