Castle · Kyoto, Japan
Nijō Castle
Nijō Castle (二条城, Nijō-jō) is a flatland castle in Kyoto, Japan. Built 1601.
Photo: Unknown via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Kyoto, Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Castle |
| Built | 1601 |
| Area | Area: 0.287 km² |
| Coordinates | 35.0142° N, 135.7475° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Nijō Castle is known for
Nijō Castle (二条城, Nijō-jō) is a flatland castle in Kyoto, Japan.
About Nijō Castle
Nijō Castle (二条城, Nijō-jō) is a flatland castle in Kyoto, Japan. The castle consists of two concentric rings (Kuruwa) of fortifications, the Ninomaru Palace, the ruins of the Honmaru Palace, various support buildings and several gardens. The surface area of the castle is 275,000 square metres (27.5 ha; 68 acres), of which 8,000 square metres (86,000 sq ft) is occupied by buildings.
History
In 1601, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, ordered all the feudal lords in western Japan to contribute to the construction of Nijō Castle, which was completed during the reign of his grandson Tokugawa Iemitsu in 1626. While the castle was being built, a portion of land from the partially abandoned Shinsenen Garden (originally part of the imperial palace and located south) was absorbed, and its abundant water was used in the castle gardens and ponds. Parts of Fushimi Castle, such as the main tower and the karamon, were moved here in 1625–26.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Nijō Castle website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Kyoto |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Osaka International Airport (ITM) |
| Distance from the airport | 23.2 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) · Osaka, Japan · 23.7 miles away
- Kobe Airport (UKB) · Kobe, Japan · 39.7 miles away
- Kansai International Airport (KIX) · Osaka, Japan · 49.6 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Japan
More castles
Frequently asked questions
What is Nijō Castle?
Nijō Castle (二条城, Nijō-jō) is a flatland castle in Kyoto, Japan.
Where is Nijō Castle located?
Nijō Castle is in Kyoto, Japan. Its coordinates are 35.0142° N, 135.7475° E.
How do I get to Nijō Castle?
The nearest town is Kyoto, and the nearest airport is Osaka International Airport (ITM), about 23.2 miles away (straight line).
When was Nijō Castle built?
Nijō Castle was built 1601.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijō_Castle — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1013399 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://nijo-jocastle.city.kyoto.lg.jp/?lang=en — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.