![[World Heritage] 3-choice quiz to deepen your trivia about Nijo Castle](https://media.ragnet.co.jp/img/1200__png__https://www.ragnet.co.jp/files/2025/04/75282b4e944d5fc194d19052611646ac.webp)
[World Heritage] 3-choice quiz to deepen your trivia about Nijo Castle
Nijo Castle, built as a flatland castle in Kyoto by the Tokugawa shogunate during the Edo period.
It preserves numerous nationally designated cultural properties, including National Treasures and Special Places of Scenic Beauty, and this castle that embodies Japan’s culture and history is popular not only with Japanese visitors but also with tourists from abroad.
For those looking for stories and trivia about Nijo Castle, we recommend multiple-choice quizzes with three options.
You can learn about Nijo Castle’s long history since its construction, including its architectural styles and historical connections.
Be sure to try these quizzes to deepen your knowledge of Kyoto’s culture and Japan’s traditional castles.
[World Heritage] 3-Choice Quiz to Deepen Your Trivia About Nijo Castle (1–10)
What was the purpose of building Nijo Castle?
- for the reception of foreign envoys
- As a residence for the nobility
- For the shogun's lodging
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For the shogun's lodging
Nijo Castle was originally built as a residence for the shogun when he visited the imperial court in Kyoto. He used it as his place of stay in the city, and the castle also served as a symbolic political presence of the bakuhan (feudal) system.
Who built Nijo Castle?
- Toyotomi Hideyoshi
- Oda Nobunaga
- Tokugawa Ieyasu
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Tokugawa Ieyasu
Nijo Castle, whose construction was initiated by Tokugawa Ieyasu, is known for its lavish interiors adorned with ornate carvings and gold leaf. After multiple renovations—including a reconstruction in 1626 by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate—it became the Nijo Castle we see today.
How many tatami mats does the Ninomaru Palace have?
- shōin-bari
- Cherry-pattern finish
- uguisubari (nightingale floors)
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uguisubari (nightingale floors)
The floors in the Ninomaru Palace at Nijo Castle are called “uguisu-bari,” or “nightingale floors.” The name comes from a special mechanism installed beneath the floorboards that causes them to chirp like a nightingale when walked upon. It is said that this mechanism also functioned as a security system to alert occupants to the presence of intruders.
When was Nijo Castle inscribed as a World Heritage Site?
- 1988
- 1994
- the year 2001
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1994
Nijo Castle was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1994. Built in the early Edo period, it is known as a castle that later became a symbol of the shogunate.
What historical event did Tokugawa Yoshinobu carry out at Nijo Castle?
- sakoku policy
- Restoration of Imperial Rule
- alternate attendance system
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Restoration of Imperial Rule
In 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu proclaimed the Restoration of Imperial Rule at Nijo Castle. This act returned the political authority held by the shogunate to the emperor and was carried out to resolve the political turmoil at the end of the Edo period. It then became the catalyst that accelerated the series of events leading to the Meiji Restoration, marking the starting point of Japan’s modernization.
When was Nijo Castle built?
- Year 1573
- 1603
- the year 1868
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1603
Nijo Castle was built in 1603. This was the beginning of the Edo period, when the Tokugawa shogunate’s rule began. The castle was used as a facility for the shogun’s stays in Kyoto, and many important political events took place there.
By how many degrees is Nijō Castle tilted compared to the surrounding blocks?
- 5 degrees north
- 3 degrees east
- 2 degrees west
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3 degrees east
Nijo Castle is said to be tilted 3 degrees to the east relative to the surrounding blocks. This is thought to stem from the method of measuring direction at the time the castle was built. This subtle inclination is still recognized today as a design feature of the castle and serves as interesting information for those interested in the castle’s structure and site layout.