[World Heritage] 3-choice quiz to deepen your trivia about Nijo Castle

Former Imperial Villa Nijo Castle

Nijo Castle is commonly called “Nijo Castle,” but its official name is “Former Imperial Villa Nijo Castle.” This name reflects its history as a detached palace where members of the imperial family and nobility once resided. After the Restoration of Imperial Rule at the end of the Edo period and through the Meiji Restoration, it came to be used as an imperial villa, which is how it received its name.

Karamon (Chinese-style gate)

The main gate of the Ninomaru Palace is called the “Karamon.” This name was given because it originates in Chinese architectural styles. The Karamon is a grand gate adorned with magnificent decorations and is one of the key components of Nijo Castle that conveys the splendor of bygone days.

shoin-zukuri (Shoin-style architecture)

The Honmaru Palace at Nijo Castle is built in the shoin-zukuri style. This style, favored for the residences of feudal lords and for temple architecture from the Muromachi through the Edo period, is a residentially focused architectural form. As part of the development of zashiki (tatami room) culture, it evolved into one of the prominent architectural formats, characterized by interiors fully covered with tatami mats and formal spaces featuring a tokonoma alcove and a shoin (built-in desk and shelves).

Kano school

The barrier paintings of the Ninomaru Palace were created by painters of the Kano school, who were active from the Momoyama period through the Edo period. The Kano school was one of the most influential schools of Japanese painting, tracing its origins to Kano Motonobu and producing decorative works for many historic buildings.

destroyed by a lightning strike

Nijō Castle originally had a tenshukaku (main keep), but it was destroyed by a lightning strike in 1750. It was never rebuilt, and to this day only the site of the keep remains.

Taishō Enthronement Ceremony

The ceremony held at Nijo Castle in 1915 was the Taisho Enthronement Ceremony, conducted to celebrate the accession of Emperor Taisho. This grand event was widely proclaimed across Japan and to the world as the formal rite of imperial accession. Nijo Castle was chosen as a venue of high prestige, where a series of traditional festivities took place.

Ninomaru Garden

The garden at Nijo Castle that is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government is the Ninomaru Garden. Created in the Edo period, it is a superb pond-centered strolling garden that incorporates ponds, stones, and trees. It is known as a historic garden that allows visitors to experience the changing seasons and the beauty of nature.