Castle of the Tokugawa shogunate with the famous "nightingale" floors that creak when you walk; admission ~1.300 ¥.
Nijo-jo Castle is one of the best examples of Edo-period architecture and a World Heritage Site. It was built in 1603 as the residence of the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu when he visited Kyoto, and its interior is decorated with paintings of the Kano school of extraordinary quality. The most striking feature is the famous "nightingale" floors of the Ninomaru palace: the anchoring system of the flooring produces a melodious squeak when you walk, which served as an acoustic alert against possible intruders. It opens from 8:45 to 17:00 (last entry at 16:00) and closes from 29 to 31 December. The combined ticket for the grounds and the Ninomaru palace costs 1.300 ¥. It can be reached by subway, taking the Tozai line to Nijojo-mae station. Allow at least 1,5 hours for the visit. In spring the garden fills with cherry trees and in autumn with momiji, which makes it especially beautiful. Photographing the interior of the palace is not allowed.
