Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo) was built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu. The entire site is a World Heritage Site and of unique historical significance. To safeguard against treachery, Ieyasu had the interior fitted with 'nightingale' floors (intruders were detected by the squeaking boards) and concealed chambers where bodyguards could keep watch. When walking through the corridors of Ninomaru Palace we heard the squeaks, it was neat!
Ken at the Momoyama-era Kara-mon gate.
Ninomaru Palace (National Treasure). It has 33 rooms and over 800 tatami mats (straw mats used in traditional Japanese rooms).
When entering a palace in Japan you remove your shoes; areas with numbered cubbies for your shoes were common.
Honmaru Palace (Inner Palace) was added to the castle complex in 1626 upon the orders of the third Tokugawa Shogun, Iemitsu.
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