Nijō Castle

Came on the last day of the light up during cherry blossom season in April. Bought the tickets ahead of time online. Line to get in was long and winding but moved fast. Once in, we walked around the property and admired the light shows sometimes accompanied by music. They have lanterns for kids to carry if they want. There were a lot of people, but most people moved with the flow of traffic. Lots of nice trees and colored lights. We enjoyed it overall.

Such beautiful castle! We paid 1300 yen at the time of writing to go in to the castle. You have two types of tickets. A ticket to walk around the court (which is cheaper at 800 yen) and another ticket which allows you to walk around the court and go inside the actual castle (1300 yen). The second option is worth it… great history. What they have done in the inside takes you back to the edo period. You will need around 2 hours for this, especially in the heat. The area is exposed to the sun. Not much shade. There is an observation deck (not high.. but there steps involved to get up there. Not wheelchair accessible) where you can see Kyoto. At the back of the court, there are plenty of rest areas, with vending machines and toilets. at the end of the route, there is gift and souvenirs shop. Overall, great experience

Nijo Castle is a must-see if you’re visiting Kyoto. The castle has beautiful gardens, and the buildings are well-preserved. Walking through the castle, you can learn a lot about Japan’s history. The floors even squeak as you walk, which is a cool feature called 'nightingale floors' meant to guard against intruders. The whole place feels peaceful, and the gardens are perfect for a relaxing stroll. It's a great spot to take in the history and beauty of Kyoto. Highly recommend visiting if you're in the area!

A beautiful looking castle with a slightly higher entry fee (1300 YEN) but definitely worth the experience as my friend and I had a great time walking around and absorbing the information. There are no cameras allowed inside the actual castle itself and this is very nice as you are just walking around learning about the shogun and the Edo period. There was not that large of a crowd when we visited in the last week of August. NOTE: They take card and cash :)

It was one of my favourite museum during my stay in Kyoto. Rich history, super interesting facts, great artworks. I highly suggest you get the audio guide to listen to the explanations. I didn't buy my ticket in advance, it was very easy to buy it at the machine in person. After touring inside, you can go in the garden and walk a bit, rest, relax. There's also a cafe nearby (but prices were $$).