Donation

Over the course of approximately twenty years from 2011, full-scale conservation work entailing structural reinforcement will be carried out on all historic structures within Nijo-jo Castle, including 28 designated cultural properties, for the purpose of preserving the castle’s historic and cultural value, and ensuring continued safe public access to one of Kyoto’s leading cultural tourism assets.

In preparation of the 1626 visit of Emperor Go-Mizuno-o, a covered bridge spanning the inner moat and connecting the Ninomaru-goten and Honmaru-goten was constructed, allowing the emperor to move between the two palaces without touching the ground. Parts of this bridge survived until 1930, when the structure was completely dismantled. Structural members are still kept in storage at the castle, making a more or less faithful reconstruction feasible.

* The entire project is estimated to cost over 10 billion yen.

One of the structural members of the roof of the Kara-mon Gate is inscribed with the date, “Kan’ei 2 (1625),” suggesting that the gate was among the additions made in preparation of the 1626 visit by Emperor Go-Mizuno-o. The gate had not been repaired since 1975, and aging and resultant damage had advanced over the 36 years. The project replaced the hinoki roofing, gave the gate a fresh coat of lacquer, and conducted repairs on the sculpted decoration.
When pieces of ornamental hardware covering the rafter ends were removed for conservation work, the “triple hollyhock” motif—the crest of the Tokugawa clan—appeared from underneath the chrysanthemum crest symbolizing the imperial family. Evidence of the Tokugawa crest was also identified in damaged hardware elsewhere, suggesting that the sculpted crests were replaced during the mid-Meiji era, when the castle became an imperial villa under the jurisdiction of the imperial court following the return of imperial rule in 1867.

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  Kara-mon Gate before restoration

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  Kara-mon Gate after restoration

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  Rafter-end hardware
  Tokugawa crest revealed from underneath the imperial crest.

The Higashi Ote-mon, which stands facing Horikawa-dori Street, is the castle’s main gate. It was built in preparation of the 1626 visit of Emperor Go-Mizuno-o, and was altered to its present shape in 1662. The gate had not been repaired majorly since 1950, and aging and resultant damage had advanced over the 64 years. The project replaced the roofing to improve the structure’s earthquake resistance, and restored the main doors and surrounding parts.

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  Higashi Ote-mon before restoration

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  Higashi Ote-mon after restoration