Here are three suggested routes depending on how much time you have at Nijo-jo Castle.
Two-hour tour (recommended)
The East Bridge will be closed due to construction work from August 25th to September 26th, 2025.
Please use the West Bridge if you wish to view the Honmaru Palace and Honmaru Gardens.
One-hour tour (for the time-pressed)
Two and a half-hour tour (for the enthusiast)
The East Bridge will be closed due to construction work from August 25th to September 26th, 2025.
Please use the West Bridge if you wish to view the Honmaru Palace and Honmaru Gardens.
- Higashi Ote-mon Gate
- Bansho
- Tonan Sumi-yagura
- Kara-mon Gate
- Minami-mon Gate
- Ninomaru-goten Palace
- Ninomaru Garden
- Honmaru-goten Palace and Garden
- Base of the keep tower
- West Bridge
South route: - Plum grove
- Cherry grove
- Momoyama-mon Gate
- Naruko-mon Gate
- Waraku-an
- Seiryu-en Garden
- Koun-tei
- Nijo-jo Castle Painting Gallery
- Higashi Ote-mon Gate
After 9) Base of the keep tower, visitors can take either the north route or south route to Seiryu-en Garden. The south route is recommended during plum blossom season (mid-February to late March), and cherry blossom season (late March to early April), because it takes in the 10) Plum grove, 11) Cherry grove, Momoyama-mon Gate and Naruko-mon Gate before arriving at Waraku-an and Seiryu-en Garden.