Nightingale Floors

Nijo Castle
October 9, 2014
JTB Tour 1

When I was researching the best attractions in Japan, someone gave me this valuable advice: "Go with a professional tour group. They'll take you to the best places." So I booked with JTB USA Tours.

The Nijo Castle is the first stop of JTB's Kyoto Morning Tour. Originally built in 1603, this castle (also known as Nijo-jo) was the official residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun. Famous for its nightingale floors, it is also known for showcasing early Edo period and Momoyama culture in Japan: the designs, elaborate carvings, and paintings.

From start to finish, the tour of the castle grounds was impressive. The details on the Karamon Gate (main entry way) will leave you breathless.

The impressive Karamon Gate

A closer look at the fine details of the Karamon Gate

Our tour guide pointed to this architectural detail: wooden carving of a lion scratching its ear

Front and center is the Ninomaru Palace that spans about 35,500 square feet. The facade looks simple until you scrutinize the intricate details of the building.

Visitors taking selfies in front of the Ninomaru Palace

Following our guide, we made our way through the castle grounds. We were led to the Ninomaru Garden, designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. The large island in the center of the pond represents Horai-jima, the Island of Eternal Happiness. The two smaller islands flanking it represent Tsuru-jima or Crane Island and Kame-jima or Turtle Island.

The large pond of Ninomaru Garden

But this is as far as you can go with taking photographs or videos. And before entering the castle, all of us visitors had to take off our shoes and leave them in cubby holes by the entrance.

As we all stepped onto the wooden floors of the castle corridors, the gentle "chirping" began. The wooden floors were built purposely to "squeak" so as to warn of intruders.

It is prohibited to take photos and videos inside Nijo Castle.

The engineering behind the nightingale floors

We were guided along through each room featuring replicas of sliding doors and walls all beautifully painted. Even the elaborate ceilings were magnificent. It was interesting to note that the heart of the illustrations on the walls were concentrated towards the bottom. But if you are sitting on the tatami mat, our tour guide explained, such fine points would be at eye level.

Most amazing was the large room where the shogun relinquished power back to the emperor. This, as our JTB tour guide had so eloquently put it, is one of the most historic moments in Japanese history.

They had mannequins representing the shogun, the samurais, and all the other ranking officials that were dressed in the traditional and official garb of that era. If you're familiar with this historical event, looking at this room will truly move you.

Visitors of this place always come in droves. I'm glad I took the bus tour through JTB. It's organized and convenient. They have hotel pick up points. Best of all, they handle all the arrangements so you don't need to line up for entry tickets.

For more information on JTB's tours, visit https://online.jtbusa.com/Tour.aspx. You can speak to a live person at their reservation center by calling 1-800-223-6104 (open daily).