If you want to see a fantastic blend of art, architecture, traditions and culture in the realm of history, then Japan is the place to visit.
There are a number of places in Japan which are titled as World Heritage Centers due to their historical significance.
Nijo Castle is one of those historical castles of Japan. Castles of Japan used to represent power , wealth and social status in ancient Japan.
I was extremely lucky to be able to make a visit to this historical place upon my visit to Japan. The beauty of the place was elevated due to the fact that I visited it at night and hence saw Nijo Castle in lights.
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Nijo Castle At Night: A Different Experience
This experience has dwelled a special place in my heart and it is going to stay with me for the rest of my life.
As John Keats said:
“ A thing of beauty is a joy forever ”
Looking to visit Kyoto or already in Kyoto? More activities to try
In this blog , I am going to try to express my feelings and take you all along this beautiful journey of mine.
The entrance of the castle is as grand as the castle itself. The entrance is wide rather than tall which adds to its uniqueness.
I was in awe of the place before even entering into the humongous castle due to the stature of the entrance.
Minami-Mon Gate
This wonderfully built gate was put in place in 1929. This gate is towards the southern end of Nijo Castle.
This gate is historically very significant. It is the very door by which the emperor used to enter the castle.
The architecture of the gate represents the multifaceted culture of Japanese history.
Karamon Gate
The Karamon gates have a historical significance and have a rich meaning in their inception at a castle.
Karamon gates represent Authority and Power.
The Karamon gate of Nijo Castle enters us to Ninomaru – Goten Palace. The gate is wonderfully built by using four pillars and the cravings on the door are a sight to behold.
I was absolutely in awe of the cravings on the gate.
The lions that are carved on the gate are also highly symbolic in nature.These lions are there to protect the palace from enemies.
Ninomaru Palace
Ninomaru Palace is considered to be a part of national treasure. The reason for giving so much importance to this palace is because it is the only palace left with such a fortified palace complex.
This palace is a masterpiece of Japanese architecture. It consists of six buildings that are interconnected.
When I visited the inside of the palace I absolutely fell in love with the paintings on the wall , the awesomely carved transoms between the rooms.
This palace has a total of 33 rooms which are intricately decorated.
The different paintings and carvings in the walls represent the power and authority of the Shogun living in the palace
Ninomaru Garden
This exotic garden was planned and built by one of the most famous landscape architects of that time named Kobori Enshu.
The most interesting part about this garden is the number of rocks that are present.
We see a lot of cranes and turtles in this garden and they are symbolic of longevity and strength.
The floors in the garden almost sing like a nightingale as you walk on them. These floors were planned to alert the guards about the entry of any outsider.
Another interesting fact about the garden is that it can be viewed from three different directions.
This garden was built as a representative of paradise and represented longevity and I loved the architecture and the design.
The Ninomaru garden at night is a beautiful sight.
It is a proper show of beauty and colors and I was awestruck when I saw the beautiful Ninomaru garden at night.
Light On The Wall
The light on the wall shows the beautiful flowers and excellent lighting.
It is a scene that is worth waiting to see. When I saw the spot in Ninomaru garden, I just could not take my eyes off the colorful representation.
Seiryu-en Garden
The seiryu en garden is known for the Weeping Pagoda Trees. I would call this garden a breathtaking mix of eastern and western styles.
There are around 400 cherry trees that are planted precisely in two lines at the garden.
During the night time , I saw the cherry trees shining under the lights and I just fell in love with the wonderful sight.
You get to see the full beauty of the scene at night and I felt privileged to be there at such a beautiful place.
Night Visit ( A Bittersweet Experience )
Although , I would totally agree to the fact that Nijo Castle is at its utmost beauty at night time but it’s a double edged sword . The reason is pretty simple. It’s very hard to navigate through the castle at night.
As the castle was closed at night time it became a challenge for me and I really needed to stay focused and navigate carefully through the unending beauty of the castle.
Keeping an eye on the map of the castle or having a tour guide might prove to be helpful in this scenario.
It’s All About The Lights
One of the major reasons for me wanting to visit the Nijo castle at night was to look at the beautiful scenery under lights.
The lights are set up in such a beautiful way which illuminates all of the castle in such a way that a wonderful painter paints his picture.
The shadows of the buildings falling in the little trams, the beautiful trees looking down upon their shadow at ground are a one in a million view.
I just felt lots of comfort and peace while I was walking through this masterpiece of a castle.
Trees Around the Ninomaru Palace
I am a nature lover and I have always been a fan of the beautiful and unique diversity of flora of Japan.
Nijo castle is not just beautiful in its structure and dimensions but also the lights at night add to the beauty of the flowers at the castle.
The dynamic lights falling upon the leaves and flowers are a scene that adds to the aesthetic sense of the tourists.
The flowers love to bloom during the sunlight but for sure it was a different experience when I saw the blooming flowers at night.
When I was looking at the beautiful cherry trees under lights , I remembered the wonderful poem “ Loveliest of trees, the cherry now “ and the lines of the poem that says:
“ about the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow “
The beauty of the trees is out of this world . It is a memorable scene to behold and I was inhaling as much beauty as possible.
All in all, my visit to Nijo Castle was a memorable one . It is going to stay with me for a very long time . It is surely worth the visit due to the following reasons.
- The beauty of the castle itself
- The lush green gardens
- The blooming flowers
- The serenity and relaxed environment
- Fantastic management
- Lights adding to the beauty of spectacle
I absolutely enjoyed my time through the illuminated paths of the castle and I would suggest everyone who is visiting Japan to visit Kyoto and see this wonderful place.
I hope you enjoyed this visit through my blog as I tried to paint the picture of the castle with the help of my words. However , to get the true feel of the place , you really should visit it once because
“ heard melodies are sweet
those unheard are sweeter “
