Nijō Castle 二条城
Kyoto, Japan UNESCO World Heritage Site
Nijō Castle is a wooden Japanese castle (hirajiro) in the Nakagyō Ward of Kyoto, Japan, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a National Treasure of Japan, and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Commissioned by the Tokugawa shogunate, it is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto and 100 Fine Castles of Japan. It is a wooden structure and is ranked 22nd among the most looked-up sights in Japan on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The castle occupies an area of 0.275 km2 and is open from 08:45 to 17:00, Monday through Sunday. Wheelchair access at the site is limited. The weather is warmest in July and August, with daily highs of 29 °C and 31 °C respectively, while January and February are the coldest months with daily lows of 0 °C. The highest rainfall occurs during the months of June and July, with approximately 197 mm and 194 mm of rain recorded.
To reach the site, travelers can fly into Osaka Itami International Airport, which is 38 km away, or travel from the capital, Tokyo, which is 365 km away. Nearby attractions include the Kyoto Imperial Palace (1.8 km), Nishi Hongan-ji (2.5 km), Yasaka Shrine (3.1 km), Kinkaku-ji (3.3 km), and Kyōto Station (3.3 km).
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 31 °C. The wettest is June, with about 197 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 8 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 21 | 16 | 10 |
| Average low, °C | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 61 | 73 | 109 | 110 | 151 | 197 | 194 | 115 | 167 | 118 | 75 | 56 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 17 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
