Nijo/ Nijo-jo Castle
Located in Kyoto, the Nijo Castle was created in 1601 with the money used from the feudal lords. Shogun Tokugawa asked the daimyo to contribute funds for building a castle that would serve the purpose of his own home. This grand piece of architecture sprawls over about 8,000 square meters. The castle’s structure contains huge stones, two huge walls and a moat as defense mechanisms. Iemitsu, the next ruling shogun, added some features to the castle when it was just built to which includes an inner and outer citadel (UNESCO World Heritage Site). In 1634 Iemitsu brought his army of 300,000 soldiers to his castle grounds to stand guard and to keep watch for looming enemies. Ninomoru Palace, the second citadel, contains five buildings that had grand designs meant to honor each shogun that inhabited it. Honmaru, the first citadel, was the living quarters for the shogun. Throughout the palace grounds there are also many gardens that are a spiritual escape from the dog-eat-dog world. This well built structure didn't last for long though. In 1750 one of the castle towers was struck by lightning and it also started a fire. Again, in 1788, the Honmoru palace is also lost due to a city fire. It wasn’t until 1862 that the palace went under major renovations. Over the next couple of decades, the central government and prefectural government used the castle for their headquarters. In present day, it is a museum where people are free to roam around the lush gardens and great buildings. In 1939, the Imperial Household Department gifted the castle to the city of Kyoto. One year later, the castle opened to all visitors who had always wondered what was hidden behind those big, beautiful gates.