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Kyoto Imperial PalacevsNijo Castle
Both Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo-jo Castle are endorsed by reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, Nijo-jo Castle is preferred by most professionals compared to Kyoto Imperial Palace. Nijo-jo Castle comes in at 92 with praise from 4 publications like Michelin Guide, Frommer's and Lonely Planet.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Fodor's
Michelin Guide
Frommer's
Lonely Planet
3 Kyoto-Gyoen Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 602-0881
From $0/night
Fodor's "The present structure dates from 1855. It's hardly palatial, though fine in its way; the ingenious cypress-bark roof is particularly attractive." Full review
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You can usually arrange a same-day visit by showing your passport at the office in the park's northwest corner, or you can make a request online.
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"The first Imperial Palace was built in 794 and since then has been burned down and rebuilt a total of 16 times." Full review
Frommer's "The palace shows the restful designs of the peaceful Heian Period, and the emperor's private garden is graceful." Full review
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"The surrounding Kyoto Imperial Palace Park is open to the public from dawn to dusk and can be visited freely." Full review
Nijo Castle Fodor's Frommer's Michelin Guide
U.S. News & World Report
541 Nijojo-cho, Horikawa-nishiiru, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
From $0/night
Fodor's "Nijo Castle, begun in 1603, is a grandiose and unequivocal statement of the shogunate's power." Full review
Frommer's "The Tokugawa shogun's Kyoto home stands in stark contrast to most of Japan's other remaining castles, which were constructed purely for defense." Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"The ceremonial rooms are embellished with paintings finished with gold, exemplary works of the Kano school, lavishly decorated coffered ceilings and superb tokonoma, altars which honour the ancestors." Full review
U.S. News & World Report7.0
"After years of bitter strife, the aging samurai lord Tokugawa Ieyasu finally wrested power from Japan's many warring clans and unified them at the turn of the 17th century. Upon being..." Full review
