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Kyoto · Nijo
Kyoto: 2.5-Hour Private Nijo Castle & Imperial Palace Tour
A private walk through the shogun's Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace, with a Kyoto local as your guide.
- 2 h 30 min
- Private, up to 8
- ¥8,000 per person for 2
Kyoto's two greatest power centers sit minutes apart, yet most travelers visit one without ever understanding how they shaped each other. This private tour tells the complete story, from the Shogun's calculated display of dominance in 1603 to the dramatic moment power was surrendered back to the Emperor in 1867.
- ✓Stand inside Ninomaru Palace on the famous nightingale floors, engineered to catch assassins
- ✓Discover how Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace defined 265 years of Japanese history
- ✓Enjoy an unhurried private experience with a Kyoto local as your guide
- ✓Walk the imperial gardens where the shogunate finally came to an end
Reviews
5.0 from 22 reviews on Tripadvisor
Copied from Tripadvisor as written by guests who took this tour.
Perfect Introduction to Kyoto
Vincent was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the tour and very patient with all my questions!
Luke T · October 2026
Niojo go go
Our private tour of Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace was one of the highlights of our time in Kyoto, and an experience we will remember for a very long time. The opportunity to explore two such historically significant and magnificent sites with a knowledgeable private guide made all the difference. Rather than simply walking around and admiring the buildings, we gained a much deeper understanding of Japan's fascinating imperial history, its traditions, its architecture and the remarkable people who shaped the country. …
Norman H · Brindisi, Italy · October 2026
Great day
Vincent is a very talented young man who gives you a lot of information in a very relaxed way. You walked us around all the venues giving us a really good time. It’s definitely an experience to have
Silvio D · October 2026
Enjoyable
Great explanation very knowledgeable
Tony T · October 2026
The route
Stop 1
Nijo Castle
Explore the castle grounds, the ornate Karamon Gate, Ninomaru Palace exterior with its famous nightingale floors engineered to detect intruders, and the scenic East gardens of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Stop 2
Kyoto Imperial Palace
Explore the serene outer walls, Shishinden (Throne Hall), Seiryo-den (Imperial residence), and palace gardens of the former Imperial Court, the seat of Japan's Emperor for over a millennium.
Meeting point
Included
- ✓English-speaking guide
Not included
- –Entrance fee to Nijo Castle (1,300 JPY per person)
- –Public transportation: subway fare between Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace (220 JPY per person)
Cancellation policy
Full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts. No refund for cancellations within 24 hours or if you don't show up, unless you cancel because of severe weather or a natural disaster. If we cancel the tour, you get a full refund.
Plan your visit
- Nijo Castle's Nightingale Floors: How They Work, and the Ninja Myth
Why the floors of Nijo Castle's Ninomaru Palace chirp like birds, how the clamps and nails make the sound, what the castle says about the story that they were built to catch ninja, and how to hear them: tickets, hours and closed days.
- Visiting the Kyoto Imperial Palace: Hours, Tours and What to See
How to visit the Kyoto Imperial Palace: free entry with no booking, opening hours and closed days, free English tours, what you see on the route, the rules, how to get there, the Sento Palace and Kyoto Gyoen, and how to pair it with Nijo Castle.
Per person, 2 travelers
¥8,000