Skip-the-line available How to get to Nijo Castle
Subway, bus or JR: the simplest routes from Kyoto Station and the city centre, which gate to use and how much time to leave before your Honmaru slot.
Nijo Castle is one of the easier sights in Kyoto to reach. It's in central Kyoto, a subway stop has its name on it, and several city buses run there straight from Kyoto Station. The part people get wrong isn't the route, it's the timing. If you're visiting the Honmaru Palace, your ticket has a fixed time, the castle asks you to be inside the gate at least 20 minutes beforehand, and the walk from the gate to the Honmaru is about 850 metres. This guide gives you the subway, bus and JR options from Kyoto Station, the quickest links from Sanjo Keihan and Shijo Karasuma, which gate to use, how to work out when to leave your hotel, and practical notes on accessibility, luggage and coming by car.
The address and the gate to use
The castle's address is 541 Nijojo-cho, Nijo-dori Horikawa Nishi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8301. Save it in your maps app before you set off, and save the station name Nijojo-mae too, since that's the stop you'll see on the subway and on bus displays. Japanese addresses can be confusing, so it's often easier to navigate to the station name or simply to Nijo Castle itself.
Visitors enter at Higashi Ote-mon, the East Gate. It's the castle's main gate, and the current gate dates from 1662; it was made single-storey for Emperor Go-Mizunoo's visit in 1626. Whatever way you arrive, head for this gate, because it's where your visit starts. The Ticket Office and coin lockers are by this gate too, so it's a natural meeting point for your group.
The grounds are big, about 600 metres from east to west and 400 metres from north to south, inside a perimeter of about 2 kilometres. If your map sends you to another side of the walls, don't assume there's a way in there. Walk round to the East Gate. Following the walls round will get you there, so allow a few extra minutes rather than panicking.
By subway from Kyoto Station
This is the route we'd suggest for most people. From Kyoto Station, take the Karasuma Line for 6 minutes to Karasuma Oike, then change to the Tozai Line for 2 minutes to Nijojo-mae. From there it's a short walk to the castle. It's the route with the fewest unknowns, which is exactly what you want before a timed visit. We'd pick it every time.
The subway is predictable, which matters when you have a timed Honmaru ticket. Traffic doesn't touch it, and the ride itself takes only around 8 minutes. Allow extra for buying a ticket, walking through the stations and the change at Karasuma Oike, especially if you're not used to Kyoto's stations. Ten to fifteen minutes on top is plenty for most people. Once you know the stations, it gets quicker.
If you're carrying bags or travelling with children, the subway is usually the calmer option too. You avoid standing on a crowded bus, and you arrive at a station named after the castle, so there's little chance of getting off at the wrong stop. It's also the easiest route to repeat if you come back on another day or another trip.
By city bus from Kyoto Station
City buses 9, 50, 101 and 111 run from Kyoto Station to Nijojo-mae, taking about 16 minutes. It's a direct ride with no changes, which some people prefer, and you see a bit of the city on the way. If you're staying near Kyoto Station, it's an easy option to know about. The stop shares its name, Nijojo-mae, with the subway station, so it's easy to recognise.
Treat that 16 minutes as the best case. Kyoto buses can fill up at busy times, and road traffic adds minutes you can't predict. If you have a Honmaru time, give the bus more slack than the subway, and be ready to switch to the subway if the queue at the stop looks long. When it matters, the subway is the safer bet.
Check the route number on the front of the bus before you board, and listen or look for Nijojo-mae on the display. If you're unsure, showing the stop name on your phone to the driver usually does the trick. Have your fare or travel card ready before you get off, so you're not fumbling at the door. It keeps things moving.
By JR Sagano Line to Nijo Station
If you're using JR, take the Sagano Line from Kyoto Station for 5 minutes to Nijo Station. From there it's about a 17 minute walk to the castle. Make sure you head for the East Gate, Higashi Ote-mon, rather than the nearest stretch of wall. The walk is easy to follow with a map app on your phone. Allow the full 17 minutes, or a few more if you're new to the area.
The train ride is the quickest of all the options, but the walk makes the total similar to the subway. It suits people who already hold a JR pass, or who are heading on towards western Kyoto on the same line later in the day. For most visitors without a JR pass, though, the subway is simpler and leaves you a shorter walk at the end.
Remember that the walk from the station is only the first walk. Once you're through the East Gate, the Honmaru is about another 850 metres, 15 to 20 minutes. Add both together when you plan, and wear comfortable shoes you can slip on and off easily at the palace. That second walk catches a lot of people out. Plan for it now.
From Sanjo Keihan and Shijo Karasuma
From Sanjo Keihan, take the Tozai Line for 6 minutes to Nijojo-mae. It's a direct ride with no changes, which makes it a good option if you're staying near Sanjo or arriving there on the Keihan line, and it keeps you clear of road traffic altogether. With no changes and no traffic, it's one of the easiest routes there is to remember and repeat.
From Shijo Karasuma, take bus 12 or 101 for about 9 minutes to Nijojo-mae. As with any bus in Kyoto, allow for traffic, especially in the late morning when the city is at its busiest. If you have a Honmaru time later that morning, leave more slack than the 9 minutes suggests, and keep an eye on the clock while you wait at the stop. A bus that's full when it pulls up can cost you ten minutes or more.
Wherever you start in the centre, the pattern is the same: get to a Tozai Line station or a bus that stops at Nijojo-mae, then walk the short way to the East Gate. Once you know that stop name, you can plan most trips across town around it, and you'll recognise it on maps, platforms and bus displays alike. It's that simple.
Arriving in time for your Honmaru slot
The castle asks you to enter the grounds at least 20 minutes before your Honmaru time. That's because the walk from Higashi Ote-mon to the Honmaru is about 850 metres on the shortest route, 15 to 20 minutes, and reception at the Honmaru entrance is in order of arrival, so you may wait. Twenty minutes is the minimum, not a target.
Late arrival may be refused, and if it is, there's no refund. So work backwards. Take your Honmaru time, subtract 20 minutes for the walk, then add a buffer of another 15 to 30 minutes for the trip across town and finding the gate. That's when you want to be stepping off the subway or bus. It sounds cautious, but it's the difference between a relaxed start and a dash across the grounds.
If you plan to see the Ninomaru Palace first, add its 30 minutes and some garden time on top. The castle lets visitors in from 8:45, so with an early Honmaru time there's nothing wrong with arriving at opening and having a calm start. Arriving early is never wasted at Nijo. There's always the Kara-mon gate to look at. Take your time there.
Accessibility and travelling with family
Free power-assist wheelchairs are available at the General Information Desk. In the Honmaru Palace, wheelchair users transfer to a palace wheelchair, and some areas, including the Honmaru, have no ramps, so there's a detour. Allow a little extra time if that applies to your party. If anyone needs a wheelchair, ask at the General Information Desk when you arrive, before you set off across the grounds.
Only guide dogs are allowed in the castle. The main rest area has a nursing and changing room, which is handy for families with babies, and it's also the only place where food is allowed. Children under elementary-school age go in free with you, as the castle sells no ticket for that age. Pack snacks to eat there, and plan your breaks around it.
The distances inside are the thing to plan for. Between the gate, the Ninomaru and the Honmaru you'll cover well over a kilometre on foot, so build in rests, especially with young children or anyone who tires easily. The free power-assist wheelchairs at the General Information Desk can help with the longer stretches. Pace yourselves and the visit will be far more enjoyable.
Driving, luggage and other practical notes
We'd suggest public transport over driving. Central Kyoto traffic is slow, and parking near popular sights can fill up. If you do plan to come by car, check the parking arrangements before you set off, and leave far more time than your sat-nav suggests, because a timed Honmaru ticket doesn't wait for traffic. Getting there by subway or bus avoids all of that.
Coin lockers are by the Ticket Office near the East Gate and in the main rest area. In the Honmaru, shoes and bags go into lockers inside the palace, and bags larger than 35 by 35 by 50 centimetres go to the baggage room in the main rest area. If you're arriving with a suitcase, leave it at your hotel or a station locker if you can.
There's no re-entry once you leave the castle, so don't step out to fetch something from a car or hotel. Bring everything you'll need for a three-hour visit with you: water, socks for the palace and your e-tickets on a charged phone. With those in hand, you're set for the visit from gate to garden. No last-minute dashes required for anyone.
Frequently asked
What's the easiest way from Kyoto Station to Nijo Castle?
The subway. Take the Karasuma Line 6 minutes to Karasuma Oike, change to the Tozai Line for 2 minutes to Nijojo-mae, then walk a short way to the castle.
Which bus goes from Kyoto Station to Nijo Castle?
City buses 9, 50, 101 and 111 run to Nijojo-mae in about 16 minutes. Allow extra time for traffic and crowded buses if you have a Honmaru time.
Which entrance should I use at Nijo Castle?
Higashi Ote-mon, the East Gate. It's the castle's main gate and the entrance for visitors, whichever way you arrive.
How early should I arrive for my Honmaru time?
Enter the castle at least 20 minutes before your Honmaru time, because the walk to the Honmaru is about 850 metres. Add a buffer for getting across Kyoto, as late arrival may be refused.
Is Nijo Castle wheelchair accessible?
Partly. Free power-assist wheelchairs are available at the General Information Desk. In the Honmaru you transfer to a palace wheelchair, and some areas have no ramps, so there's a detour.
How do I get to Nijo Castle from Sanjo or Shijo?
From Sanjo Keihan, take the Tozai Line for 6 minutes to Nijojo-mae. From Shijo Karasuma, buses 12 and 101 reach Nijojo-mae in about 9 minutes.
How long is the walk from Nijo Station?
About 17 minutes from JR Nijo Station to the castle. Once through the East Gate, the Honmaru is about another 850 metres, a walk of 15 to 20 minutes.