Nijo Castle & Imperial Palace 4-hour Tour
This tour takes you to one-of-its kind fortified complex of a castle that marked major shifts in history of all of Japan. In its second part, we will explore the area of the Imperial Palace.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Nijo Castle Ticket Office (=entrance)
- An easy to find main entrance to the castle complex. Reachable by taxi, near to the Nijo-jo Mae subway station and reachable also by bus or by foot.
Ninomaru Palace
The oldest temple of the complex. As such, it contains many cultural assets and is a great reflection of Edo-era lifestyle.
Ninomaru garden
A beautiful garden next to the first palace. It was renovated for the purposes of Imperial visits.
Honmaru Palace
A palace with interesting history. Because it’s newer than the previous one, you’ll be able to see the flow of time in means of Japanese architecture.
Souvenir section of the Nijo Palace
Before leaving the Nijo Castle for moving to the Imperial Palace Park, we can see ramparts of the original castle and finish-up at the souvenir section at the exit.
Entrance to the Imperial Palace
At the cafe near to the entrance, we can have a drink and talk about Japanese culture.
Imperial Palace
This treasure of a sight contains several historical buildings that mean a lot to Japan. Not only this was the place of enthronement for Emperors, but it is also a place which so many foreign diplomats, presidents or rulers visited in the past.
Imperial Palace Exit
After finishing the walk through premises, I can help you with directions or navigate your steps wherever in the city you need to go after the tour ends.
Ending Point
Imperial Palace Exit
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide Fee
Entrance fee to Nijo Castle and its Palaces
Free Entrance to Imperial Palace
Transfer by taxi between the two venues
Food and personal expenses are not included
Tour Important Information
Comfortable and closed shoes are necessary for this tour as most of the paths are gravel (small stones).
Important message from the supplier
Hello everyone! Please feel free to send me requests with dates and your travel schedules. I’ll do my best to accommodate your wishes.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Ondrej R.
Dear Travellers! My name is Ondrej and I have been living in Kyoto for six years. I’m currently conducting tours in English and Czech languages.
My hometown is Prague, Czech Republic, but I have left it behind years ago to live in Japan forever.
In my young years, I did a wide portfolio of various sports including soccer, futsal, skateboarding, cycling, boxing and athletics (both competition/ hobby level), so I can say that I am a sportsman. However, I reached my biggest successes at chessboard - playing the highest youth chess league of my country and finally attaining a chess coach licence.
At the academic level, I studied Human Sciences combined with Natural Sciences at University.
My primary goal is to satisfy your needs in a new city as for what you’d like to see. Based on a given venue, I focus on incorporating its meaning into a complete/ bigger picture of the whole culture and historical system.
If you’re not sure, I’m always happy to build a convenient tour plan involving appropriate amount of walking and transfers.
I have been raising my children in Kyoto for six years and realizing that traveling with children may sometimes be a challenge, I invite tours with children as well.
I have experience working with and guiding people from all over the world. Kyoto is a precious Japanese artifact and it is filled with unique places and cultural values and heritages.
Osaka offers a wide array of cultural meanings and cuisine delicacies, as well as hidden corners and pleasurable views.
I also love to take my clients to cities of Nara and Uji as they are so important for understanding the core of Japanese soul.
Please contact me to book, customize or just inquire regarding tours.
Once you are ready, we can discuss which of yours or mines favorite places we visit. Until then, have a good day and travel safe wherever you go.
$105/ per person
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There are so many great places in Kyoto that you probably want to visit but perhaps not enough time. It is best to have a local person guiding you to come up with a plan that suits your preference. I can create a tour with you which includes not only popular places like the Golden Pavilion and Fushimi Inari but small temples with wabi sabi such as those in Sagano and one of the oldest Japanese sweets shops in Murasakino.
Fully customizable your own private tour in Kyoto
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