Kyoto · NIJO CASTLE TOURS

The 14 Best Nijo Castle Tours in Kyoto

14 tours  ·  from $16 a head

The shogun’s palace has floors built to chirp under a footstep and painted rooms you walk through in stockinged feet. These 14 compare guides, entry bundles and what else fits in the same morning.

Kyoto: Nijo-jo Castle and Ninomaru Palace Guided Tour - Meeting the guide at the East Main Gate
Guided, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Nijo-jo Castle and Ninomaru Palace Guided Tour

1.Nijo-jo Castle and Ninomaru Palace Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 1,020 reviews · 1 hour · from $16Our pick

Tour Kyoto’s Nijo-jo Castle with an English-speaking guide, see Ninomaru Palace, and enter areas normally closed to the public.

“Miki (spelling) was a fantastic tour guide. Broke down the history of the castle, ruling structure over the time period, and other interesting information (for example reason for certain art work/painting in the castle).”

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Kyoto: Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari Guided Tour - Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the crowds
Fushimi Inari Shrine Tours, Guided, Kiyomizu-dera Temple Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari Guided Tour

Kyoto: Nijo, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari - Arashiyama Bamboo Grove before the crowds
Arashiyama Bamboo Grove Tours, Fushimi Inari Shrine Tours, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Tours, Kiyomizu-dera Temple Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Kyoto: Nijo, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari

3.Nijo, Kinkaku-ji, Arashiyama, Kiyomizu & Fushimi Inari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 699 reviews · from $51Top rated

See Kyoto’s top sights in one 10-hour bus tour, including Arashiyama, Kinkaku-ji, Nijo Castle, Kiyomizu-dera, and Fushimi Inari.

“We had a wonderful (and sweaty!) time on this all day tour with Paula and her driver, Nishimura-san. She was a great tour guide and balanced out giving good information with allowing us to explore on our own. I highly recommend going on thiRead more”

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Kyoto: Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle Guided Walking Tour - Starting outside Nijojo-mae Station
Guided, Kyoto Imperial Palace Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Kyoto: Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle Guided Walking Tour

Kyoto: Nijo Castle World Heritage Guided Tour with Admission - Meeting at Nijojo-mae Station
Guided, Historical Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Nijo Castle World Heritage Guided Tour with Admission

5.Nijo Castle World Heritage Guided Tour with Admission

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · from $39

Tour Nijo Castle with included admission, a small group, and a guide who brings Tokugawa history, gardens, and palace details to life.

“Fantastic short tour of Kyoto shogun legacy with fabulous tour guide Nao. Wear thick socks during winter since palace interior requires removal of shoes. Swing by souvenir shop afterwards, highly recommend red bean mochi soup.”

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Kyoto Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle Guided Walking Tour - 3 Hours - Entering Nijo Castle and the shogun’s world
3-Hour Experiences, Guided, Kyoto Imperial Palace Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Kyoto Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle Guided Walking Tour – 3 Hours

6.Kyoto Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle Guided Walking Tour – 3 Hours

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 106 reviews · from $55

Review of Kyoto’s 3-hour small-group tour of Nijo Castle and the Imperial Palace, with guide insight, tickets included, and transport tips.

“Our guide, Jasmine, did a fantastic job of explaining the cultural symbolism and historical significance of the shogun era on display at Nijo Castle—our favorite part of the tour. Her friendly, knowledgeable, conversational style was easy to understand and very much open to questions beyond any kind of script or language barrier. We also appreciated her invitation to snap family photos along the way. Definitely recommend this English-speaking tour for those who want a rare peek into the architecture and customs of Japan’s past.”

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Kyoto: Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace Guided Tour - Meeting at the Imperial Palace’s Nakadachiuri Gate
Guided, Kyoto Imperial Palace Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Nijo Castle and Kyoto Imperial Palace Guided Tour

Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace Visit with Guide - What makes Nijo Castle worth your first hour
Guided, Kyoto Imperial Palace Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace Visit with Guide

Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, & Nishiki Market Half day tour - Kinkaku-ji and the famous golden reflection
Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Tours, Markets, Nijo Castle Tours, Nishiki Market Food Tours, Shopping Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, & Nishiki Market Half day tour

Nijo Castle Samurai Inside Story — Top-Rated Guide (Max 8) - Walking through the castle’s samurai world
Guided, Kyoto Samurai Experiences, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Nijo Castle Samurai Inside Story — Top-Rated Guide (Max 8)

10.Nijo Castle Samurai Inside Story — Top-Rated Guide (Max 8)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $98

Explore Nijo Castle with Richard, uncovering samurai secrets, castle customs, and Japanese history on a small-group Kyoto tour.

“Richard was an amazing guide! Incredibly knowledgeable and explained things very clearly. We learnt so much and really enjoyed our time at Nijo Castle. Richard was so attentive and was able to answer questions about all curiousities we had Read more”

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Crowd-Free Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle & Kinkaku-ji - Kinkaku-ji is the grand finale
Fushimi Inari Shrine Tours, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews

Crowd-Free Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle & Kinkaku-ji

11.Crowd-Free Kyoto: Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle & Kinkaku-ji

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $91

Review of Kyoto’s five-hour private tour to Fushimi Inari, Nijo Castle, and Kinkaku-ji, with early timing, local guides, and practical tips.

“I joined this tour, and it covered all the must-see places in Kyoto. I was very satisfied; the guide, Ryu, was very friendly and entertaining. I recommend it if you want to explore Kyoto efficiently!”

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Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle Walking Tour - Eating your way through Nishiki Market
Kyoto Imperial Palace Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours

Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle Walking Tour

12.Kyoto Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $111

Explore Kyoto’s temples, Nishiki Market, Nijo Castle, and the Imperial Palace on a private seven-hour walking tour with a local guide.

“I would recommend this walking tour tour to those who want to see the most of Kyoto but don't have much time. The tour company was excellent. After making teh booking they kept me informed with a detailed itinerary of sites and times, Read more”

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Kyoto: Top Sights Guided Tour - Gion, Kinkaku, Fushimi, Nijo - Fushimi Inari’s vermilion tunnel
Fushimi Inari Shrine Tours, Gion Geisha District Tours, Guided, Kinkaku-ji Golden Pavilion Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Top Sights Guided Tour – Gion, Kinkaku, Fushimi, Nijo

13.Top Sights Guided Tour – Gion, Kinkaku, Fushimi, Nijo

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 5 reviews · 8 hours · from $131

See Kyoto’s major sights in one day, from Fushimi Inari and Kiyomizu-dera to Gion, Nijo Castle, and the Golden Pavilion.

“Our guide Takashi may probably be the best guide we've ever had. He is exceptionally knowledgeable, kind & thoughtful. The programme is well structured & is a seamless introduction to some of the major sights of Kyoto. We enjoyed walking, catching buses & trains. If you have a limited time in Kyoto you must do this guided tour. We cannot speak more highly of Takashi & the tour.”

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Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Gardens 2-Hour Guided Tour - Meeting at the Higashi-Ohtemon main gate
2-Hour Experiences, Guided, Kyoto Garden Tours, Nijo Castle Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kyoto: Nijo Castle & Gardens 2-Hour Guided Tour

14.Nijo Castle & Gardens 2-Hour Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · 2 hours · from $54

Explore Kyoto’s Nijo Castle with an English-speaking guide, historic palaces, gardens, and a close look at shogun-era architecture in two hours.

“Very interesting and fun tour with my guide Seana. Plenty of time to focus more in detail to some of the spots within the castle or Ninomaru palace. It was fun to find together with Seana the "floating peacock" panel in Ohiroma Ni-no-ma (second room) within Ninomaru palace that is not visible from the beaten track. As she speaks Japanese we could ask the staff to assist us in our "discovery"! Seana shared in depth stories too about the castle giving it a personal touch from the guide's point of view. It was interesting and I enjoyed the tour very much, highly recommend! Only one remark, GtG should include an…”

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