Japan Trip 2016: Day 9 Part 1 10 Dec 2016 Sat - Nijo-jo Castle (二条城), Kyoto

We woke up early because I have booked us on the Kyoto World Heritage Loop Bus which operates from 1 November to 25 December 2016. I wanted an early start at 8:30am so that we could see at least half of the world heritage sites in Kyoto. :P 

View from our window

We were at the restaurant by 7:30am and it was quite crowded but we managed to get a table. The spread is not too bad, with both international and Japanese breakfast dishes. By 8:20am, we were waiting at the K'Loop bus-stop which is opposite our hotel, very convenient. :)

We soon arrived at the first stop of our cultural day - Nijo-jo Castle (二条城), a world heritage site since 1994. It was built in 1603 and used as the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa Shoguns. It became the imperial palace after the Tokugawa Shogunate fell in 1867. Nijo-jo Castle is one of the best examples of castle palace architecture of Japan's feudal era. It is a beautiful castle.

On the K'Loop bus

Our stop: Nijo-jo Castle

In front of a photo of what the outer gate would look like

Karamon Gate

Intricate designs of the Karamon Gate

Ninomaru Palace (no photography inside)

Karamon Gate as viewed from Ninomaru Palace

Ninomaru Garden

In front of large pond in Ninomaru Garden

Nijo-jo Castle, side view