Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace Visit with Guide
Overview
Available languages
2 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
To know the origin of Japan, learning about the history of Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace is a must for all visitors to Kyoto. Nijo Castle, which is registered as UNESCO World Heritage site, is the eyewitness venue as the advent of modern Japan after the long Samurai age ruled by Shogun while Imperial Palace is the holy place once lived by the Emperor when Kyoto was the capital city of Japan, and is still occasionally visited by the current Emperor even today. During the compact 2.5-hour-tour, you will discover the Genesis of the ancient capital for over 1100 years in a small group with well-experienced guide with vast knowledge and humor.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Professional English-speaking guide
Public transportation during the tour
Entrance fees
Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
What To Expect
Nijo Castle
For this guided tour in a small group (less than 8 guests), you can choose one from two different time slots, morning tour or afternoon tour. You will meet the guide simply in front of the huge white main gate of Nijo Castle.
Kyoto Imperial Palace
After one-hour guided tour in Nijo Castle, you will transfer to Imperial Palace by public transportation with the guide, and you will have another one-hour-guided tour in Imperial Place. Entry fee and transportation are all included in the tour fee.
Options
Morning Tour (9AM start)
Afternoon Tour (1PM start)
Reviews
46 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great tour of building and grounds
Stephen L,
Sep 19, 2025
- Viator
5.00Miya was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the castle and its history and the palace grounds. We got to see so much and learned a lot about the workings of the Shogun. Highly recommended.
Great guide! Great tour!
Anna S,
Jul 15, 2025
- Viator
5.00It was a fantastic experience! Our guide, Mia (I hope I’m spelling her name correctly 😊), was absolutely amazing. She was kind, knowledgeable, engaging, and fun! She even recommended a great place to try Kobe beef, which turned out to be another unforgettable experience. Truly an outstanding guide!
kyoto knowledge
piers y,
Jul 12, 2025
- Viator
5.00great guide- Mia she knew everything about the castle and palace, and also lots around japanese culture and politics.
Fortune smiled on us!
Jason S,
Jun 30, 2025
- Viator
5.00We booked this tour expecting a small group but we were the only ones to show up! Lucky us we got to have Mia, our guide, all to ourselves! Mia was a joy to learn from. She shared the history of Nijo Castle and the shogun who built it while also sharing Japanese culture. Her knowledge was both personal and broad; she was able to answer all our questions! When we went to the Imperial Palace, she was able to add more information than was on the placards giving a wonderful look into the religious and spiritual traditions. At the end of our time, she was thoughtful enough to recommend a really tasty yakitori restaurant, calling ahead to manage a reservation for us. We will remember 150 and 126 for years to come!! Strongly recommend this tour with Mia! Thank you Mia-san!!
Great Tour
Frank H,
Jun 21, 2025
- Viator
5.00Private tour was worth the money. Our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgable. Everyone in our family loved the one on one experience.
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Operated by WaRaiDo Guide Networks