Nijo Castle - shoguns and ninjas

When I first saw the Nijo Castle, images of ninja's and shoguns played in my mind. The Nijō Castle has two concentric rings of fortifications, both consisting of a wall and a wide moat - making it the perfect venue for hollywood action movies showing life in imperial Japan.



The Ninomaru Palace (literally means second castle) inside the Nijo Castle is famous for its Momoyama architecture, decorated sliding doors, and floors that squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them - obviously a security measure against intruders.





When the floor is trod upon, the cramps under it move up and down, creating friction between the nails and the cramps which hold them in place,causing the floor to squeak, thus the name Nightingale Floor.






Next: Imperial Palace