Nijô-jô, the castle complex commissioned by TOKUGAWA Ieyasu, was completed in 1603 and extended by the third Shôgun TOKUGAWA Iemitsu until 1626 with parts of Fushimi castle. The complex was intended both as a symbolic representation of the shogunate in the imperial city and as a residence for Ieyasu and the following TOKUGAWA rulers visiting Kyôto. However, there were no visits between 1634 and 1863. The main tower (honmaru) burnt down in 1788 and the current building dates back to 1827.
other castles
