The first stop on our day tour was Nijo Castle in the center of Kyoto. It was built in 1603 to serve as the Kyoto home of the Tokugawa Shogun, who shared rule with the emperor. In 1867, Nijo Castle was where the last shogun, Yoshinobu, returned total authority to the Imperial Court. The buildings in the castle complex later served as the location of the Imperial Court.
Nijo Castle was constructed of mostly cypress in the samurai class style and the interiors have several unique features. The first is the nightingale flooring of the corridors, which makes a chirping noise like a bird when walked upon. The floors served as a unique security system by protecting the shogun from sneak attacks. The walls of the interior rooms are painted with large murals depicting tigers, peacocks and other animals and decorated with wood carvings and gold leaf. Another feature we found interesting was one of the reception rooms where the shogun would meet with the emperor’s messengers. The messenger’s side of the room was a raised platform and the shogun’s side was recessed to show deference for imperial rule.
The grounds of the castle featured several traditional Japanese gardens with sakura and ume (apricot) trees, ponds and placed stones. These gardens, constructed by a famed Japanese landscape architect and tea master, still serve as the setting for government receptions and cultural events. 
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