Nijo Castle tickets at a glance
Nijo Castle tickets are built from separate parts. You pay one admission for the castle grounds, add the Ninomaru Palace on top, and buy the Honmaru Palace as its own ticket with a time slot. The Painting Gallery has its own small fee. This page explains the pieces so that you buy only what you want to see. Walking tours that include the admission are on the page about Nijo Castle tours.
The nijo castle price depends on the age group, and the amounts below are for 2026. Pay attention to the line between the Ninomaru and the Honmaru, because the Ninomaru ticket does not open the Honmaru Palace.
Our picks: Nijo Castle tours with tickets
All three have the castle admission in the price. They suit anyone who wants the ticket and a guide in one booking.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Nijo Castle and Imperial Palace guided tour with tickets
- Nijo Castle and Ninomaru Palace tickets
- Art Gallery ticket
- English-speaking guide
A three-hour walk that starts in Kyoto Gyoen and ends at Nijo Castle. The tickets for the castle visit are already in the price.
Check availability →
Nijo Castle World Heritage tour with admission
- Nijo Castle admission
- 1.5-hour guided tour
Castle admission and a 1.5-hour guided tour are included.
Check availability →
Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle on foot
- Nijo Castle admission
- Ninomaru Palace and Painting Gallery
- English-speaking guide
About three hours on foot that link the Imperial Palace area with Nijo Castle. Castle admission is part of the price.
Check availability →Tours that include Nijo Castle admission
Guided visits where the castle admission is part of the tour. A guided walk of the castle and a walk that adds the Imperial Palace are among them.
Entrance fee 2026
Nijo Castle entrance fee by age group.
| Ticket | Adults | Junior and senior high | Elementary school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle grounds | 800 JPY | 400 JPY | 300 JPY |
| Grounds and Ninomaru Palace | 1,300 JPY | 400 JPY | 300 JPY |
| Honmaru Palace, on top of admission | 1,000 JPY | 300 JPY | 200 JPY |
| Painting Gallery, on top of admission | 100 JPY | 100 JPY | 100 JPY |
Children of preschool age enter free. The nijo castle fee is the same for visitors from abroad as for residents. A general discount for older foreign visitors does not exist as a rule, but groups of 30 or more pay a lower rate, and residents of Kyoto have their own exemptions. Staff at the ticket office can tell you if you qualify.
Honmaru timed tickets
A separate booking with a time slot.
The Honmaru Palace tickets go on sale 30 days before the visit, and as a rule you choose a time slot in advance. A small number of day tickets are sold at the information center, not at the outer castle ticket office, so they are an exception you should not plan around. Under the ticket conditions, a Honmaru ticket is not changed, cancelled or refunded after purchase. Because the Honmaru works in groups of about 15 people, come early rather than at the last minute. Read the Honmaru Palace page for the walk from the gate and the rules inside.
Buying online or at the gate
Where tickets are sold.
Tickets for the castle and the Ninomaru Palace are sold at the ticket office or online, and the Ninomaru does not need a reservation. If you have already entered the grounds and decide to add the palace later, you can still buy it: the adult price for adding the Ninomaru is 500 JPY. Check the final amount at checkout when you book online, because shops and platforms set their own terms. Tours that include admission are an alternative, since the ticket is already part of the booking.
Day pass discount
For subway and bus riders.
A valid subway day pass, or a subway and bus day pass, lowers the adult castle admission to 700 JPY. The discount applies only on the day you use the pass, and the reduced tickets are sold at the castle ticket office, not online. If you plan a day with several rides in Kyoto, the pass can pay off. How to reach the castle by subway and bus is on the page about getting to Nijo Castle.
Evening light-up needs its own ticket
The day ticket does not cover it.
During the seasonal light-up the castle opens in the evening with a different route and a different tariff. The daytime ticket does not replace the evening ticket. In autumn 2026 the evening admission for guests from high school age is 2,000 JPY from Monday to Thursday and 2,400 JPY from Friday to Sunday and on national days off. Dates, times and the festival programme are on the page about Nijo Castle at night.
Nijo Castle tickets: frequently asked questions
How much is the Nijo Castle entrance fee?
For adults the castle grounds cost 800 JPY and the grounds with the Ninomaru Palace 1,300 JPY. The Honmaru Palace costs 1,000 JPY on top, and the Painting Gallery 100 JPY.
Does the Ninomaru ticket include the Honmaru Palace?
No. The Honmaru Palace needs a separate timed ticket in addition to the castle admission.
Can I buy Honmaru tickets on the day?
The regular way is to book a time slot ahead, up to 30 days before. A small number of day tickets at the information center are an exception that you should not rely on.
Is there a discount with a day pass?
Yes. A valid subway or subway and bus day pass lowers the adult admission to 700 JPY, at the castle ticket office on the day of use.
Does the day ticket work for the evening light-up?
No. The evening light-up is a separate ticket with its own tariff.