Nijo Castle To Get Makeover

Above, the gardens of Nijo Castle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in 2004, the first G-TOUR to Japan made a stop at Kyoto's Nijo Castle. The tour group toured the castle as well as the castle's gardens.

Now, plans are underway to make more effective use of the castle.

According to the Asahi Shimbun:

KYOTO--A planned makeover of historic Nijo Castle here could involve renting out the room where modern Japan came into being so international conferences can be held there. 

The castle, a World Heritage site that was built in 1603 at the start of the Edo Period, played host to the last Tokugawa shogun as he handed over the reins of government to Emperor Meiji, thus ushering in the Meiji Restoration in 1868. 

A 12-member panel on Sept. 16 submitted recommendations to the Kyoto city government about ways to make more effective use of the feudal fortifications in Nakagyo Ward.

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