Nijo Castle was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo government. Main court was burnt down in 1788 so only Second court is the original part. The present Main court was built in 1827 modeling after one which stood in the grounds of Kyoto Imperial Palace. The castle has many cultural treasures including Chinese Gate and Second Court buildings dating from Momoyama Era (16th Century), and is designated a national treasure for its splendid architecture and interior decoration.