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While Nijo Castle (located at Horikawa and Nijo in central [[Kyoto]]) can be classified as a [[hirajiro]], it is much more of a palace than other existing Japanese castles. Shortly after his victory over the forces of the West at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] began to make preparations for the construction of a castle at Nijo in [[1601]]. Actual construction began in [[1602]] and was completed in [[1603]]. It was built on the site of [[Oda Nobunaga]]’s [[Nijo Palace]]. The castle was used as the headquarters of the Tokugawa sponsored Shoshidai (governor) of Kyoto, and also as the Shogunal residence in Kyoto. The Shoshidai was responsible for monitoring the behavior of the 33 western provinces under his control, but his real function was to enforce the Tokugawa policy of keeping the Imperial family under control and preventing them from interfering in politics.  

While Nijo Castle (located at Horikawa and Nijo in central [[Kyoto]]) can be classified as a [[hirajiro]], it is much more of a palace than other existing Japanese castles. Shortly after his victory over the forces of the West at the [[Battle of Sekigahara]], [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] began to make preparations for the construction of a castle at Nijo in [[1601]]. Actual construction began in [[1602]] and was completed in [[1603]]. It was built on the site of [[Oda Nobunaga]]’s [[Nijo Palace]]. The castle was used as the headquarters of the Tokugawa sponsored Shoshidai (governor) of Kyoto, and also as the Shogunal residence in Kyoto. The Shoshidai was responsible for monitoring the behavior of the 33 western provinces under his control, but his real function was to enforce the Tokugawa policy of keeping the Imperial family under control and preventing them from interfering in politics.  

In [[1611]], Ieyasu finally was able to arrange a meeting at Nijo with [[Toyotomi Hideyori]]. Here Ieyasu discovered that Hideyori was not the fool that he had been led to believe, and likely finalized his decision to completely destroy the Toyotomi. The castle served as headquarters for the Tokugawa during the [[Winter Campaign of Osaka]] and the [[Summer Campaign of Osaka]] in the years [[1614]]-[[1615]], during which Ieyasu succeeded in eradicating the Toyotomi line. A large victory celebration was held at the castle at the end of hostilities.  

In [[1611]], Ieyasu finally was able to arrange a meeting at Nijo with [[Toyotomi Hideyori]]. Here Ieyasu discovered that Hideyori was not the fool that he had been led to believe, and likely finalized his decision to completely destroy the Toyotomi. The castle served as headquarters for the Tokugawa during the [[Osaka Campaigns]] of [[1614]]-[[1615]], during which Ieyasu succeeded in eradicating the Toyotomi line. A large victory celebration was held at the castle at the end of hostilities.  

The castle was extensively renovated from [[1624]] to [[1626]]. Additions included the replacement of the original 5 story tenshu (it was moved to [[Yodo castle]]) with the tenshu of [[Fushimi castle]], along with other structures from Fushimi. Corner towers were added to the outside walls. This was done to accommodate the visit of [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]]-if indeed it could be called that. This was more of a coerced audience orchestrated by Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] and Ieyasu’s son, former Shogun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]. It served its purpose of solidifying the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate and signifying the submission of the Imperial family by forcing the Emperor to come to the Tokugawa (the last time an Emperor had left his palace to ‘visit’ a member of the warrior class was in [[1588]] when [[Emperor Goyozei]] sojourned to the Jurakudai of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]). The court remained for five days amid extremely elaborate entertainment and meals.

The castle was extensively renovated from [[1624]] to [[1626]]. Additions included the replacement of the original 5 story tenshu (it was moved to [[Yodo castle]]) with the tenshu of [[Fushimi castle]], along with other structures from Fushimi. Corner towers were added to the outside walls. This was done to accommodate the visit of [[Emperor Go-Mizunoo]]-if indeed it could be called that. This was more of a coerced audience orchestrated by Ieyasu’s grandson, [[Shogun]] [[Tokugawa Iemitsu]] and Ieyasu’s son, former Shogun [[Tokugawa Hidetada]]. It served its purpose of solidifying the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate and signifying the submission of the Imperial family by forcing the Emperor to come to the Tokugawa (the last time an Emperor had left his palace to ‘visit’ a member of the warrior class was in [[1588]] when [[Emperor Goyozei]] sojourned to the Jurakudai of [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]]). The court remained for five days amid extremely elaborate entertainment and meals.