Nijo-jo Castle, built in 1603, was the seat of the Edo Shogunate (1603-1867), until the last Shogun Tokugawa Yoshiunobu handed political power to the Emperor. In 1994 the castle became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photography of the incredible reproductions of period murals inside the main buildings is not permitted, but they alone are worth the visit. Thanks to Mr. Masaru Uchiyama and Mr. Shohei Kawakami of SGI for this delightful tour.