Ninomaru-goten Palace

The Ninomaru-goten Palace sits behind a heavy, gold-leafed gate, marked by roofs of dark, layered wood and elaborate cypress bark. It was the Kyoto residence of the Tokugawa shoguns, built in sixteen twenty-six to impress the emperor during a rare royal visit. Inside, the floors are constructed with nightingale boards, engineered to chirp like birds when stepped upon. This system served as a primitive, highly effective security alarm against any unwelcome intruders trying to creep through the shogun's private living quarters.