Nijo-jo Castle
Nijo-jo Castle is a work of art than a fortress (although apparently the gates have boulder-dropping holes), with art used to accentuate the power of the Shogun and intimidate or denote the lower stairs of others. Tatami mats and wall panels are the main decor, with paintings on the and the ceilings, mainly of plants, but also some animals such as heron, tigers, leopards and hawks (Japan had no tigers or leopards, so these were copied from imported art... including that the third-born of any tiger would be a leopard!).