Audience Chamber

Ninomaru Palace
Nijo-jo, Kyoto

This is the Middle Chamber of the Shogun's Kuro-Shoin, where he received close relatives and the Inner Lords (those who were allied with Tokugawa before 1600).

Typical elements of Shoin architecture visible here include: (1) tokonoma (left); (2) chigaidana (center); and (3) chodaigamae (right).

The Shogun's outer chambers were more intimidating, and included paintings of lions and tigers.