The public can currently enjoy special access into the third room of Kuro-Shoin, Ninomaru-goten Palace, a National Treasure, at Nijo-jo Castle, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto. Visitors can feel like a shogun as they enjoy a close look at the replica of the murals of pine trees on the sliding doors by Kano Naonobu, an Edo Period painter, and patterns of Chinese flowers on the ceiling.

The third room was an antechamber, where high-ranking court nobles and feudal　lords with close ties to the shogun family waited prior to an audience with the shogun. The room can usually only be seen from the corridor.

Pine trees are depicted on the lower part of partitions in each of the four directions. "Mizuaoi," or heartleaf false pickerelweed, wild chrysanthemums, and withered rice fields are painted in order from south to north to describe the transition from summer to winter. Beachside pine woods are portrayed in the upper section.

The ceiling remains the same as when it was built in the early Edo period, with a pattern of Chinese flowers against a background of peony flowers and leaves. Yoshihiro Nakatani, a curator, said, "We hope that visitors will enjoy a powerful experience surrounded by sliding door murals in every direction."

The third room will be open until August 24, except for Tuesdays.