Wooden arch bridge

In the prefecture next to Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, you can find a town which is famous for its beautiful wooden arch bridge. This town is called Iwakuni and the bridge is the famous Kintai Bridge.

Iwakuni is easy to get to from Hiroshima city, if you go by train it only takes 45 minutes. After arriving at Iwakuni station it takes 20 minutes, by bus, to get to Kintai Bridge.

One of the five arches

The bridge consists of five arches, and was completed in 1673. It was then destroyed by a flood the following year. After being rebuilt it outlived many natural disasters for 276 years, however in 1950 a typhoon hit Iwakuni city and the bridge was yet again destroyed. Afterwards, in 1953 it was rebuilt however its damage stood out, and from 2001 reconstruction began. In 2004 it was completed, and the 4th generation of the Kintai Bridge was finished.

Replica example of how the wood was put together to build the Kintai Bridge.

The techniques used in the Edo period were used, making it possible for the beautiful arch bridge to continue standing even now. Due to the fact that Kintai Bridge is very rare, and there there’s no other like it in the world, movements have been made to list it as a World Heritage site.

Wooden arch in the bridge

Kintai Bridge was built to connect Iwakuni Palace and the palace town. On top of the mountain looking down on the bridge is Iwakuni Palace, and it is possible to climb using the rope way.

Iwakuni sushi

One of Iwakuni’s most famous foods is Iwakuni sushi. It is similar to chirashi sushi (lit. sushi rice topped with fish and various other toppings), but it is made in the form of a sandwich which has rice and other foods layered together. The ingredients are then pressed down together, creating the finished dish. It is then cut into squares big enough for a person, and is possible eat this dish with a large number of people. Iwakuni sushi is colorful and can be appreciated for its aesthetic beauty as well as its taste.

Housing

The palace town of Iwakuni is spread out around the Kintai Bridge, and it is possible to explore old moats and samurai housing which are no longer in use.

View of Kintai Bridge from below