Iwakuni City

If you are looking for a famous sightseeing opportunity near Hiroshima with beautiful scenery, then look no further than Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, an easy day trip away. It has something to suit everyone, historic wooden engineering, to a castle museum, to lucky white snakes and ice cream of every flavor imaginable. Kintaikyo is the most famous attraction, a picturesque bridge that spans the Nishiki River constructed in 1673 by the Kikkawa clan’s feudal lord for the sole use of the aristocracy. Initially, the bridge stood only on wooden supports, which washed away soon after but rebuilt immediately. The new supports survived unscathed for 276 years until a typhoon destroyed them once again in 1950. after U.S. occupation forces quarried the sand from around the area, destabilizing the foundations. Interestingly, until reconstruction in 1953, the bridge was constructed using only centuries-old Japanese wood joinery techniques, but problems finding a master builder with that ancient construction knowledge ended that tradition. The present bridge was restored between 2000-2003 with metal plates, and iron spikes, and nail reinforcements.  At 193m long, 5m across, and a height of 6.6m high, it is impressive. The riverside is a beautiful spot for a picnic or bento…