Iwakuni Castle

Grandson of Mori Motonari, the first Lord of Iwakuni, Kikkawa Hiroie, built this mountain castle in 1608. Nishiki River, which flows right below, is also the outer moat of the castle that stands on a mountain 200m above sea level. The 3-layer, 4-story architecture is in the special Chinese style with higher floors bigger than lower floors.

Only 7 years after the completion, Tokugawa Shogunate, which allowed only one castle in one region, ordered it to be demolished. The current castle was rebuilt with reinforced concrete in 1962, 50m to the east from the original location for a better view over the city. The former castle’s stone walls were repaired in the original style, which you can still see.

In the castle keep, A display corner is set up with Kintai Bridge’s model, photos, armor, other mementos from that era, and an observation deck, which gives you a pleasant view over the city with Kikka Park, the castle town, and Kintai Bridge as well as the islands in the Seto Inland Sea.

The great way to get to Iwakuni Castle is the ropeway, looking at the surrounding mountains and the far-away sea while heading for the top of the mountain. in 2006, it was selected into Japan’s 100 great castles.