Iwakuni City Tourist Information & Exchange Center “Honke Matsugane”

This tourist information and exchange center stands in Iwakuni’s historic streetscape, preserving the feel of the Edo period. The impressive building, known for its thick beams, is a renovated “Matsuganeya” merchant house built around 1850 by a family that made its fortune producing and selling traditional hair pomade oil. It still holds the stately atmosphere of an affluent Edo-era merchant home and was registered as a Tangible Cultural Property in 2000 as the “Kuniyasu Family Residence.”

Inside, panel displays introduce the history of Iwakuni and “Matsuganeya” in detail. You’ll also find plenty of sightseeing and local product information. There are tastings of Iwakuni sake and local dishes too, making it a great place to help you choose souvenirs.

One highlight is “Iwakuni-zushi,” Iwakuni’s local pressed sushi originally made as a way to preserve nearby seafood, along with karashi renkon (Iwakuni renkon), a local specialty made with lotus root. Everything is offered in bite-size portions, so it’s easy to sample. Sake tastings start at 100 yen per try. Once you’ve found the flavor you like, you can buy your favorite bottle.