Iwakuni Castle

This mountain castle stands atop a mountain approximately 200 meters above sea level. From the observation deck on the top floor, you can see the Nishiki River flowing below and the Kintai Bridge spanning it, as well as Iwakuni Kintai Bridge Airport, the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, and, on clear days, even Miyajima and Shikoku.
This castle was built in 1608 by the first feudal lord, Kikkawa Hiroie, but is known for its tragic fate, as it was demolished just seven years after its completion in accordance with the Tokugawa shogunate's "One Castle per Province" order. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1962. Its white walls stand out against the green of the mountain, creating an exceptional presence when viewed from Kintai Bridge at the foot of the mountain.
The castle tower is a history museum, displaying a model of the Kintai Bridge, as well as a wide variety of valuable weapons, armor, and famous swords. Near the rebuilt castle tower, there is also a stone wall of the "old castle tower ruins" that still remains, showing the original stonework from when the castle was built, and is open to the public to visit.
You can access the summit by taking a ropeway and enjoying a stroll through the air, or we also recommend hiking the mountain trails to get up close and personal with nature. During the autumn foliage season, the Kintai Bridge is lit up, enveloping the surrounding area in a mystical and fantastical atmosphere.