Kintaikyo Bridge

Kintaikyo Bridge is famed for its beautiful series of five connected wooden arches, making it one of Japan’s finest wooden bridges and one of the Three Great Bridges of Japan. Kintaikyo was built in 1673 by Hiroyoshi Kikkawa, the lord of the Iwakuni Domain at the time, to connect two castle towns separated by the Nishiki River. The bridge is 193.3 meters long, and the highest point of its arches rises about 13 meters above the riverbed. It is considered a masterpiece and culmination of the civil engineering techniques of its era, and even from the perspective of modern mechanics it is said to be comparable to today’s standards. Depending on where you view it, as well as the season and time of day, Kintaikyo reveals many different faces. The full landscape including the bridge is especially beautiful from the riverbank and gravel bars. In spring it is a famous cherry blossom spot, and in autumn it is celebrated for vibrant fall foliage, drawing visitors from across Japan who come to witness the scenery firsthand. Access to Kintaikyo by public transportation is 10 to 15 minutes by bus or taxi from JR Sanyo Shinkansen “Shin-Iwakuni Station,” or 15 to 25 minutes by bus or taxi from JR Sanyo Main Line “Iwakuni Station.” It is also about a 20-minute walk from “Kawanishi Station” on the Nishikigawa Railway. By car, it is about 10 minutes from the Sanyo Expressway “Iwakuni IC” via National Route 2.