Iwakuni Castle Ropeway

Iwakuni Castle is a mountain castle originally built in 1608 by Kikkawa Hiroie, the first lord of Iwakuni. It was constructed at an elevation of about 200 meters, using the Nishiki River flowing at the foot of the mountain as an outer moat. Not long after, in 1615—seven years after its construction—it was dismantled under the “one castle per province” policy. The current structure was reconstructed in 1962, and inside you can see exhibits such as photographs from the time, weapons, and models related to Kintaikyo Bridge. To reach the mountaintop keep of Iwakuni Castle, take the ropeway from the “Sanroku Station” near Kikko Park. It takes about 3 minutes to reach the “Sanchō Station.” Inside the gondola, you can listen to an audio guide while ascending. The summit also serves as an observation point, offering magnificent views over Iwakuni City below. At night, Iwakuni Castle is illuminated, and from the base of the mountain you can enjoy the sight of the castle appearing to float in the night sky—making it an excellent sightseeing spot. Access to Iwakuni Castle: by car, it’s about 10 minutes after exiting the Sanyo Expressway at “Iwakuni IC.” Use the Kintaikyo parking area. By public transportation, get off at JR Sanyo Main Line “Iwakuni Station” or JR Sanyo Shinkansen “Shin-Iwakuni Station,” transfer to a bus, and get off at “Kintaikyo Bus Center” (about 20 minutes). From there, use the ropeway to reach the reconstructed keep on the mountaintop.