- Culture
- Yamaguchi
Kintai Bridge
"Tastes of JAPAN by ANA" is a regional vitalization project that collaborates with the different prefectures in Japan to present the Land of the Rising Sun in all of its diverse glory.
Kintai Bridge is one of Japan’s leading wooden bridges, renowned as one of the three most famous bridges in Japan. It is located in Iwakuni of Iwakuni City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and has been designated as a place with scenic beauty by the Japanese government.
The illuminated bridge at night, which can be viewed every year from August, is very popular. Visitors can enjoy different views of Kintai Bridge in every season, with cherry blossoms blooming in the area during spring time with a fireworks festival that held nearby.
In 1673, Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third lord of Iwakuni domain, built the wooden bridge that would become the model for the current bridge.
The length of the bridge is 210m if measured over the surface of the bridge, and 193.3m if measured in a straight line. It is 5m wide, and the abutments of the bridge stand at 6.6m tall.
The bridge is made using a special wood assembly technique that makes use of clamps and hoop iron.
It is said that it is difficult to find fault with this elaborate, unique arched bridge structure even from the perspective of modern bridge engineering.
Kintai Bridge was destroyed and washed away by a typhoon in 1950.
The people of Iwakuni put their hearts and souls into rebuilding the bridge using traditional techniques, and they were successful.
In recent years, renowned master carpenters have been maintaining Kintai Bridge using techniques passed down from the Edo period.
From the riverside, you can view the 300 year-old structure in detail. The illumination events that held every August to January are beautiful.
Location
| Name | Kintai Bridge |
|---|---|
| Web Sites | (In Japanese) http://iwakuni-kanko.jp/crss?val=c=10:p=239:d= |
| Address | Iwakuni, Iwakuni-shi, Yamaguchi |
| Access | 7 minutes by car from Iwakuni IC, Sanyo Expressway 20 minutes by bus from Iwakuni Station, JR Sanyo Main Line |
| Business Hours | Accessible 24 hours a day |
| Inquiries | TEL:0827-41-2037 (Iwakuni City Tourist Association） TEL:0827-29-5116 (Iwakuni City Sightseeing Promotion Section) |
| Admission | Adults (Junior high school student and older) 300 yen; Elementary school student 150 yen |