The JR Group and the Welcome to Yamaguchi Tourism Campaign Promotion Council will hold the “Yamaguchi Destination Campaign,” titled “A Journey of Blessings: Welcome to Yamaguchi, the Land of Blessings,” from October through December. A destination campaign is an initiative in which the JR Group, local governments, local tourism stakeholders, and travel agencies work together to offer special travel deals, point campaigns, and limited-time promotions during the campaign period. Ahead of the campaign, JR West organized a familiarization tour visiting Kintaikyo Bridge and Akiyoshidai Plateau. We will be covering the tour in two parts.
Take the ropeway from the scenic Kintai Bridge to Iwakuni Castle at the mountaintop to enjoy history and breathtaking views. The Kintai Bridge is a nationally designated scenic spot and one of Japan’s most iconic wooden bridges. It is approximately 200 meters long and features a beautiful five-arch structure. It was built in 1673 by Yoshikawa Hiroyoshi, the third feudal lord of Iwakuni. Although the current bridge was rebuilt in 1953 (Showa 28) as the third iteration, the original bridge was renowned for its sturdy construction, having stood for 276 years until it was swept away by flooding caused by Typhoon No. 29 in September 1950. The “Yamaguchi Fuku no Kuni Tour Pass” includes a round-trip ticket to cross the Kintaikyo Bridge. Buses bound for Kintaikyo Bridge run from JR Shin-Iwakuni Station (with relatively few departures—1 to 2 per hour) or JR Iwakuni Station (every 10 to 15 minutes); however, please note that the bus fare is not included in the “Yamaguchi Fuku no Kuni Sightseeing Pass.” It takes about 15 minutes by car from either station. The ropeway station is located just past Yoshika Park, and from there, you can reach the mountaintop where Iwakuni Castle stands in about 3 minutes. The ropeway fare is 900 yen round-trip for adults. If you also want to climb to the top floor of the Iwakuni Castle keep, the admission fee is 350 yen for adults. These fees are not included in the “Yamaguchi Fuku no Kuni Sightseeing Pass.”
© Source travel watch