Chugoku · YamaguchiFestival
A costumed feudal procession crosses one of Japan’s most beautiful wooden bridges in this Golden Week festival at Iwakuni.
Overview
The Kintaikyo Matsuri celebrates Iwakuni’s iconic five-arched wooden bridge, the Kintaikyo, with a vivid re-enactment of a feudal lord’s Edo-bound procession. Held on 29 April, it sends a parade of costumed daimyo, retainers and attendants across the historic span, followed by antique matchlock-gun demonstrations and taiko drumming. With the bridge, the Nishiki River and the wooded hills behind, it is one of Yamaguchi’s most photogenic spring events.
When & Where
29 April 2026 (Showa Day). The daimyo procession typically crosses the bridge around 2 pm. Venue: Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi.
Getting There
From JR Iwakuni or Shin-Iwakuni Station, take a bus to the Kintaikyo stop (roughly 15–20 minutes). Iwakuni is about 45 minutes by train from Hiroshima and has its own airport. Expect Golden Week crowds around the bridge.
What to Expect
The centrepiece is the sankin-kotai-style procession in Edo-period costume moving over the arches. Around it come gun-firing displays by armoured volunteers, drumming, and the parkland of Kikko Park with its samurai-era relics and the Iwakuni Castle ropeway rising above.
Tickets & Access
The festival is free to watch. Crossing the Kintaikyo Bridge normally carries a small toll, and the castle ropeway is ticketed; a combined bridge-and-ropeway ticket is usually available.
Tips for Visitors
Arrive before midday to see the bare bridge and beat the crowds. The riverbank gives the best photos of the arches; add the castle ropeway for sweeping views over the Nishiki River.
Access and Map
| Dates | 29 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Kintaikyo Bridge, Iwakuni |
| Access | Bus from JR Iwakuni Station |
| Admission | Free (bridge toll applies) |
| Official site | Iwakuni City Tourism |
Source: Iwakuni City Tourism
Image: Photo: z tanuki / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 (license)
