Hiroshima - Iwakuni

Prior to all of our April/May visitors Rory, Dylan and I went on yet another Japanese adventure. Yes we are very good at packing them in since we had only arrived back from Thailand 7 days earlier:) We went on a 3 day and 3 night sight seeing trip around Hiroshima. If you were paying attention you just wondered how in the world we did that 3 days/3 night. Ah that is the fun - we left base on a tour bus at 10pm and drove through the night to Iwakuni arriving around 9:30am. The miserable part of that overnight bus trip (aside from the seats) was we stopped every two hours and the lights popped on inside! Aarghh. Hey if rotating the bus drivers was going to get us there alive so be it:)

Iwakuni is known for its unique bridge and castle.

Enjoy the picturesA view from the bus parking (the river rock) of Iwakuni Kintai Bridge.

" Many bridges have been constructed over the Nishiki Rover which flows through the castle town. However, thanks to the fast-moving current during rainstorms, the bridges were often swept away. "I want to build a bridge that will never be washed away" was the ardent wish of the third feudal lord, Hiroyoshi Kikkawa. The only way to realize his dream was to build a bridge without piers or to devise much stronger piers than those on previous bridges. Hiroyoshi who was interested in the culture of the Chinese Ming dynasty happened to see a picture of the stone bridges in a sightseeing book of the West Lake... He came upon the idea of building bridge piers like islets in the Nishiki River and constructing strong arches between them. In 1673, after repeated trial constructions and failures the unique bridge in which castle construction technology effectively incorporating wooden framework techniques was completed"

The family heading over the bridge. If you look really closely you can see the castle on top of the hill right over Rory's shoulder.

Looking back on the bridge.

If measured in a straight line the bridge is over 193.3 meters (634.18 feet) in length and is 5 meters (16.4 feet) wide.

The feudal lords wish of making a bridge that would never bewashed away was lost in a violent typhoon on September 14, 1950 when the bridge was destroyed.

One week later, the city council proposed that the bridge be rebuilt and the project was started. "The design of the original bridge was so good that the engineers in charge of research remarked, 'The techniques used were in perfect accordance with modern dynamical principles. Modern engineering cannot improve it". After two year the Kinatai Bridge reopened.

View from under the bridge. Amazingly it looked a lot like Lincoln Logs.
Iwakuni Castle as we were heading up the cable way.

The castle was built in 1608 by Hiroie Kikkawa the first Lord of Iwakuni Domain. The four story white donjon was built in the architectural style of the Momoyama era, reflecting European influences. In 1615, the "Law of One Castle per Province" was passed and strictly enforced therefore Iwakuni Castle was destroyed. In 1957 a group organized the Association of Reconstruction of the Iwakuni Castle and in 1962 the reconstruction was complete.

This picture gives you a better idea of the castle's height.

There Rory and Dylan are at the base of the structure.

Looking out from the castle to the Nishiki River.

Rory and Dylan, who doesn't know what to think, posing with a samurai suit of armor.

OK I realize that I am by no means a cat person. I am allergic to them and prefer dogs therefore I may not be the best judge but oh my goodness. We saw this man doing the typical Asian Squat while on his cell phone. That is nothing unusual until you see the two cats hanging out on his shoulders - very strange and to me unpleasant. He is obviously a cat person though! Just had to add this picture it was taken in Iwakuni after we came down from the castle.