Postcard from Iwakuni Castle, Yamaguchi Pref., Japan

This concrete "Moji" recreation of the medieval castle originally built here in 1608, was started in 1962. It was a "Yamajiro" or hill-top castle, as opposed to a flat-land "Hirajiro" castle. Kikkawa clan leader Hiroie was responsible for its construction, under the Mori banner. I think!

The oringinal pile only survived for seven years, for some reason incurring the displeasure of the Shogun and being ordered destroyed. Pity - stunning location atop Mount Shiroyama command the view over the Seto Sea & defensively, the Nishiki River curls aound the foot of mountain's steep slopes just right!

Thank god there's a ropeway up he 200m climb these days - only takes a few minutes. The actual climb in mid-summer would have been brutal, let alone 400 years ago trying to build, service or even worse, attack the place.

Kintaikyo Bridge nestles at the foot of the hill, itself a fabulous medieval construction and well worth a visit. The castle itself  boasts the largest dry moat, "Hakabori", around any Japanese Castle. Most of the lower mountaintop defences are overgrown and home to poisonous snakes - no place for sandal-shod visitors! Mostly unbothered by tourists, this is a peaceful spot, and the outlook from the top of the castle well-worth the effort. There are interesting displays of samurai swords, photos of other Japanese castles & detailed explanations of the castle's history & construction. The legend of the place + more photos on Flickr

My tip = if you've got time, a worthy day-trip from Hiroshima, beyond Miyajima (itself, a stunning day out!)...bit more off the beaten track in Japan without being inaccessible. Easily found by local train & bus :)

Postcard from Kintaikyo, Yamaguchi pref., Japan

Hi everybody at Luna,

Magnificent Kintaikyo Bridge

I had a long train journey and I wanted to break it up with a scenic detour - and take another train and a local bus! 

This famous medieval bridge has been on my photographic bucket list for a long time, and I couldn't go past it yet again without stopping by.

Kintaikyo Bridge is a remarkable structure, first contructed in 1673 to replace previous spans across the Nishiki river. Several had been washed away, as indeed was this one in 1950 by typhoon flooding...and it was painstakingly rebuilt to its original design three years later (and subsequently restored 2001-3).

Stone paving & pillars, wooden arches

It truly blends into its surroundings, steep wooden arches atop stone paving & pillars - phenomenal engineering & craftsmanship, intiated by Hiroyoshi Kikkawa (3rd lord of Iwakuni domain).

Dimensions? 210m long along the arch; 193.3m in a straight line. 5m wide, sitting on pillars 6.64m high.

I think you'll agree it's uniquely beautiful, and well worth a detour if you are in the Hiroshima region!

(Thank you Kazumi for teaching my classes - I'm sure I wasn't missed!)