[2025 Iwakuni Attraction] Travel Guide for Former Mekada Residence (Updated Oct)

Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is one of Japan's three most beautiful bridges with five arches. There is a 310 yen entrance fee to cross the bridge, but it is well worth seeing as it blends in with the surrounding scenery. There is a riverside parking lot at the foot of the bridge, which is 300 yen per trip for regular cars. There is also a discount ticket available that includes a ride on the Kintai Bridge, a round-trip ropeway ride, and admission to Iwakuni Castle. The ropeway takes about three minutes to reach the top of the mountain, and from the mountaintop station it is about a 10-minute walk to Iwakuni Castle. From the castle tower of Iwakuni Castle, you can enjoy a spectacular view of Kintai Bridge, Iwakuni city, and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The large park has many benches, so you can enjoy eating while walking around ✌️ ⸻ 🕒 Business hours and access • Opening hours for entering Kintai Bridge: 24 hours (night lighting until 22:00) • Toll gate opening hours: • Normal: 8:00-17:00 • Tourist season (mid-March to mid-September): 8:00-18:00 • Summer (late July to end of August): 8:00-19:00 • Access: • Take the bus bound for Kintai Bridge from JR Iwakuni Station for about 20 minutes, get off at the Kintai Bridge bus stop, and walk a short distance. • About 10 minutes by car from Iwakuni IC on the Sanyo Expressway.     ⸻ 💴 Price information • Kintai Bridge entrance fee (round trip): • Adults (junior high school students and above): 310 yen • Elementary school students: 150 yen • Set ticket (Kintai Bridge entrance + round trip ropeway + Iwakuni Castle admission): • Adults: 970 yen • Elementary school students: 460 yen • Riverside parking lot: • Regular cars: 300 yen per time 

【Access】 ○ Zip Code 741-0081 Yamaguchi Prefecture, Iwakuni City, Yokoyama 2 Chome-6 ○ It's about a 3-minute walk from Kintaikyo Bridge. 【Highlights】 〜Experience History〜 The Former Mekada Residence is considered to be a rare surviving example of a middle-class samurai house from the mid-18th century and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property by the nation. It is said that the family line settled in this area after being employed by Yoshihisa Yoshikawa during the Tensho period and later followed the lord Hiroie Yoshikawa when the Yoshikawa clan was transferred to Iwakuni. Since it's very close to Kintaikyo Bridge, why not take a stroll and visit? ※Information as of March 2024.

Address: 2 Chome-6 Yokoyama, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi 741-0081, Japan. Getting there: The residence is just located at the back of the famous Kikko Park in Iwakuni city. Highlights: This Mekata Family's House is a former residence belonged to the Mekada family, who were mid-level samurai. You cannot actually enter the residence, but can walk around it and observe it from a few steps away. However, I think this is sufficient to enjoy the history and very much worth it. It is in a good state of preservation, and is a valuable cultural heritage site. The roof covered with double-sleeved tiles, which is also known as Iwakuni tiles, has a high design and looks amazing! Opening hours: 9.30am to 4.30pm daily Admission fee: free of charge #bucketlistreboot #traveljapan #culturewalk