[2025 Iwakuni Attraction] Travel Guide for Kikko Park (Updated Jul)

#7月好去地方2025 Yoshika Park is one of the representative attractions in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It was originally the residence of the Yoshikawa family, the lord of the Iwakuni Domain. Now it has been renovated into an open park with lush greenery. It has beautiful scenery in all seasons. Together with the Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle next to it, it constitutes the three classic highlights of Iwakuni tourism. In the center of the park, a bronze statue of Yoshikawa Hiroie, wearing armor and with a resolute expression, is particularly eye-catching. Yoshikawa Hiroie is the son of Yoshikawa Motoharu and the first lord of Iwakuni Domain. In the early Edo period, he chose to assist Tokugawa Ieyasu in the Battle of Sekigahara, and was eventually granted the land of Iwakuni, laying the foundation for the Yoshikawa family and bringing long-term stability and development to the local area. Yoshika Park has gardens, museums, cultural facilities and ancient architectural ruins. It is particularly spectacular when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom in spring. It is a good place to take a walk and enjoy the scenery and learn about the history and culture of Iwakuni. After walking across the Kintai Bridge, you may wish to walk into this park to pay tribute to this general who created history for Iwakuni. 📍Address: Yokoyama 2-chome, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 🚶Transportation: About 5 minutes walk from Kintai Bridge 🕰️Opening hours: Open all year round, free to visit 💰Visiting fee: Free (some areas such as museums require additional tickets) #Yoshika Park #Yoshikawa Hiroie #Iwakuni Domain #Kintai Bridge #Iwakuni Castle #Yamaguchi Attractions #Historical Figures #Japanese Garden

Wandering through Kikko Park under a canopy of cherry blossoms felt like stepping into a living postcard from Edo Japan. With the historic Kintai Bridge nearby and samurai-era residences adding charm, the sakura trees painted the perfect picture of spring. I paused under a blossom shower, sipping matcha from a local stall, mesmerized by petals floating on the breeze. Children played, photographers chased the perfect shot, and laughter echoed across the grounds. The fusion of history, nature, and beauty made this more than a stroll—it was a journey through time wrapped in pink. #cherryblossom25

#cityplaybook #localguides #familytrip Iwakuni, a charming city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a hidden treasure that quietly tells the story of Japan’s rich samurai heritage, set against a backdrop of serene nature. The centerpiece of this peaceful town is the iconic Kintai Bridge—a graceful, multi-arched wooden bridge that spans the Nishiki River and offers one of the most picturesque sights in Japan. Crossing the bridge, I found myself stepping into history. On the other side lies Kikko Park, surrounded by cherry trees and samurai-era architecture, including the white-walled Iwakuni Castle perched high on the hill. A quick ride up the ropeway transported me to panoramic views of the city and the river winding below. Iwakuni is also home to the rare white snakes, considered sacred in local folklore. The White Snake Museum was surprisingly fascinating, blending myth, culture, and conservation. I ended my visit with a local specialty—Iwakuni sushi, a layered square sushi dish that's as beautiful as it is delicious. The city has a gentle rhythm, ideal for slow travel. It’s not just a stop for photos; it’s a place to breathe, wander, and reflect. Best Time to Visit: Late March to early April for cherry blossoms or autumn for stunning foliage around the bridge and castle. Travel Tips: Combine a day trip from Hiroshima or stay overnight to fully enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. Walk the bridge early in the morning for fewer crowds and a magical light. Don’t forget to try matcha and traditional sweets in a local teahouse by the river. Location: Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan #IwakuniViews #KintaiBridge #HiddenJapan #IwakuniCastle #JapanTravel #ChugokuRegion #JapaneseHeritage #WanderJapan #HistoricBridges #SlowTravelJapan

#cityplaybook #familytrip #localguides #cityplaybook Iwakuni, a quiet gem nestled in Yamaguchi Prefecture, stole my heart with its delicate blend of history, beauty, and calm. What drew me there initially was the famed Kintai-kyo Bridge—but what made me stay in memory was the peaceful charm of a town steeped in samurai spirit and scenic elegance. Crossing the iconic Kintai-kyo, a series of five elegant wooden arches stretching over the Nishiki River, felt like walking into a watercolor painting. The craftsmanship is breathtaking, and whether I visited in spring when cherry blossoms painted the banks pink, or in autumn when fiery leaves reflected off the water, the view was always magical. I highly recommend walking across slowly, soaking in the details of the design and the surrounding mountain-scape. Beyond the bridge lies Kikko Park, once home to the Kikkawa clan samurai. Today, it’s a serene area filled with historical houses, museums, and even white snakes—considered sacred and a local symbol of good fortune. I loved how effortlessly the past is preserved here. A ropeway took me up Mount Shiroyama to the reconstructed Iwakuni Castle. The view from the top was nothing short of spectacular, overlooking the bridge and town below. Inside the castle, displays of samurai armor and weaponry offered insight into the region’s feudal history. Best Time to Visit: Late March to early April for cherry blossoms around Kintai-kyo and Kikko Park. October to November for brilliant fall foliage and crisp weather. Travel Tips: Try Iwakuni Sushi—layered and colorful, it’s unlike any sushi I’d had elsewhere. Plan for a full day to enjoy the park, bridge, and castle at a leisurely pace. Location: Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan #IwakuniViews #KintaiBridge #JapanHiddenGems #SamuraiSpirits #KikkoPark #IwakuniCastle #CherryBlossomBridge #TravelJapan #YamaguchiAdventures #ScenicJapan Iwakuni is the kind of place that speaks softly, but its beauty echoes long after you’ve gone.

Iwakuni After crossing the Kintai Bridge, there is a park where you can take a leisurely stroll⛲️ - Yoshika Park - This is a historical park that was developed from the residence of the former Iwakuni feudal lord, the Yoshikawa family The large central fountain that shoots water in an arch shape is based on the castle's stone wall, allowing you to imagine the past up close The azaleas, cherry blossoms, and the autumn leaves of the ginkgo trees are beautiful at this time of year🍁 The space in front of the fountain is shallow, and in the summer it is a place of relaxation where children can play in the water If you are visiting the Kintai Bridge, please be sure to visit this park as well✨ 📍Address: 2-6-51 Yokoyama, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 🏖️Atmosphere/Facilities: Don't miss the rare cormorant breeding facility👀 💰Price per person: Free 💞Reasons we recommend: It is a quiet and spacious park You can also buy some soft serve ice cream after crossing the bridge and enjoy the nature 🌳 #0 yen trip November #family trip #couple trip #solo trip #girls trip #Iwakuni sightseeing #park

#japantrip Kikko Park in Iwakuni is a serene escape, blending nature and history beautifully. Nestled at the base of Iwakuni Castle, the park features lush gardens, a tranquil koi pond, and traditional samurai houses. The Kintai Bridge nearby adds to its charm, making it a perfect spot for leisurely strolls. Visitors can enjoy various seasonal flowers, especially cherry blossoms in spring. The park also offers plenty of seating and ice cream shops with unique flavors. Ideal for families and history buffs alike, Kikko Park is a must-visit for a peaceful day out.

#Sakura2024 I went to Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture☺️💓 The plum blossoms were in full bloom at Kikko Park, a park right next to Kintai Bridge! The light pink and white plum blossoms are so beautiful✨It's not crowded and has a laid-back atmosphere, so it's recommended for those who want to relax and be soothed by the flowers🌸 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━🌸Plums at Kikko Park━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━There are about 200 plum trees of three types: "Wild Plum", "Red Plum", and "Bungo"! They bloom at slightly different times, so you can enjoy them for a long period of time 🥰🗓Best time to see: Mid-February to early March 📍Location: Kikko Park 🗺Address: Yokoyama 2-chome, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 🚗Access: Take a bus from JR Iwakuni Station for about 20 minutes, get off at the Kintaikyo bus stop, then walk for about 10 minutes. It is a few minutes walk from Kintaikyo Bridge 🚶♀️ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━💬aynaa's Comments━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Kikko Park is a historical park that was developed from the residence of the former Iwakuni feudal lord, the Yoshikawa family, and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best historical parks 🫶Kikko Shrine, located within the park, is also an important cultural property! You can also get a goshuin (temple stamp)⛩The park is large, and there is a shrine, a museum, a large fountain, and a pond⛲️You can relax here, so if you go to Iwakuni, it's a spot you should definitely visit☺️❤️ #IwakuniTourism #YamaguchiTourism #KikkoPark #AmazingView #SoloTrip #FreeAirTicketToHongKong