By train

JR Iwakuni Station is on the San'yo Main Line. It's about 45 minutes from Hiroshima by local train, and makes a nice onward stop after a night at Miyajima. It's also accessible via Shin-Iwakuni Station, on the San'yo Shinkansen, but only on the all-stops Kodama .

By plane

The airfield is only available for use by the U.S. military. It's a cause of some controversy, as residents have clamored for it to be converted into a public international airport. At present, the closest public airports are in Hiroshima and Ube.

By bus

Buses run to Iwakuni from the Hiroshima Bus Center. Most overnight routes from Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka that are bound for Hagi will include a stop at Iwakuni.
 

Iwakuni Castle

Iwakuni Castle was built in 1608, at the beginning of the Edo Period. The site of the castle was chosen for its natural defensive advantages on top of Mount Shiroyama and half surrounded by a natural moat, the Nishiki River. The castle keep is four stories high, and looks out onto the city 200 meters below.
Probably a source of considerable frustration for those who built it, the original castle lasted only slightly longer than the time it took to construct it. Being built over the course of five years, the castle was torn down by decree of the shogun a mere seven years after its completion.
The present reconstruction dates from 1962, and has already outlasted the original castle by a considerable factor. It is a ferro-concrete construction, and inside displays samurai swords, armor and other items related to the castle's history. There are also displays on Kintai-kyo Bridge and other famous bridges across Japan.

Kikko Park

After crossing the Kintai-kyo Bridge, visitors are greeted by the statue of the man who initiated the bridge's construction, Kikkawa Hiroyoshi, the third lord of Iwakuni. In the area behind the statue, there are a number of sites of interest centered around Kikko Park, a spacious park with walking paths, plants and fountains.
During the Edo Period, the residences of the ruling Kikkawa family were located where Kikko Park now stands, and the retainers of the ruling family were located nearby. Because of this, the area is now blessed with former samurai residences and museums featuring historic artifacts.

Kikkawa Museum

This small museum displays the possessions of the Kikkawa family, which includes documents, swords, and weapons.

Iwakuni Art Museum

This museum's collection includes glassware, samurai armor, ceramics, and the furniture of Iwakuni's feudal lords.

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