A Castle Town Where People Go About Their Job Actively

Iwakuni, preserving its ancient beauty, has prospered as a feudal castle town. This city developed under the rule of Hiroie Kikkawa, from a branch of the Mori family. He moved to this land after the battle of Sekigahara, where he built a castle on the mountaintop and used the Iwakuni River (the present Nishiki River) as the external moat. He built towns around the castle that he named Kuka, Yanai, Komeya (rice shop), Shio (salt), Zaimoku (lumber), Uomachi (fish), and Tofu (bean curd), which became known as the "Seven Cities of Iwakuni." These names are still used and have been designated as historic town names. The old houses with red grid-patterned doors and pillars and merchant houses with white walls bring back a glimpse of the past. The streets are arranged in a checkerboard, so that a visitor may easily find his or her way around.

Thanks to: Iwakuni City Tourist Office

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