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Only samurai used to be able to cross the arches of this long, magnificent bridge. These days, the river it spans has been reduced to a trickle, and anyone willing to fork over the admission can go back and forth as they please. The 210-m original was built in 1673 using only wood — no metal nails — but the present structure is a 1953 reconstruction.
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長屋門 Nagaya-mon
At the south end of the park, you'll see the dramatic gate, the home of the Kagawa family who were the Kikkawa's principal samurai retainers.
吉川史料館 kikkawa shiryōkan
Dedicated to the aforementioned family of warlords, and including some of their weapons.
吉香公園
A pleasant green spot on the other side of the bridge, with some lovely flower gardens, large sprinklers for a soak on a summer day, and a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in April. Expect to meet some chatty locals here. The entrance to the park is overseen by a statue of Hiroyoshi Kikkawa, the feudal lord who directed the construction of the Kintai-kyo; the park was built on the grounds of the Kikkawa family home. There are two museums in the park for visitors interested in samurai culture and feudal Iwakuni.
徴古館
A library with historical documents and scroll paintings.
旧目加田家住宅 Kyū metaka-ke jūtaku
The home of another family of Kikkawa retainers. (Don't try to enter either, though; they're still private residences.)
岩国美術館 Iwakuni bijutsukan
Art and artifacts about samurai life, including some remarkable sword exhibits. The admission is a bit steep, but you'll find better English information here than elsewhere.