Day 50-51 Traveling Back in History in Iwakuni Festival
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Loading ...Luck had me when I arrived at Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. I found a place to stay through CouchSurfing and became friends with Nate, an American native, teaching English in schools in Iwakuni. While I was exploring the beautiful castle town of Iwakuni and Iwakuni Castle (see it up on the hill?) before getting to his home, a local at a tea house told me about the annual Kintaikyo Bridge Festival, which was to be held the very next day. This is a festival held only one day a year. I told this to Nate who wasn’t aware of this local event, and we decided check out the festival together.
Before heading to the festival in the morning was a big feast of homemade French toast and coffee. Gotta love big breakfast with friends! (especially one with good coffee! 
)
Around the beautiful bridge along the river was a huge antique fair on the festival day. There were many stands with all kinds of items, including these colorful kimono cloths.
Antique fairs around the world (the ones I’ve seen, at least) always seem to have these cool dudes in style with beard.
Would you be interested in an antique samurai armor?
My purchase by the colorful antique fair was this colorful Iwakuni-zushi. The layered and pressed sushi was cut in a square shape.
The festival involved an hour long parade called, Daimyo Gyoretsu (feudal lord’s procession) with people in kimono. This parade is a replication of the historical procession during the Edo Period (1603-1867). The suite of retainers, each assigned with his role, and armed with spear, bow and arrow, or gun, march on as they carry their lord in the palanquin to the words, ‘Down! Down! The Lord comes!’ voiced aloud by those leading the procession.
After the parade on the bridge, we caught them getting to their destination. Doesn’t this look like a movie set?
Had a lucky encounter with the main attraction of this parade by chance, lord and princess in the castle town.
The view of the town from Iwakuni Castle wasn’t too shabby! Can you find Kintaikyo Bridge?
A little girl was enjoying crossing this bridge too.
The beautiful town of Iwakuni and the bridge made me feel like I was walking in history. All too often we are attracted by what is new and shiny, but they are not always memorable. People 400 years ago must have enjoyed this timeless beauty with their friends when they were crossing, just like we did this day.
About the Author: Sachi
6 Responses to Day 50-51 Traveling Back in History in Iwakuni Festival
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An American teaching English? That’s a bit of a worry… they don’t even understand the language themselves!
Words and pictures are magnificent as usual. And to think that you ride a pink bicycle while also creating these enchanting literary and visual postcards. Sachi, you have so much talent!
Aw, you’re too kind, Steve!
Now if only I’d catch up with my blog with where I am now…! I guess I can’t be a superwoman.
I want the samurai armor
How much did they sell it ??? :p
Hi Yohan – not sure! It didn’t have a price tag… they also had samurai swords, fyi
What great timing on your end! I would love to see a feudal lord procession such as this. That Edo period rule of the lords spending half their time in Edo and the other back home was genius, a way to truly maintain one’s power. I’d love to see what it would of been like to see one of those processions.
Beautiful!!love that bridge..unique =)