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Kintaikyo Bridge Festival
April 29
Free
Annual festival held at the famous Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni.
The highlight of the event is a reenactment of the departure of the local daimyo, or lord, and his entourage for of Edo, a requirement of the sankin kotai system imposed by the Tokugawa Shogunate. The parade of men and women dressed in colorful period costume usually cross the bridge at around 2pm.
The parades are followed by a demonstration of the firing of antique matchlock guns by local volunteers dressed in Edo Era armor and Japanese taiko drumming.
You’ll find other demonstrations and performances, all the usual food and drink stalls common at Japanese festivals and one of the biggest flea markets in the region.
More about the Kintai Bridge Festival here.