Kintaikyo Bridge Festival

A spring festival held every April 29 at Kintaikyo, one of Japan's three most famous bridges. The highlight is a historical reenactment of the Iwakuni Domain's sankin-kotai procession and daimyo procession, featuring samurai, attendants, and court ladies in Edo-period attire crossing the iconic five-arch bridge and parading along the Nishiki River. Held just before Tango no Sekku, the warrior procession is spectacular, and the festival also features Iwakuni taiko drum performances and local product sales. The combination of Kintaikyo's arches and the warrior parade makes for excellent photos, drawing many visitors each year to kick off Golden Week.