Hiroshima Trip 2018 - Day4 - Iwakuni Part 2 - Iwakuni Castle

After crossing the beautiful Iwakuni Bridge, we proceed to take the ropeway(cable car) to the castle at top of the mountain but not before stopping to eat some ice cream from this shop with 100 different flavours to choose from.

The fare for the ropeway is 320 yen for one way and 550 yen for round trip for adult. It is best to buy the package for the bridge crossing fee, ropeway and castle. We did not know about the package and wasted money buying each individual ticket. The ropeway station is only 5 minutes walk from the bridge. The duration of the ropeway is 20 minutes and shorter during peak season.

Turn left for better walking trail, the path on the right is hilly and rough.

The walking trail on the left.

The walking trail on the right.

The hike is about 20 minutes walk and we came across a dead small snake.

Inside the castle is a museum on every floor.

Best view of Iwakuni must be at the top of the castle, a very beautiful scenery and the view of the beautiful Kintaikyo Bridge. Everyone should visit Iwakuni if travel to Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Trip 2018 - Day4 - Iwakuni Part 1 - How to go to Iwakuni and Kintaikyo Bridge

Day 4, we visited Iwakuni, a very beautiful place. I like this the best throughout my Hiroshima trip. The Kintaikyo Bridge is so beautiful, took so many photos of it.

It is very easy to go to Iwakuni from Hiroshima Train Station, is like one terminal to the other end terminal. It bypass the Mayijima Train Station (Mayijima Island), you can visit these two places in one day but I prefer to split them in two days, as we two old folks prefer going slow and relaxing.

Go to Platform 1 to take the westbound train from Hiroshima Station to Iwakuni Station (End terminal). The journey is about 1 hour.

The fare is 760 yen per adult per way.

Follow the directions and turn right after exiting from the train gate, and proceed to the bus stop.

Once out of the train station, the bus stop is visible.

Go to Bus Stop No. 2 to take the bus to Kintaikyo Bridge. If unsure, can always ask the ticket office at the bus stop.

The fare to Kintaikyo Bridge is 300 yen and the journey is about 20 mins and the bus frequency is every 20 minutes.

Need to pull the slip out of the box and hand to the driver with the correct fare and the slip but we bought our ticket at the ticket office at the bus stop. Hold on to the ticket and pass to the driver only on arriving destination.

In no time, we reached Kintaikyo Bridge bus stop, can see the bridge diagonally opoosite from the bus when we were inside and the only bus stop that they will announced in english. On returning back to Iwakuni Train Station, take the bus from the opposite side.

The Kintaikyo Bridge is simply beautiful and with hundred of years of history. Read more from official website.

The best spot to take photo must be below the bridge. Saw some benches near the bridge, tour group sit on them to take photo with the bridge in the background. That's the best spot to take photo. I took so many photos here hahaha, really very beautiful.

Need pay 300 yen to cross the bridge both ways.

Also remember to visit the castle right at the top via ropeway(cable car ).

Will post more photos about the castle in next post and videos of Iwakuni and Kintaikyo Bridge in later posts.

Hiroshima Trip 2018 - Day 3 -,Hotel Granvia Hiroshima

We had already checked out of Sheraton Grand Hotel in the morning, so after our sightseeing, we went back to collect our luggages from Sheraton Grand Hotel and walked over to Hotel Granvia which is just opposite of Sheraton Grand Hotel. The room rate is half the price of Sheraton Grand Hotel but without breakfast, but so strange we need to pay almost $100 if we wanted to add breakfast so we opt to book without breakfast. Anyway, our last morning, we dont even have time for the buffet breakfast, we need to go to the airport very early in the morning as our flight is in the morning.

The room is very spacious and clean but the carpet looked very old. But we are very satisfied with the room and we got high floor on the 18th floor.

The view from this hotel is superb and beautiful, can see the mountain. The supermarket "Youme" diagonally opposite the hotel is the best place to shop for souvenirs and local products. We bought many chocolates, mochi, etc. The Hiroshima mochi was really tasty and yummy, made good gifts too. I forgot to take photo of the mochi.

As I brought along some pegs, I clipped the curtains with the pegs so that I could pose and take good photos with the scenery behind lol.

At night we just wandered around the hotels and had dinner at one of the building, seems like a budget hotel or hostel. (Did not take much photos - too tired and lazy haha)

Hiroshima Trip 2018 - Day 3 - Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima Island

Day 3 was an exciting sightseeing trip, a visit to Miyajima Island. It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views.

There's many ways to go to the island, by direct boat,train and ferry, or street car and ferry. Read more from here.

We chose to travel via train and ferry. Took us about 25 minutes. The train fare is 410 yen and the ferry is 180 yen. We could purchase both at the train station.

Take the JR train bound west at Platform 1.

A very comfortable ride and soon we reached Miyajima Train Station.

The ferry pier is just opposite the train station, a very short walk.

The ferry ride is a mere 10 minutes and soon we were able to see the famous giant Torii Gate.

There were lots of wild deers on the island, do not feed the deers, they may looked tame but there's are incidents where tourists were bitten.

The temple at low tide.

Interesting to view the sea creatures during low tide.

More wild deers along the stream.

After all the exciting sightseeing, time for shopping and lunch.

Famous in Miyajima Island is the maple leaf shaped cake called Momiji .

For our return trip, we bought the ferry ticket at the ferry pier on the island at 180 yen.

The street car station at Miyajima, the street car ride would take about 1 hour to reach Hiroshima Station and not ideal cause the ride would be very bumpy, prefer to take the JR Train that more comfortable and take half the time to reach Hiroshima Station

Video on trip from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima Island