Overview
Mōri Terumoto chose the spot for its rivers and its access to the Inland Sea, and the city grew as the castle town. In 1945 the castle held the regional army headquarters, and the first radio message reporting the bombing was sent from a bunker in its grounds. Inside the moat, a eucalyptus and a willow survived the blast and are marked as survivor trees; a reconstructed ninomaru gate and guardhouse show timber joinery worth the detour.
Highlights
The reconstruction is concrete and the exhibits are modest, but the top floor gives the only wide view of the delta and the mountains that ring it. The grounds are free and the moat walk is the pleasant part. Combine with Shukkei-en, five minutes away, and the Peace Park, fifteen.