Tomonoura

About Tomonoura
Tomonoura is an idyllic port city, located south of Fukuyama by the beautiful Seto Inland Sea. In the old days it was an important fishing village, but today the town is cosy and relaxed with an atmosphere of old Japan.

Idyllic atmosphere, cosy harbour area and beautiful temples
The main attraction in Tomonoura is the town itself and it is easy to get around on foot. You can also rent a bike if you like. Take a stroll through the well-preserved streets of the old town centre and look out over the beautiful sea. Maybe you will recognize several locations from films, such as the Hollywood movie The Wolverine and Miyazaki's anime film Ponyo. The Joyato Lighthouse is the city's main attraction. It is several hundred years old and the city's landmark. The city also has many beautiful temples. The most famous is the Fukuzenji Temple. From here there is a fantastic view of the Seto Inland Sea. The rustic Ioji Temple also has great views, especially from Taishiden Hall, approx. 15 minutes uphill from the main temple.

Other attractions in Tomonoura
If you want to go indoors, Ota Residence is an exciting visit. This house belonged to a wealthy family who brewed 'homeishu', a form of liquor that was the city's speciality in the old days. The well-preserved house gives a good impression of how rich people lived in ancient Japan. In the Ihohamaru Museum, you can see parts of the wreck of a merchant ship that crashed in 1867 - however, there is no information in English. The town is not far from Onomichi, which is the start of the Shimanami Kaido cycle route.