Get a full taste of all Tomonoura has to offer on this course, visiting historic sites, relaxing in hot springs and eating gourmet meals. Here are our recommendations for experiencing Tomonoura at its fullest!
Untouched Nature just five minutes by ferry to Sensuijima
It takes just five minutes or so to get to peaceful shores of Sensuijima on the municipal ferry, Heisei Irohamaru. The island is small, but you can enjoy many amazing views from the hill and while you are trekking.
→Sensuijima – Exploring the Trails of Tomonoura’s Island Neighbor
Detoxify yourself in a renovated cave steam bath from the Edo period
Enjoy the spa, a specialty Edo-buro at Jinseikan-ga-Kawaru Yado Kokokara Hotel.
The Edo–buro (Edo-style bath) is a renovated cave steam bath in the style of the Edo period. You can enjoy three kinds of sauna: mugwort, loquat leaves, and seaweed, as well as a seawater bath in which you can float in the highly salinized water. When you finish, refresh yourself by immersing yourself in the ocean! The spaciousness of this spa will make relax and refresh you.
Jinseikan-ga-Kawaru Yado Kokokara (Changing View of Life Hotel Kokokara)
Address / 3371 Ushirodzi Tanoura, Tomochō, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
TEL / +81-84-982-2111
Edo-buro Bathing time/ 10:00 – 18:00 (Last reception 16:30)
Edo-buro Bathing fee/ 1,870 yen (tax included) *with towels and in-hotel clothes
→Changing View of Life Hotel Kokokara
Enjoy the beautiful scenery that Ryoma admired ―Fukuzenji Taichou-rou
Ryoma Sakamoto used this location for negotiations with the captain of the Kisyū domain warship over the damages to the sunken Irohamaru. Today, the site is used for a restaurant.
Fukuzenji Temple
Address/ 2 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
Tel/ +81-84-982-2705
→Taichou-rou – Stunning Scenery and Sutra Calligraphy at Fukuzenji Temple
Fresh and warm sea bream rice with the umami flavor of sea bream
most popular menu which includes fresh sea bream sashimi from the morning catch, osuimono (Japanese clear soup), and steaming hot seabream rice.
Tomonoura Fish Restaurant Taitei
Address/ 550-4 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
TEL/ +81-84-982-0481
→Tomonoura Fish Restaurant Taitei
The house said to be the birthplace of Houmei-shu
The Ōta family’s house on the path leading to Jōyatō is said to be the birthplace of Houmei-shu, a special alcohol made in Tomonoura. The house is also designated as an important cultural property for its structure, which remains the same as the Houmei-shu breweries surrounding the main house in the old days.
(Japan heritage Fukuyama Tomonoura constituent cultural property)
Ōta Residence
Address/ 842 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
Tel/ +81-84-982-3553
→ “Ōta Residence” – where Tomo’s herbal Houmei-shu was born!
Go green up the steep hills by Shiomachi taxi!
Gurisuro Shiomachi taxi (Gurisuro: Green slow mobility) is Tomonoura’s taxi company that is more ecologically advanced than in other regions of Japan. The taxi is a small electric vehicle well suited to the town of Tomo, with its alleys and steep hills, and gives off no harmful emissions.
Gurisuro Shiomachi taxi
Telephone / 0120-933-662 (Asahi Taxi Co., Ltd.)
Operating hours / 9:00-18:00 (reservation required)
Price / First ride 630 yen
Trekking from Iō-temple to Taishiden for an excellent view
Iou-temple, the second oldest temple in Tomonoura, is located to halfway up the mountain and offers amazing views over the town of Tomo. The pathway to the temple is narrow and hilly, but the Gurisuro Shiomachi taxi can take you to the temple quickly and conveniently. Climb the long flight of stairs to get to Taishiden and enjoy a panoramic view of Tomo bay from the top.
(Japan heritage Fukuyama Tomonoura constituent cultural property)
Iou-ji Temple
Address/ 1397 Ushiroji, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
Tel/+81-84-982-3076
→Iou-ji Temple – Known as a scenic spot in Tomonoura
→Taishiden – A Setouchi Lookout Worth the Climb
Enjoy the juicy Minchi-Katsu of a well-loved butcher shop
Proud Foods, a long-established butcher shop which opened in 1921, has a great reputation not only with the locals but also from professional chefs. Freshly fried Minchi-Katsu (minced meat cutlet) and potato croquettes are perfect snack foods for your town walk.
Proud Foods
Address/ 971 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
TEL/ +81-84-982-1129
The unique Noh stage in Japan inherited from Hideyoshi ―Nunakuma shrine
Nunakuma shrine is used as a stage for a variety of Shinto rituals and festivals in Tomonoura, and is believed to be dedicated to maritime safety, prosperity in fishing, home safety, good health, academic achievement, and easy delivery during childbirth.
Nunakuma Shrine
Address/ 1225 Ushiroji, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
Tel/ +81-84-982-2050
→“Nunakuma Shrine” a little Gion protecting the town and the sea of Tomonoura
Nostalgic fried sweets with sweet bean paste fillings
Check out Narutodō, a Japanese confectionery store on the pathway to the Nunakuma shrine. They offer delicious seasonal sweets as well as standard items such as Jōyōmanjū (a traditional Japanese confection).
Naruto-dou
Address/ 1151 Ushiroji, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
TEL/ +81-84-982-2037
Relax your body and mind with tea from a cafe of a traditional Japanese house
KC CAFE povides a comfortable atmosphere in a renovated old warehouse with a spacious high ceiling and large wooden support beams. Enjoy rooibos tea with chunks of seasonal fruits.
KC CAFE
Address/ 639-2 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
A vermillion Kanondō located at the tip of Cape Abuto
Located at the southern tip of the Numakuma Peninsula about 4km west from Tomonoura, Abuto-Kannon is worth visiting for its incredible view.
The appearance of the bright red Kannon-dou is fantastic, like an image from an ancient picture scroll, as it stands on the high stone wall jutting out toward the sea.
(Japan heritage Fukuyama Tomonoura constituent cultural property)
Abuto-Kannon Temple (Bandai-ji Kannnu Temple)
Address/ 1427-1 Notohara Abuto, Nunakuma-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
Tel/ +81-84-987-3862
→“Abuto-Kannon Temple” A lacquer-coated Kannon-dou temple stood on a precipitous cliff
Enjoy a sea bream themed Kaiseki meal with a lovely view of Bentenjima
Sea bream-zukushi Kaiseki of Chitose consists dishes made with sea bream: sashimi, tempura, nitsuke (boiled dish), osuimono (Japanese clear soup), and sea bream rice; enjoy different flavors and textures of sea bream in each of the uniquely prepared dishes.
Chitose
Address/ 552-7 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima
TEL/ +81-84-982-3165
Please check out our other routes for a town stroll visiting cafes and general stores, finding today’s trends, and learning more about the history of Tomonoura.
