Tomonoura | 5 Top Things to Do in this Quaint Port Town
Where is Tomonoura?
Tomonoura is a coastal town in Japan’s Hiroshima prefecture, ~30 mins by bus from Fukuyama train station. Fukuyama is ~25 mins via Shinkansen, or ~2 hrs via local trains, from Hiroshima.
Never heard of Tomonoura? Well, you might have seen it in Marvel’s The Wolverine or an anime version inspired by it in Studio Gibli’s Ponyo.
This sleepy port town has made it to the silver screen but remains off the beaten path for most tourists, likely because there aren’t any blockbuster attractions.
Yet, the tranquility adds to the charm of its traditional streetscape that’s framed by a stunning backdrop of the Seto Inland Sea and nearby islands.
Here are 5 top things I’d recommend doing in the quaint Tomonoura!
1. Stroll along the picturesque pier and delightfully retro streets
The pier is just steps away from the bus stop where most arrive from Fukuyama. Stroll along the waterfront towards the iconic Joyato Stone Lighthouse and simply soak in the views.
Perhaps also stop by the Ota Family Residence (¥400, usually closed Tuesdays), a well-preserved traditional home and brewery where homeishu (find out more below!) production once took place.
The town is compact and generally easy to explore on foot. Wander through the quiet streets lined with historical and delightfully retro houses, and you might also discover a unique café or two.
During our visit, we passed by Fukatsuya and were drawn to the array of quirky teaware displayed in the window. Too bad we didn’t get a chance to linger - perhaps next time!
2. Sample the local speciality
- homeishu, a medicinal liquor
Houmeishu is a sweet medicinal liquor made from polished glutinous rice, koji, shochu and an assortment of herbs. A local speciality of Tomonoura, it is believed to promote health and longevity.
There’s even a hotel in Fukuyama with a Houmeishu spa for the truly committed!
A healthy liquor? I was intrigued. There are only four companies that sell Houmeishu in Tomonoura, and we ended up sampling the one at Tomo Shuzo (thanks to their welcoming shop attendant).
I’ve never been a fan of sweet liquor though, so I purchased a postcard featuring the streetscape instead!
3. Admire the town’s famous scenery from another vantage point, with a cuppa in hand
The town’s most famous view is arguably from Fukuzenji Temple (¥200), having been praised as the most beautiful scenery in the region.
Less well-known is the nearby café, Shion, which offers a similarly scenic outlook right by the sea. You can also watch the ferry (which looks more like a pirate ship!) up close as it sails to and from nearby Sensuijima Island.
With its dreamy sea view, relaxing ambience, and comforting drinks like the ginger tea I had, this café turned out to be the perfect spot for our afternoon break!
4. Climb to Taishiden for a bird’s eye view and endorphins
The viewing platform in front of Taishiden, a small hilltop shrine, is accessed via Ioji temple (which is ~15 mins on foot from Joyato Stone Lighthouse).
At the temple, follow the sign marked ‘太子殿登り口’ towards the back and climb 583 stairs to the viewing platform (which also takes ~15 mins). The stairs are helpfully numbered so you know if the end is near… or not!
Fuelled by concerns that the local butcher shop would close soon (true story), we smashed the climb in ~7 mins and were buzzing with endorphins as we approached this epic view of the Tomonoura bay area and surrounding islands—what a high!
Don’t forget to use bug spray though! We were swatting away to avoid becoming a mosquito’s meal.
5. Stay a night and live like a local
This post might be about the ‘Top Things to Do’(!), but don’t be fooled. Tomonoura isn’t a place for a packed itinerary with things to do. It’s somewhere to unwind, appreciate the beautiful and serene surroundings, and perhaps even find inspiration.
So while a day trip to Tomonoura might suffice, the best way to experience it is to stay at least a night. We wished we had stayed longer than that!
The restaurants near our accommodation were all closed or closing so our wagyu ‘snack’ became our (absolutely delicious) main course for dinner. We felt like locals cooking up a satisfying meal, complete with sides and sake from FamilyMart, right at home!
Curious about our accommodation and where to snag that wagyu? Stay tuned for the next post!
WoWa Tips!
Plan ahead for dinner. Make a booking or go early if you’re dining out, as options are limited. We had two restaurants in mind, but one was unexpectedly closed and the other had sold out of most dishes!
Leave luggage in Fukuyama if you can, but don’t fret if you can’t. For a day trip or one-night stay, it’s probably best to store bulky luggage in a locker in Fukuyama due to the bus commute. We brought ours along though, as long as they were safely placed, the bus drivers didn’t mind.
Arm yourself with resources (including this post!). Here are the best that I’ve found on Tomonoura: a transport guide by Tomotetsu Group, step-by-step directions to Taishiden by Fukuyama City Hall, and a detailed travel brochure and map by Fukuyama City Tourisim Convention Association.
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