Tomonoura 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle

The Joyato is a 5.5-meter stone lighthouse built in 1859 and the enduring symbol of Tomonoura harbor. One of the largest surviving Edo-period lighthouses in Japan, it stands beside the old stone wharf where you can picture the bustling port that once welcomed ships waiting for the tide on the Seto Inland Sea.

Fukuzenji Temple is best known for Taichoro, an Edo-period reception hall built in 1690. From its tatami rooms you look out over the Seto Inland Sea and the small islands of Bentenjima and Sensuijima, a panorama that visiting Korean envoys praised as the most beautiful scenery east of Korea.

The Irohamaru Exhibition Hall tells the story of the Iroha Maru, the steamship leased by Sakamoto Ryoma's trading company that collided with a Kishu domain vessel and sank off Tomonoura in 1867. Housed in a former warehouse, it displays artifacts raised from the wreck and recounts Japan's first maritime insurance dispute, which Ryoma negotiated here.

Set on a hillside above the harbor, this small museum occupies the site of Tomonoura's former castle and offers the finest panoramic view over the port, the Joyato lighthouse and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Inside, exhibits introduce the town's history of sea trade, tai (sea bream) fishing and the medicinal liquor homeishu.

Nunakuma Shrine is an ancient Shinto shrine watching over Tomonoura, dedicated to deities of seafaring and protection. Its highlight is a Noh stage said to have been donated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi and later reassembled here, one of the oldest surviving Noh stages in Japan, set among quiet stone steps and old cedar trees.

Standing right beside Fukuyama Station, Fukuyama Castle was completed in 1622 by Mizuno Katsunari and is one of Japan's finest examples of an early-Edo castle. Its reconstructed keep houses a museum on the castle town's history, while the grounds preserve original turrets and the distinctive iron-clad north wall, a rare defensive feature.

Abuto Kannon is a striking vermilion temple hall belonging to Bandaiji, perched dramatically on a rocky cliff above the Seto Inland Sea. Built in the late 16th century, it has long been visited by sailors and expectant mothers praying for safe voyages and easy childbirth, and offers one of the most photographed sea views in the region.

A flat coastal trail leads past colourful banded rocks, secluded beaches and sweeping views of the Inland Sea, making it a refreshing nature stop steeped in local legend about immortals who lost themselves in its beauty. Please note that the round-trip ferry fare (a few hundred yen) is not included in the tour price.