Tomonoura

Tomonoura, located on the eastern coast of Hiroshima Prefecture, flourished during the Edo period as a vital harbor where ships paused until the tides were right to sail the Seto Inland Sea. The town preserves its Edo era character with merchant homes, temples, and port facilities, including the iconic Joyato lighthouse, stone steps (Gangi), and old guard stations.
One of Tomonoura’s historical highlights is Taichoro, a reception hall at Fukuzen-ji Temple where Korean envoys (diplomatic missions sent by the Joseon Dynasty to Japan during the Edo period to restore the severed Japan-Korea relationship) once stayed. From its tatami-mat rooms, visitors can gaze out across the calm sea to Sensui and Benten islands—an outlook praised as “the most beautiful scenic view in Japan.” The area is also tied to early modern history through the Iroha Maru Incident, in which Sakamoto Ryoma (a man who greatly influenced the modernization of Japan) negotiated with feudal authorities after a shipwreck just offshore.
Tomonoura is equally famous for its cuisine, especially sea bream dishes that have emerged from centuries of local fishing traditions. And be sure to try Tomonoura’s specialty product, houmeishu—a nourishing sake passed down from the Edo period.