Tomonoura, Historic port town in Fukuyama, Japan
Tomonoura is a small historic port town on the southern edge of Fukuyama, facing the Seto Inland Sea. Its streets are lined with wooden buildings, narrow lanes cut between old stone walls, and a working waterfront where small boats still come and go.
Tomonoura served for centuries as a stop where ships waited for favorable tides before crossing the Seto Inland Sea. This role brought traders and sailors from across Japan and shaped the town's layout and its merchant families.
The brewer families of Tomonoura kept their own recipes for homeishu, a herbal liquor made from shochu and dried plants, for generations. Small shops in the old town still sell it in traditional bottles today.
The town is easy to reach by bus from Fukuyama Station in around 30 minutes. Once there, the old center is small enough to cover on foot, and bicycles are also available to rent near the harbor.
Inside Fukuzenji Temple, there is a statue that looks like a Buddhist figure but actually represents the Virgin Mary. It dates from a period when Christianity was banned in Japan and believers had to practice their faith in secret.
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