Tomonoura 6hr Private Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle

By Japan Guide Agency

Free cancellation available

See tickets

Features

Free cancellation available
6h
Mobile voucher
Instant confirmation
Selective hotel pickup
Multiple languages

Overview

This is the ideal tour for travellers who want to discover Tomonoura, one of the most beautifully preserved port towns on Japan's Seto Inland Sea, in comfort and at their own pace. Travelling by private vehicle with your own government-licensed guide, you skip the stress of timetables and crowds.

Tomonoura flourished for centuries as a tide-waiting port where sailing ships paused for the changing currents. That history is still written into its narrow lanes, wooden merchant houses and the iconic Joyato stone lighthouse. Your guide brings the streets to life with tales of sea trade, the medicinal liquor homeishu and the revolutionary Sakamoto Ryoma, whose ship sank just offshore.

From the cliff-top hall of Fukuzenji to the serene Nunakuma Shrine, the nature trails of Sensuijima and the dramatic Abuto Kannon above the sea, you enjoy the landscapes that inspired artists and film-makers, a relaxed yet immersive window into one of Japan's hidden coastal treasures.

Activity location

Joyato Stone Lighthouse
- 843-1 Tomocho Tomo
- 720-0201, Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

Fukuyama Station
- 1 30
- 720-0066, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan

Check availability

Dates

Travellers

Van (Up to 7 Pax)

6h
English

Van (Up to 7 Pax)
Pickup included

Languages available

Starting time

Price details

€644.35 x 1 Adult€644.35

Total

Until Mon, 20 Jul

Regular Car (Up to 2 Pax)

6h
English

Regular Car (Up to 2 Pax)
Pickup included

Languages available

Starting time

Price details

€599.45 x 1 Adult€599.45

Total

Until Mon, 20 Jul

What's included, what's not

Private vehicle
Customisable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list'
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.

Know before you book

Specialised infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Public transport options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transport options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.
In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, activities services are not subject to the right of withdrawal. Supplier cancellation policy will apply.
This activity is provided by a professional trader (a party acting within their trade, business or profession).

Activity itinerary

Joyato Stone Lighthouse

The Joyato is a 5.5-meter stone lighthouse built in 1859 and the enduring symbol of Tomonoura harbour. 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.

Fukuzen-ji Temple

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.

Irohamaru Exhibition Building

The Irohamaru Exhibition Hall tells the storey 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 artefacts raised from the wreck and recounts Japan's first maritime insurance dispute, which Ryoma negotiated here.

Tomonoura Museum of History and Folklore

Set on a hillside above the harbour, 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

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.

Sensui Island

Sensuijima is a small uninhabited island a five-minute ferry ride from Tomonoura, part of the Setonaikai National Park. 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.

Abuto Kannon (Bandai-ji Temple Kannondo)

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.

Fukuyama Castle

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.

Location

Activity location

Joyato Stone Lighthouse
- 843-1 Tomocho Tomo
- 720-0201, Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Meeting/Redemption Point

Fukuyama Station
- 1 30
- 720-0066, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan

Best Deals on Things to Do

Experience the wonders of the world up close with great deals on things to do near and far. Expedia offers one-of-a-kind activities that allow you to explore Fukuyama your way. Whether you love nature, culture, food or a bit of adventure, we have the perfect activity for you.

Top experiences in Fukuyama

With so many things to do in Fukuyama, planning the perfect day out may seem like a daunting task. Expedia is here to take the hassle out of finding the best attractions, tours and activities in Fukuyama. Families, couples and business travellers can all find the perfect activity in Fukuyama to create life-long memories with the help of Expedia.