Tomonoura, Fukuyama Weekend Trip

 

Fukuzenji Temple

Saturday – Tomonoura

Fukuzenji Temple was founded around the Heian Period in about 950. The sea view from the temple is famous, and has shown up in some animes. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki stayed in Tomonoura in 2005, when he was working on the famous film Ponyo. 

Joyato, a traditional stone lighthouse, is 11 meters tall and a long-time symbol of Tomonoura. Around the pier there were also black kites (a type of bird of prey) flying around looking for a quick snack. 

Ioji temple is on a hillside near the port. From the main building you can take some stairs (about 15min) on the hill and go up higher to an even nicer view of the port.

Sunday – Fukuyama Castle

Fukuyama Castle has been one of the easiest castles for us to get to! It's right outside Fukuyama Station, it's so close you can even see it from inside the station. The reconstructed castle became a National Historic Site in 1964. 

One unique thing about this castle is that one side of it is reinforced by iron plates, giving the castle three white walls and one black wall. This is the only castle in Japan with iron plates like this.