Tomonoura

Tomonoura has been a prosperous port since ancient times. Its unique circular harbor was preserved even after modern port facilities were introduced. Tomonoura lies within Tomokōen (鞆公園), which forms part of the Setonaikai National Park. In 2007, the port was listed as one of the top 100 scenic municipalities in Japan and its harbor was listed as one of the top 100 historical natural features in Japan.

There are many historical temples and shrines around Tomonoura, and the area is famous for red sea bream (真鯛, Madai) fishing.

History

• 8 poems about Tomonoura are to be found in the oldest collection of Japanese poems, the Man'yōshū, compiled in the Tenpyō-hōji era.
• Jyoganji Temple was established by Saichō and Ioji Temple was established by Kūkai during the Heian period.
• According to the Engishiki (延喜式, "Procedures of the Engi Era"), mainly completed in 927 A.D., Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto had its origins in Tomonoura's Nunakuma Shrine (沼名前神社) during the Heian period.
• After the Battle of Tatarahama (1336), Emperor Kōgon visited Tomonoura and gave a memorial written for Nitta Yoshisada to Ashikaga Takauji.
• The Five-story pagodas of Jyoganji Temple was destroyed during the Battle of Tomo between the Northern Court and the Southern Court in the Nanboku-chō period.
• The former Tomo Castle was built by the Mōri clan during the Sengoku period.
• After Ashikaga Yoshiaki was banished from Kyoto by Oda Nobunaga, Ashikaga formed the Tomo Bakufu with the Ise clan, the Ueno clan and the Odachi clan, and with the support of the Mōri clan.
• Fukushima Masanori of Bingo Province started rebuilding Tomo Castle during the Edo period, but construction was halted by order of Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• Mizuno Katsushige of Fukuyama Domain was opened the government office at the site of Tomo Castle.
• Tomonoura was the site of the sinking of the Iroha Maru, a ship belonging to Sakamoto Ryōma.
• Railway service between Tomo Station and Fukuyama Station started in 1913, but the line was closed in 1954.
• The Setonaikai National Park, which includes Tomonoura, was founded on 16 March 1934.
• Tomonoura was once given the nickname Shio machi minato which means "port of waiting for tides".