Dive! Hiroshima Official Guide
Departing from Fukuyama Station, we introduce a course that goes around Japan Heritage, Fukuzenji Taichoro, Irohamaru Exhibition Hall, Ota Family Residence → Tomonoura Museum of History and Folklore → Masuya Seiemon Residence (Sakamoto Ryoma's hidden room).
“Travel back in time from Fukuyama Station to the Edo period! A course to visit Japanese heritage sites visited by Ryoma Sakamoto!”
Fukuzenji Taichoro
Travel time : About 30 minutes
1/5
The place where Sakamoto Ryoma and the Kishu Domain actually held talks during the “Iroha Maru Incident.”
Taichoro was built around 1690, about 320 years ago, as the kyakuden (guest hall) of Fukuzenji, a temple of the Shingon sect.
From the tatami room, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Tomonoura, where Sensuijima and Bentenjima float in the calm Seto Inland Sea.
During the Edo period, Taichoro was used as a guest house for the Joeson Envoy. It was also a place of exchange with Japanese Chinese scholars and calligraphers.
In 1711, the Joseon Diplomat (Li Bangyan) praised the view of this room as “the most beautiful scenic spot east of Joseon.”
You can see the beautiful scenery that has never changed since the Edo period, which fascinated many people.
On foot About 5 minutes
Iroha Maru Exhibition Hall
Travel time : About 30 minutes
2/5
In this Exihibition Hall, you will see a part of the steamboat “Iroha Maru” that Ryoma Sakamoto rode. It was raised and displayed inside a warehouse from the Edo period as it was discovered.
There is also a corner that recreates Ryoma's hidden room discovered in the Ryoma lodging house in Tomo-cho.
What is the Iroha Maru Incident?
In 1867 (Keio 3), “Iroha Maru" was a boat on which Sakamoto Ryoma and other Kaientai ("Maritime Support Force") were aboard. It collided with a ship of the Kishu Domain off Tomonoura, and the “Iroha Maru” sank.
On foot About 1 minute
Otake Residence
Travel time : About 30 minutes
3/5
It is a valuable building that conveys the prosperity of wealthy merchants who built their fortune with Homeishu (liquor) in the Edo period.
With the main building as the main room, the residence consists of a kitchen, a warehouse, Kamaya, a South Homeishu Sake Brewery, North Homeishi Sake Brewery, East Homeishu Sake Brewery, North storehouse, new warehouse, and their land.
The attached building is a facility for brewing and storing various alcoholic beverages such as Homeishu.
The sight of main houses and storehouses lined up on a large site that occupies almost one block surrounded by roads is spectacular, and it is important as a townhouse that is the center of the historical townscape of Tomo.
The building age ranges from the main house in the middle of the 18th century to the new storehouse in the early 19th century.
On foot About 6 minutes
Fukuyama City Tomonoura Museum of History & Folklore
Travel time : About 30 minutes
4/5
It is located on a hill with a good view where you can overlook Tomo Harbor, the islands of Setouchi, and even the mountains of Shikoku in clear weather. Materials related to Tomo's history and culture, such as the sea net, tomo blacksmith, festival, and the Joeson Envoy are exhibited.
On foot About 5 minutes
Masuya Seiemon Residence (Sakamoto Ryoma's hidden room).
Travel time : About 30 minutes
5/5
“Masuya”, which has been running a ship wholesaler since the Edo period, is a merchant house where Sakamoto Ryoma and other Kaientai ("Maritime Support Force") stayed for a few days while negotiating with the Kishu Domain during the “Iroha Maru Incident” in 1867. At that time, Ryoma, whose life was being targeted, stayed at Masuya under the name “Saitani Umetaro” and hid himself in a hidden room in the attic.
