[The world of Ghibli] Let's go sightseeing in Tomonoura, which was the model for Ponyo!

Tomonoura is the model location for “Ponyo,” and there are three must-see tourist attractions in Tomonoura!

2023.02.17

What kind of town is Tomonoura, the setting of “Ponyo”?

Tomonoura was the model location for Hayao Miyazaki’s Ghibli film “Ponyo on the Cliff.

Tomonoura is a port town that has been recognized as a Japan Heritage site.

Tomonoura, which retains its old-fashioned townscape, is one of the few port towns in Japan where traditional townhouses and port facilities built in the Edo period still remain.

The townscape is so lovely that it was selected as one of the 100 best cityscapes in 1992.

Almost all of the streets depicted in town maps from the mid and late Edo period are also still in existence, and the town maps of those days can be used as modern maps.

Such a town is not limited to port towns, and Tomonoura is the only other example of such a town in Japan.

The townscape of Tomonoura is also a highlight!

Selected as a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 2017, Tomonoura is a maze of historic streets where traditional town houses, shrines and temples, stone structures, and port facilities remain intact.
There are also hideaway cafes and other places to stroll around.

Recommended spot 1: The shortest “SASAYAKI Bridge” in Japan, an old tale

The Whispering Bridge is a bridge in the middle of a stone-paved road in Tomonoura!

It is about 1 meter long and so short that it can be crossed in two steps.

Those who do not know its location may pass by it without noticing.

Legend of Whispering Bridge
　　Legend of a sad love story…
It all started more than 1,500 years ago. At the invitation of Emperor Ojin, two men and a woman were sent to entertain visitors.

The two fell in love so much that they forgot their duties.

At that time, Tomonoura was a sandbar connected by a bridge called Nanashima. They met several times on the bridge.

However, when their superiors found out, the two were tied up and drowned in the sea so that they could not embrace each other.

A Legend Formed from a Single Rumor…

After the couple went underwater, a rumor began to circulate. It was said that whispers could be heard every night on the bridge.

People began to call this bridge “Whispering Bridge”.

The locals built a monument at the spot where the bridge used to be in order to tell the story of this sad love.

That is the present “Whispering Bridge.

Where is the Whispering Bridge?

It is located near Seikanji Temple, the oldest temple in Tomonoura!

Address: Ushiroji Tomocho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima 720-0202

Recommended spot 2: Tomonoura’s symbolic everlasting night light

The nightlight that stands at the southern end of the gangi on the west side of Tomonoura Port is the No. 1 symbol of Tomonoura.

Built in 1859, the 5.5-meter-high lighthouse has guided ships in and out of Tomonoura.

It is one of the most famous spots in the Tomonoura area with its wonderful scenery that blends in with the landscape.

The area around the Everlasting Light is Ponyo City!

Tomonoura was the model for…

It was the model for Hayao Miyazaki’s popular animated film “Ponyo on the Cliff”!

The beauty of Tomonoura fascinated even the director Hayao Miyazaki. Not only Director Miyazaki, but also the staff of Studio Ghibli visited the area many times.

Look for the cute Ponyo stones in the town!

Where is the everlasting night light?

The nightlight is located on the south side of the gangi on the west side of Tomo Port!

Address: Tomo-844 Tomocho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima 720-0201

Recommended Spots ③：Senryujima Island

What is Senanoshima, which also has spiritual elements!

Senanoshima Island is located in the Setonaikai National Park, which was the first national park in Japan to be designated as a national park in 1934!

It is said that the island is inhabited by rocks of five colors.

It is said that the island is inhabited by rocks of five different colors. The five-colored rocks have a powerful power, making it a famous power spot in Hiroshima!