Tomonoura, located at the top of the Numakuma Peninsula, was the first appointed National Park in Japan and is a representative scenic place of the Setonaikai National Park. You will feel as if you are looking at a series of pictures when you see the green islands such as Benten and Sensui in the peaceful Island Sea. Tomonoura is situated in the middle of the Island Sea where the drift of the tide changes. In the old days, especially in the Edo era, it was known as a port to wait for the tide and wind to turn. It flourished as a trade town and Kitamae ships came and went in those days. You will still come across many historical sites and scenes as well as traditional temples that are found here and there in Tomonoura. You can also have a look at the remains of various trading houses.

In 1619, the Fukuyama Castle was built by Katsunari Mizuno when he became the lord of Bingo with 100,000 koku. Fushimi Yagura and Sujigane Gomon are both National Important Assets. The Fukuyama Castle Museum holds a permanent exhibition called “History and Culture of Fukushima City” which shows you the history and culture of Fukushima city from the primitive and the ancient periods to the modern and contemporary periods. From the ground floor to the 3rd floor exhibition room, you can learn about the domain lords of Fukushima Domain, calligraphic works and paintings of Confucian scholars, swords, body armour, Bingo Kasuri and the Matsunaga salt field. From the lower section of the 4th floor to the upper section of the 4th floor you will find relics of the primitive, ancient and the medieval period. The museum holds 2 special exhibitions in spring and autumn.

The ruin of “Kusado Sengen Town”, a medieval demotic town that was buried in the riverbed of the Ashida River, has been revived by a long-term effort of excavation and examination. With a central focus on the relics of Kusado Sengen Town, the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of History displays a number of exhibits that relate to the history and culture of the people in Setouchi.

A new park-style museum that is linked with the Fukuyama Castle Park. It exhibits 20th Century European art with a central focus on Italian art, art pieces that belong to artists associated to this region and modern and contemporary Japanese art.

With a central focus on Masuji Ibuse, the honorary citizen and novelist, the Fukuyama Museum of Literature retraces and throws light on such other luminaries associated with this region. Their favourite goods are displayed and each performance, brief history and main works are introduced by materials and videos.

The Fukuyama Auto&Clock Museum exhibits nostalgic cars and clocks. You will find a commercial car under the nickname of the “Batanko Three-Wheeler” which was popular in the 1930s and 1940s and the old time masterpiece cars such as Ford, Chevrolet, Jeepstar and Benz. This is an interactive-exhibit museum that allows you to “take a ride”, “touch”, and “take photos” of the exhibits.