Tomonoura

A remarkably preserved port town where sailors once waited for the tides, its narrow lanes and historic temples having inspired the setting for Miyazaki's Ponyo. The iconic Joyato stone lighthouse has guided ships into the harbor since 1859, while hillside temples offer views across the Seto Inland Sea to distant islands. Time moves slowly here among fish markets, sake breweries, and traditional inns that have operated for centuries.