Showing posts with label tomonoura. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tomonoura. Show all posts

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The Most Beautiful View in Japan


Not according to me it isn't!

And not according to the Japanese.


It's the opinion of a diplomatic emissary from Korea who stayed at Fukizenji temple in Tomonoura in eastern Hiroshima. I-Pan-On stayed here in 1711 and he claimed it was the most beautiful view in Asia.


The temple and Tomonoura have made good use of his opinion in advertising the town though.


The views from Tomonoura are good I have to admit, and the centerpiece is the island of Bentenjima.

I really enjoyed Tomonoura, it was not too crowded with tourists like nearby Kurashiki, and has a nice feel to it. There are lots of Edo-period buildings in the narrow streets and alleys, and a high concentration of shrines and temples.


To get the best views it is worth climbing the hill to Io-Ji temple, claimed to have been founded by Kobo Daishi.