The Charm Of Sensuijima Island, A Resort On The Seto Inland Sea

The island of Sensuijima, located in the Tomonoura harbor of Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, is surrounded by clear blue waters and covered in lush greenery.

On this beautiful, fascinating island, you can feel the awesome power of nature, as shown by the lava rocks and ash crags formed by volcanic activity; you can also enjoy leisure activities like swimming and hiking.

Sensuijima can be accessed by ferry from Tomonoura, and is only five minutes away. Before you visit the island, we’ll introduce you to some spots that you should definitely explore on Sensuijima, as well as other fascinating aspects of the island.

For more information about Tomonoura, check out our Tomonoura article.

Picture-Perfect Views of the Island from Fukuzenji and Taichoro

Fukuzenji is an ancient temple which was established during the Heian period. Taichoro, adjacent to Fukuzenji’s main hall, was a reception hall and lodging house for Korean messengers during the Edo period. Now they are great spots to behold the scenery of Fukuzenji, neighboring Bentenjima, and the Seto Inland Sea. The hall windows frame the view perfectly, which is so beautiful that it almost seems painted.

Fukuzen-ji Temple Taichoro

2Tomo, Tomocho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture 720-0201

Cafe and Gallery SHION

From SHION, located on the second floor of the ferry terminal that connects Tomonoura with Sensuijima, you can sit and watch the Heisei Irohamaru ferry as it sets off across the harbor.

With a great view and well-lit interior, this is a comfortable spot to take a break.

Zion

623-5 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama-shi, Hiroshima 720-0201

Heisei Irohamaru, With a Historical Connection to Ryoma Sakamoto

The municipal ferry to Sensuijima, Heisei Irohamaru, is patterned after Irohamaru, the vessel commanded by the modernization advocate Ryoma Sakamoto. Departing every twenty minutes, the Heisei Irohamaru makes 40 trips a day.

The ferry is 22 meters long and has a crew of 99. It is said that the original Irohamaru has been sitting at the bottom of the ocean near Ujishima in Fukuyama City since 1867.

Enjoy the retro vibe of the ship as you cruise across the harbor, and before you know it, you’ll have arrived at Sensuijima.

Heisei Irohamaru
Ferry terminal address: Hiroshima, Fukuyama City, Tomonoura 623-5
Travel time: Five minutes
Fare: 240 yen round trip

The Appeal of Sensuijima

While Sensuijima is visited by many tourists who come to enjoy leisure activities, it is actually uninhabited. For that reason, its lush natural beauty remains almost entirely untouched. The boundless ocean, the forests and powerful rockscapes are sure to leave a strong impression on you. Sensuijima has a plethora of outlook points, power spots and leisure facilities for visitors to enjoy.

Swimming

In the summertime, many people come to Sensuijima to swim in the ocean. The waters are so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom.

You can hike on Sensuijima all year round. We recommend immersing yourself in the vibe of the forest while hiking. There are several trails set up around the island to make it easier for novice hikers.

As you proceed further and further into the island interior, the forest will get denser and the slopes will get steeper. There will be several places to get good views, so take a moment to rest and drink in the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea.

The Mysterious Five-Color Crag (Go-shiki-iwa)

Sensuijima was created as a result of large-scale volcanic activity that occurred six to eight million years ago. When you see the plentiful rocks and crags around the island, made from lava and ash, you will truly feel the power of nature. One of these geological standouts is the spot known as the Five-Color Crag. Sensuijima is made of black, red, blue, yellow and white rock formations, and all of those colors are gathered together in this one location, which is also said to be a power spot.

Cave Steam Baths And Ocean Baths

In addition to hiking and swimming, we recommend that you reinvigorate yourself by luxuriating in the available bathing facilities on Sensuijima.

You can use cave tide baths and ocean baths at Kokumin Shukusha Sensuijima, the island’s government-operated hotel. As the name suggests, the water is drawn from the ocean before being heated. This unusual bath is full of minerals and will warm your whole body up so you don’t feel chilly afterward.

At the Jinsei Ga Kawaru Shuku Koko Kara inn’s Edo baths, you can take a dip in various baths and saunas, including a cave steam bath. Some options include the mineral-rich seaweed steam bath and the “womb bath” of highly concentrated salt water, as well as the classic and beloved mugwort steam bath. You’ll need up to an hour and a half to get the full benefit, so go when you have time to spare.

Kokumin Shukusha Sensuijima - Cave Tide Baths And Ocean Baths
Address: Hiroshima, Fukuyama City, Tomo-cho, Ushiroji 3373-2
Phone: 084-970-5050
Hours: 10:00 - 21:00
Admission: 500 yen plus tax
Website: Tomonoura Baths

Jinsei Ga Kawaru Shuku Koko Kara - Edo Baths
Address: Hiroshima, Fukuyama City, Tomo-cho, Ushiroji 337
Phone: 084-982-2111
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (reception closes at 16:30)
Admission: 1700 yen plus tax (includes rental fee for polo shirt, shorts and towel
Website: Edo Baths

Heal Your Mind and Body At This Resort

While there is a lot to do on Sensuijima, the biggest appeal is the island’s natural beauty. Each time you visit Sensuijima, your heart will start to melt at the splendor of this resort, a valuable place to recharge yourself physically and spiritually.

Sponsored by Fukuyama City