【Tadanoumi Walking Tour】Discover the History : Your Must-Visit Port Town After Rabbit Island! 🐰🚢
Walking in Tadanoumi, Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture Introducing Tadanoumi’s history with subtitles! Walking Tour Route Let’s start our historical walk through the port town of “Tadanoumi”! “About Tadanoumi Station” Tadanoumi Station is a JR West Kure Line station located in Tadanoumi Nakamachi, Takehara City, Hiroshima Prefecture. It opened in July 1932 when the Railway Ministry’s Sango Line (now Kure Line) was extended. It is the nearest station for the ferry to Okunoshima (Rabbit Island). The station sign features a cute illustration of a rabbit. “About the History of Tadanoumi” Tadanoumi has long been a key point for maritime traffic in the Seto Inland Sea. This area was once known by the name “Nomi-no-ura.” Around 1129, the military commander Taira no Tadamori (father of Taira no Kiyomori) subdued this area. Taira no Tadamori took one character from his own name and renamed the area “Tadanoumi.” In the Middle Ages, Tadanoumi began to function as a shipping port for inland goods. In 1389, the Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, made a pilgrimage to Itsukushima. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu stopped in Tadanoumi on his way back to wait for the tide. About Tadanoumi Shoyu (building on the left) “Tadanoumi Shoyu” is a long-established soy sauce shop founded in 1919. Its mild soy sauce, low in salt and slightly sweet, pairs perfectly with sashimi. Returning to the history talk During the Sengoku period, Munekatsu Ura, a general of the Kobayakawa Naval Force, ruled Tadanoumi. Munekatsu Ura built Kagi Castle on the mountain overlooking Tadanoumi and established it as his base. Cargo brokers called ‘toimaru’ resided in the port of Tadanoumi. The ‘toimaru’ handled the transportation and storage of goods, supporting Tadanoumi’s commerce. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Tadanoumi became the domain of Masanori Fukushima in 1601. It then came under the rule of the Asano clan and became the domain of the Miyoshi Domain in 1632. Tadanoumi remained an important stronghold for the Miyoshi Domain until it was returned to the main clan in 1720. In 1672, the Westward Sea Route was established, and Kitamaebune ships began calling, leading to great prosperity in the town. A document from 1678 records the existence of a pleasure quarter (yukaku) in Tadanoumi. The thriving shipping business led to the emergence of many wealthy merchants. Merchant houses, including salt dealers, miso/soy sauce dealers, and sake breweries, lined the streets. This prosperity in trade laid the foundation for Tadanoumi’s cultural development. The building on the left is “Seinen-ji Temple.” It is known as a place where the Joseon Tongsinsa (Korean goodwill mission) stopped during the Edo period. About Yamamoto Gofukuten (far right building) Yamamoto Gofukuten is a kimono and fabric store with a history dating back to the Edo period. Returning to the history talk Ikeda Tokutaro, a great figure from Tadanoumi, was active from the late Edo period to the Meiji Restoration. Ikeda Tokutaro was one of the founders of the “Koo no Kai” (Tiger’s Tail Society) formed by Hachiro Kiyokawa. In the Meiji era, post offices and banks were established, and the town rapidly modernized. Tohei Takubo, known as the father of salt industry development in the Seto Inland Sea, moved to Tadanoumi in 1883 and managed the Nishi-Tokuhama salt fields. After 1890, institutions of the Imperial Japanese Army were stationed here. In 1929, a poison gas factory was constructed on Okunoshima. On July 10, 1932, Tadanoumi Station was opened. During the war, Tadanoumi was placed under strict secrecy. It is a famous anecdote that shutters were lowered when trains passed through Tadanoumi. With the end of the war, military facilities were closed, and Tadanoumi returned to being a peaceful port town. In 1958, Takehara Town merged with others to form Takehara City. Tadanoumi’s coast, “Tadanoumi Kaigan,” was selected as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. Tadanoumi is a charming town where the weight of history and the serene scenery of the Seto Inland Sea coexist. Feel the history of the port town in the streets lined with old merchant houses and the alleys of the Futamado district. Tadanoumi’s Main Tourist Attractions are Okunoshima, known as Rabbit Island Tadanoumi Port, the gateway to Okunoshima Mount Kurotaki, where you can see the superb view of the Seto Inland Sea The ruins of Kagi Castle, built by Munekatsu Ura in 1565 Tokoura Shrine, historically worshipped as the deity of smallpox Shoun-ji Temple, established by Munekatsu Ura as his family temple Tadanoumi Hachiman Shrine, said to have been enshrined in 879 And Komarui Shrine, with a history of over 400 years, among others. In addition, “Aohata,” which holds the top domestic share for household jams, was founded in Tadanoumi in 1932. Tadanoumi Port East Breakwater Lighthouse Now heading to the Futamado district This is the Futamado district. The Futamado district is an area that strongly retains the atmosphere of a fishing town. Komarui Shrine, which we introduced in the tourist attraction section, is located in this district. The “Futamado Shinmei Festival,” boasting a history of over 400 years, is usually held every February. Komarui Shrine is on the left side of the screen. Thank you for watching!
#OkunoshimaNextStop #Tadanoumi #HiroshimaTravel
⏰ TIMELINE
00:00 pening ✨
00:14 Walking from Tadanoumi Station through Tadanoumi Nakamachi 🛤️
06:47 Heading to Tadanoumi Port East Breakwater Lighthouse 💡
13:33 Entering the Futamado District 🏡
17:46 Walking through Futamado District 🚶
Are you heading back from Okunoshima (Rabbit Island)? Why not dive into the deep history of the charming port town, Tadanoumi, located right on your route? 🤩
This video is a historical walking tour tracing the past of Tadanoumi—a town that thrived during the Edo period thanks to the Kitamaebune shipping route and later served as a strategic military hub for the nation during the modern era.
Our walk begins at Tadanoumi Station, heading north past historic shops like Tadanoumi Shoyu and Yamamoto Gofukuten, before moving toward the sea. We visit the Tadanoumi Port East Breakwater Lighthouse and conclude with a relaxing stroll through the Futamado district, which retains the strong atmosphere of a traditional fishing village.
Enjoy the historical weight and the calm, peaceful scenery of Tadanoumi until the very end. ⚓🚶
📍 Location : Tadanoumi, Takehara City, Hiroshima, Japan 🇯🇵
📅 Filmed : October 2025
📷 Gear : Insta360 Ace Pro 2
🎧 Music by : https://www.youtube.com/@samsin102?sub_confirmation=1
#JapanPortTown #historicalWalk #Takehara