Mostly forgotten by the tourists, Fukuyama is a pleasant stop on the way to Tomo-no-ura. An impressive reconstructed castle stands just in front of the train station and is well worth a look (entry to the grounds is free, although admission to the dungeon costs ￥200).
Coming from Hiroshima, you will notice a newly built Gothic cathedral coming right out of 13th-century France. It is quite unique and for the least surprising to find such an edifice in Japan, or simply in Asia.
How to get there
Trains to/from Fukuyama take 30min from Kurashiki (￥740), 20min from Onomichi (￥400) or 1h40min from Hiroshima (￥1890).
