Sensuijima, a Healing Island off Tomonoura Adorned with Five Colored Rocks

Floating off Tomonoura in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima, Sensuijima is an island about six kilometers in circumference, named from the saying that it is so beautiful even hermits are enchanted. It is part of the Seto Inland Sea National Park, designated in 1934 as one of Japan's first national parks, where ancient nature remains untouched. Most striking are the five colored rocks lining the shore, where stone in blue, red, yellow, white, and black continues on, a rare scene said to be found nowhere else in Japan. Shaped by volcanic activity and long erosion, this place quietly draws people as a hidden power spot.

Highlights

• The five colored rocks along the coast. Formed as magma settled and was eroded, these five colored rock faces are said to be precious and seen nowhere else in Japan.
• The walking paths across the island where untouched nature remains. Strolling with views of sea and forest lets body and mind unwind.
• The nearness of an extraordinary escape, just about five minutes by municipal ferry from Tomonoura port. The short crossing adds the feeling of a small adventure, and it pairs well with the Edo-flavored streets of Tomonoura.

Enjoying the Seasons

From spring through autumn is ideal for exploring the island, a season when walking the paths in the sea breeze feels wonderful. Summer offers seaside coolness, and autumn lets you savor the colors of the five colored rocks in clear air. Ferry service depends on the weather and may be suspended in rough conditions, so checking in advance is recommended.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Tomo-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima
• Access: About 5 minutes from the Tomonoura crossing pier on the Fukuyama municipal ferry Heisei Irohamaru. The fare is 240 yen round trip for adults and 120 yen for children. From the island port you walk toward the five colored rocks.
• Hours: Free to explore (subject to ferry operating hours)
• Admission: A ferry fare is required (as above)

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: Spring and autumn, when clear air brings out the colors of the five colored rocks, are the sweet spots. During the day the ferry runs at roughly 20 minute intervals.
• Time needed: To enjoy the five colored rocks and an island stroll at leisure, allow about two to three hours on the island.
• Avoiding crowds: The ferry is busy on holidays and summer break, so an early morning crossing is recommended.
• Nearby spots: The departure point, Tomonoura, gathers sights such as the stone lantern, old streets, and the Irohamaru Exhibition Hall, making a half day or more with the island.
• Budget sense: The round trip ferry fare is about a few hundred yen for an adult. The island stroll itself is free.

A Quick Tip

The island is explored on foot. Wear comfortable shoes, and always check the time of the last ferry before you land. Shops and vending machines are limited, so bringing a drink is reassuring.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About 1 to 2 hours to stroll the island, or roughly half a day including the ferry wait.
• What to bring: Prepare cash for the ferry fare and food, and comfortable shoes since you walk through nature.
• Getting around: The island is reached by ferry from Tomonoura, so check the schedule in advance.
• Suggested route: Cross to the island by ferry and stroll the coastal highlights such as the five-colored rocks.
• A note on safety: Watch your footing along the coast and move during daylight hours.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Location: Ushiroji, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. For enquiries, contact the Tomonoura Tourist Information Center, tel. 084-982-3200
• Island admission: None. You are free to explore the island, and there are no closing days
• Ferry fares: The return fare between Tomonoura and Sensuijima on the Fukuyama municipal ferry "Heisei Iroha Maru" is 240 yen for adults and 120 yen for children. Children under 1 travel free, one child aged 1 to under 6 travels free with each adult (from the second child onwards the child fare applies), and children aged 6 to under 12 pay the child fare. Group discounts are available for 15 or more people
• Crossing time: 5 minutes each way
• Ferry timetable: From the Fukuyama municipal ferry pier at Tomonoura, the first service is at 7:30 and the last at 20:00. From 8:00 to 18:00 services generally run at 10, 30 and 50 minutes past the hour; in the 12:00 hour they run at 30 and 50 minutes past, and in the 19:00 hour only at 30 minutes past. The boat turns around as soon as it arrives at the Sensuijima pier, so you can plan on the return service leaving roughly 5 minutes later
• Before you cross: The island can only be reached by boat. Once you land, check the times of the return services first so that you do not miss the final turnaround in the 20:00 hour
• Access (to Tomonoura): About 30 minutes by Tomotetsu bus from the south exit of JR Fukuyama Station, getting off at Tomonoura. By car it is about 45 minutes from either the Fukuyama-Nishi IC or the Fukuyama-Higashi IC. The ferry pier is in the centre of Tomonoura
• Enquiries (ferry operations): Ferry Management Office, tel. 084-982-2115
• Walking paths on the island: Two hiking routes are maintained. They follow the natural terrain, so wear comfortable walking shoes rather than sandals
• Pushchairs and wheelchairs: Beyond the pier the paths are entirely natural, and there is no information on barrier-free access. There are also steps when boarding and leaving the ferry, so contact the Ferry Management Office in advance if you need assistance
• Food and shopping: There are only limited places to eat and few vending machines on the island. It is safest to buy drinks and snacks on the Tomonoura side before boarding
• In wet weather: The ferry may be cancelled depending on the weather. In rough weather the footing along the coastal path becomes slippery, so there is no need to force a crossing on a rainy day. On the Tomonoura side there are covered attractions such as the Joyato lantern and the Iroha Maru Exhibition Hall
• Time required: If you walk around the island as far as the Goshiki-iwa rocks and back, allow 2-3 hours on the island. Combined with a walk around Tomonoura, it makes a half-day to full-day outing
• Avoiding the crowds: The ferry is busy during consecutive holidays and the summer holidays. The early morning services are the ones to aim for

📚 Sources

The information in this article is organized from tourism details for the city of Fukuyama, Tomonoura, and Sensuijima, along with public guidance from the operators of the ferry and island facilities. Ferry schedules and island highlights can be checked through each operator's official information. Fees, hours, and access may change, so please always confirm with official sources before you set out.

The origin of the island's name (the legend of the hermit and Rai Sanyo's phrase "sanshi-suimei"), the 1934 designation as part of the Setonaikai National Park, the fact that the Goshiki-iwa rocks continue for more than 200 metres, the two hiking routes, and the address, contact details, access and return fares come from the Sensuijima introduction page published by Fukuyama City. The fact that the Sensuijima coastal walking path was completely closed after typhoon damage in 2021 and that the closure was lifted on February 12, 2026, and that the section between Koura and Tanoura remains closed, were also confirmed in the notices on that page. The ferry timetable, the details of the fares, the crossing time and the contact details of the Ferry Management Office come from the user guide of the Fukuyama municipal ferry and the timetable published by the city. The closure of the Sensuijima People's Lodge at the end of March 2021 and the date the "Fukuyama-Sensuijima Regeneration Master Plan" was drawn up were confirmed in the city's information on the use of the former lodge site. The condition of the walking paths and the ferry service are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.