Iō-ji

Hiroshima Region


Up a steep hill on the western side of Tomo-no-ura, Iō-ji was reputedly founded by Kōbō Daishi in the 900s. A path leads from the temple to the top of a bluff, from where there are fabulous views.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Hiroshima Region attractions

1. Ōta Residence

0.23 MILES

On the corner of a lane leading back from the harbour area, this former Ōta residence is a fine collection of restored buildings from the mid-18th century…

2. Jōyatō

0.23 MILES

Looking over the harbour area of Tomo-no-ura is this large stone lantern, which used to serve as a lighthouse and has become a symbol of the town.

4. Fukuzenji

0.37 MILES

Close to the waterfront, this temple dates back to the 10th century. Adjoining the temple is Taichōrō, a reception hall built in the 1690s. This is where…

5. Taichōrō

0.38 MILES

Adjoining the temple Fukuzenji, near the waterfront in Tomo-no-ura, this reception hall was built in the 1690s.

6. Sensui-jima

1.12 MILES

The island of Sensui-jima is just five minutes across the water from Tomo-no-ura town, though vastly different for its rugged natural beauty, as there are…

7. Kairyū-ji

7.98 MILES

This temple associated with Buddhist saint Kōbō Daishi includes a path of small shrines pointing you towards a giant hilltop boulder.

8. Maneki-neko Museum

10.25 MILES

This quirky homemade museum houses hundreds of the ornamental beckoning cats that wave you into shop entrances all over Japan, dating from the Meiji era …

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "japan/western-honshu/tomo-no-ura/attractions/io-ji/a/poi-sig/1232018/356836",
      "destination": "Hiroshima-Region",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Japan",
      "region": "Hiroshima-Region",
      "position": "superzone"
    }