A Storehouse Facing the Harbour of Tomo
The Irohamaru Exhibition Hall (いろは丸展示館) is a two-storey storehouse of the late Edo period facing the landing place of Tomo, in Tomo-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, which in 1997 was registered as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs records a two-storey timber building with a tiled roof and a building area of 211 square metres; it was registered for its contribution to the historic landscape.
The Agency calls it a prominent storehouse on the harbour that conveys the former prosperity of Tomo.
Structure
According to the Agency, it presents its gable end to the landing place. The centre and sides of the gable are faced in namako tiles set in raised plaster, with clapboard at the base and small canopies over the windows, giving a well-composed front.
What to Look For
Fukuyama's tourism guide explains that in 1867 the Iroha-maru, a ship of the Kaientai trading company led by Sakamoto Ryoma, sank off Tomo. The hall shows film of underwater surveys and artefacts such as parts of the ship raised from the sea.
View the namako-walled gable from the harbour side.
Visiting the Irohamaru Exhibition Hall
The building is open as an exhibition hall. Check opening hours and admission with Fukuyama City or the hall.
Q&A
- When was the storehouse built?
- In the late Edo period.
- What does it look like?
- A gable front with namako walls, clapboard at the base and small window canopies.
- What was the Iroha-maru?
- A ship of Sakamoto Ryoma's Kaientai that sank off Tomo in 1867, according to Fukuyama City.
- What can be seen inside?
- Film of underwater surveys and parts raised from the wreck.
- Where is it?
- Facing the landing place of Tomo, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
Basic Information
| Name | Irohamaru Exhibition Hall (いろは丸展示館) |
|---|---|
| Location | 843-1 and 843-6 Tomo, Tomo-cho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
| Designation | Registered Tangible Cultural Property (building) |
| Year Designated | Registered 1997/9/3 (Heisei 9) |
| Quantity | 1 building |
| Dimensions | Two-storey timber, tiled roof, building area 211 square metres |
| Owner | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Open as an exhibition hall |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Irohamaru Exhibition Hall (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/101/00000312
- Cultural Heritage Online: Irohamaru Exhibition Hall (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/165622
- Fukuyama Tourism Information: Iroha Maru Museum
- https://fukuyamajo.jp/commentary/en10/
Last verified: 2026.09.28