Introduction

A short ferry ride from Tomonoura's harbor, Sensuijima and the tiny neighboring islet of Bentenjima offer a genuinely different landscape from the historic town itself. We reviewed a recent travel vlog covering a visit and checked the details behind both.

Sensuijima

Sensuijima is part of Setonaikai National Park — Japan's first designated national park, established in 1934 — and remains largely undeveloped aside from a small number of visitor lodgings, keeping most of the island in a genuinely natural state. Its coastal promenade is the main draw for walkers: a trail running along the shoreline that passes distinctive rock formations, including sections showing rock layers in as many as five different colors, a genuine geological feature rather than an exaggeration. The trail has experienced real disruption from storm damage over the years — the source vlog described a specific 2021 typhoon closure with a February reopening, which is consistent with the kind of coastal-trail typhoon damage documented in the area, though we weren't able to independently confirm those exact dates, so treat the trail's current open/closed status as worth checking directly before you plan around it.

Bentenjima

Between Tomonoura and Sensuijima sits Bentenjima, a tiny, uninhabited sacred islet dedicated to Benzaiten — specifically, in its local form as Hakuja Benten, the white snake goddess associated with water, music, and art. Its vermilion-painted Benten Hall is a designated important cultural property of Hiroshima Prefecture, and a red torii gate marks the shrine's entrance on the island's dramatic, craggy rock. Visitors cannot land on the island — it's viewed from passing ferries between Tomonoura and Sensuijima, and also visible from Fukuzenji Temple's Taichōrō guest hall on the mainland.

Practical Tips

• Ferry schedules between Tomonoura and Sensuijima run at set intervals rather than continuously — check timing before you head to the pier so you're not waiting longer than expected.

• The coastal promenade is a real walking commitment with genuine geological interest along the way — worth it specifically if you enjoy that kind of slow, observational walk rather than a quick photo-stop itinerary.

• Since Bentenjima can't be visited directly, plan your best photo opportunity around either the ferry crossing itself or a stop at Fukuzenji's Taichōrō, which offers a clear, elevated view of the islet.

Sources and Verification Notes

Setonaikai National Park's 1934 founding, Sensuijima's largely undeveloped status, and Bentenjima's dedication to Hakuja Benten with its Benten Hall's cultural-property status were checked against national park and prefectural tourism references. The specific 2021 typhoon/February reopening timeline for the coastal promenade came from the source vlog and could not be independently confirmed to the same standard as the rest of this guide — check current trail status directly before visiting.