Ponyo
Hayao Miyazaki's film (2008) about the little fish who wants to be human and young Sōsuke. Miyazaki spent two months living in Tomonoura, a historic Seto Inland Sea port, and the town — with its stone lantern, temples and bay — permeates the film's entire landscape, though the studio never declared it the official setting.
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Jōyatō — Tomonoura Harbour LanternSōsuke's harbour
The great stone lantern of 1859, Tomonoura's symbol, presides over the harbour that inspired Miyazaki during his stay: Sōsuke's little coastal world of boats, jetties and tides.
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Fukuzen-ji Taichōrō — Inland Sea Lookoutthe Seto view
Fukuzen-ji temple's reception hall, famed since the Edo era for 'the most beautiful view east of Korea', frames the Inland Sea islands that flood the film with blue.
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Tomonoura Old TownPonyo's town
The old quarter's lanes of wooden houses, forge warehouses and slopes tumbling to the sea set the scene for the film's town, where the tide rises to the doorsteps. Miyazaki drew many of his storyboards here.