オススメ度
外国語対応
About Onomichi
Onomichi is a calm port town with a long history and beautiful landscape located in the eastern part of Hiroshima.
Onomichi is popular among Japanese people for its appearance in many Japanese movies and literary works.
Onomichi is also known as a “town of hills,” for the many hills it has; it is also famous for its temples, cats, and ramen noodles.
Most of the temples, shrines, and tourist attractions in Onomichi are free—a generous town indeed!
Do eat and drink, shop in town to give back a little.
Brief History
Onomichi has a long history, as evidenced by the construction of Jodo-ji (temple) in 616, but for a while it was a small port town that was undistinguished.
However, Onomichi became an important port in the latter half of the 12th century; from then on it developed and prospered through the autonomy of its merchants, becoming the largest commercial city in the Hiroshima area until modern times.
After 1980, the shipbuilding industry—which had been the main industry in this area—began declining, along with the town. But, in recent years, Onomichi has achieved a certain level of recovery as a tourist city.
Nearby Excursions
Onomichi is relatively close to Tomonoura, Saijo, and Takehara, which are only about an hour away, so it is best to visit them together.
Recommendation
Enjoy the view of the Seto Inland Sea, the islands, and the town of Onomichi from the hill.
While strolling around, take a rest at a stylish café in a converted old private house.
As for food, you should try the nationally famous Onomichi Ramen .
If you are a cat lover, you should visit the Neko no Hosomichi or “Cat’s Narrow Path” that stretches about 200 meters from the front of Ushitora Shrine to Tenneiji Kaiunto Pagoda.
Access to Onomichi
From Hiroshima Station
- Take the JR or Sanyo Shinkansen, get off at Shin-Onomichi Station .
From the Onomichi Bus platform 1, take routes 3, 4, or 5, and alight at the Onomichi Eki-mae stop .
Approx travel time: 55 min
- Take the JR Sanyo Shinkansen, transfer to the JR Sanyo Main Line at Fukuyama Station, and alight at Onomichi Station.
Approx travel time: 75 min
From Hiroshima Airport
- Take the Limousine Bus bound for Mihara Eki-mae , get off at Mihara Eki-mae, transfer to the JR Sanyo Main Line and get off at Onomichi Station.
Approx travel time: 70 min
Note that there is only one limousine bus every 90 min. - Take Geiyo Bus , get off at Shiraichi Station , transfer to JR Sanyo Main Line, and get off at Onomichi Station.
Approx travel time: 70 min
Sightseeing
Walking around is the best way to see the sights.
With JR Onomichi Station as the starting point, the main sightseeing spots are located within a 20 min walking distance on the east side of the station, especially on the mountain side around Senkō-ji (temple).
It would be the best use of your time to take the ropeway up to the top of the mountain, then walk down the slope, stopping at temples, paths, cafes, etc., before returning to Onomichi Station.
Temples & Shrines
Senkō-ji (temple)
Senkoji Temple, founded in 806, is a Shingon sect of Buddhism and a symbol of Onomichi. The founder was the most famous monk in Japan, Kōbō Daishi (saint) or Kūkai (monk). Midway up the mountain on a cliff top, the vermilion-lacquered main hall constructed using the overhang method, or butaizukuri, and the same vermilion-lacquered dragon […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 15-1 Higashitsuchidōchō, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | - Walk from JR Onomichi Stati[…] |
| Tel | 0848-23-2310 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Tenneiji (temple)
This is a temple of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism founded in 1367 by Ashikaga Yoshinori (1330-1367), the second shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. It is also popular for its weeping cherry blossoms and peonies. On the temple grounds is Kaiuntō, a famous 25-meter-high three-storied pagoda with a magnificent view of Onomichi, the Seto […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 17-29 Higashitsuchidocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | Take the Chugoku Bus or Onomi[…] |
| Tel | 0848-22-2078 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Parks
Senkōji Park
Senkōji Park stretches from the top of 144-meter-high Senkōji Mountain to the mid-slope. From the observatory in the park, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the city of Onomichi, the Seto Inland Sea, and the islands, with the evening view being particularly spectacular. On a clear day, the mountains of Shikoku can be seen in […]
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| Address | 19-1 Nishitsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | Take the Chugoku Bus or Onomi[…] |
| Tel | |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Cats
Onomichi is also famous for its cats.
Onomichi is said to be a cat-friendly place because “residents take good care of their cats,” “many slopes and narrow alleys are safe from cars,” and “it is easy to get fish because it is a fishing port.
If you are a cat lover, you should visit the “Cat’s Narrow Path.”
Cat’s Narrow Path—neko no hosomichi
Onomichi is also famous for its cats. Onomichi is said to be a cat-friendly place because “residents take good care of their cats,” “many slopes and narrow alleys are safe from cars,” and “it is easy to get fish because it is a fishing port. If you are a cat lover, you should visit the […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 19-26 Higashitsuchidocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | Take the Chugoku Bus or Onomi[…] |
| Tel | 0848-25-2201 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Shopping
Onomichi has no major commercial facilities, but there are several shopping streets with a pleasant atmosphere.
Onomichi Hon-dori Shopping Street
This arcade shopping street stretches about 1.5 km east of JR Onomichi Station and has a retro feel. Most of the approximately 300 stores are nothing special, but there are more than a few cool general stores, hip cafes, and stores where you can buy and eat Onomichi’s original souvenirs and food.
[ See details ]
| Address | Higashi Goshocho and Tsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | 1 min walk from JR Onomichi S[…] |
| Tel | 0848-23-5001 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Kaigan Street
Kaigan-dori is a seaside street running parallel to the south side of Onomichi Hon-dori shopping street. Stylish restaurants, cafes, and stores line the street.
[ See details ]
Eat
Ramen
Onomichi Ramen is now very famous, but its origin can be traced back to 1928 when Zhang, a native of Fujian Province, China, started selling shina soba at a food stall.
Later, Shuka-en, founded in 1947 by Taiwanese-born Shu A Shun, became a very popular restaurant, and Onomichi Ramen quickly became popular.
Onomichi ramen is characterized by a clear soy sauce-based soup made mainly from chicken bones, small fish and seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, with a lot of minced back fat of pork floating in the soup.
The noodles are basically medium-thin and straight, but Shuka-en uses chewy thin and wide noodles.
Toppings are orthodox, such as green onions, chashu pork, and pickled bamboo shoots. Below is a list of the best Onomichi Ramen restaurants.
Shu 朱
Shukaen, which was the most famous and popular ramen restaurant in Onomichi established in 1947, closed in 2019 after the founder passed away, and the wife of the founder opened Shu to carry on the flavor. The Chinese noodle dish, “chuka soba” at Shu is a wonderful combination of a light soy sauce soup with […]
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| Address | 6-16 Toyohimotomachi, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | - 20 min walk from Onomichi S[…] |
| Tel | 0848-38-1020 |
| URL |
TsutaFuji
TsutaFuji is a small and cozy restaurant with only 11 seats at the counter, but it is popular with a continuous line of customers on holidays. Their chuka-soba soup is made from pork bones and seafood, and is especially rich in flavor from small dried sardines. Toppings include plenty of pork back fat, chashu pork, […]
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| Address | 2-10-17 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | 15 min walk from JR Onomichi […] |
| Tel | 0848-22-5578 |
| URL |
Cafe
Onomichi has many wonderful cafes—renovated from old traditional homes—with a great view and atmosphere.
Hanu-tei
Renovated from an old traditional building is this Japanese style café. Inside, a 150-year-old tea house still remains. Partake in delicious sweets, tea, or coffee in the elegant garden with beautiful seasonal flowers and plants such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, or enjoy them in the tatami room. From the window seats in the […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 11-30 Higashitsuchidocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima |
|---|---|
| Access | 10 min walk from JR Onomichi […] |
| Tel | 0848-23-2105 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
