Onomichi

Onomichi rises in tiers above the Seto Inland Sea, a port town of stone steps, alley shrines, and temple courtyards layered up the slopes of Mt. Senkō and Mt. Daihō. Senkō-ji, founded in 806 in the first year of the Daidō era, sits high enough that the Seto Inland Sea reads as a map of islands; reach it via a ropeway from Nagaeguchi and the Path of Literature past stone-carved poems. Below, Neko no Hosomichi (Cat Alley) is a 200-meter lane near Ushitora Shrine where artist Shunji Sonoyama painted 108 fukuishi-neko good-luck stones starting in 1998. Onomichi ramen is its own register — clear soy-sauce broth over Seto seafood and chicken stock, finished with crumbles of seabura (cured pork back-fat). The Shimanami Kaidō opens out from here — 70 kilometers across six islands to Imabari on Shikoku, dedicated cycling and pedestrian lanes alongside the expressway since May 1999. Reach via JR Sanyō Line from Hiroshima Station (~1h 30m to Onomichi) or San'yō Shinkansen to Shin-Onomichi.

Top-rated in Onomichi

Onomichi Temple Walk

4.4

landmark

Hillside walk connecting 25 ancient temples with a cat-filled art alley and sea views.

Senkoji Park

4.2

park

To get the best possible view of the area, you should head to the summit of Mount Senkoji, the home of Senkoji Temple.

Jodoji Temple

4.2

temple

Buddhist temple in rural Hyogo with a striking Kamakura-period Amida hall of rare architectural merit.

Innoshima

4.2

nature

Island castle originating as rough-weather shelter for sailors, replaced by grander modern reconstruction.

Kosanji Temple

4.1

temple

Dazzling, colorful temple complex with a marble hill.

Shimanami Kaido

4.1

nature

Stunning 70km cycling route connecting Honshu to Shikoku across six islands via spectacular bridges over the Seto.

Onomichi Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi Extension)

3.9

cafe

Hidden cat-themed cafes and art spaces tucked into the hillside alleys above Onomichi's famous Cat Alley.

Shimanami Kaido Cycling Terminal

3.7

landmark

Starting point of the 70km island-hopping cycling route across six Seto Inland Sea bridges.

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