Onomichi is a hillside port town in Hiroshima Prefecture where steep temple-lined paths descend to a narrow channel separating the town from Mukaishima Island. Known as a city of hills, temples, and cats, Onomichi's Senkoji-yama Ropeway offers sweeping views over the Seto Inland Sea, while the 25-temple mountain path winds past centuries-old stone carvings. The town is also the eastern gateway for the Shimanami Kaido cycling route — one of the world's finest cycling experiences crossing six islands to Imabari on Shikoku.
Onomichi Highlights & Attractions
🚴 Shimanami Kaido Cycling Route
¥1,200/day (bike rental)One of the world's top cycling routes, the Shimanami Kaido crosses six Seto Inland Sea islands via suspension bridges between Onomichi and Imabari on Shikoku. The 70-kilometre route has dedicated cycling lanes on all bridges and can be completed as a full day, two-day, or partial ride. Bicycle rental at Onomichi Station starts from ¥1,200 per day.
⛩️ Temple Walk (Tenchi Yaku 25 Fudosho)
Free (most temples)A 3-kilometre path links 25 Buddhist temples through the hillside above Onomichi. Stone-carved steps, Jizo statues, ancient bell towers, and views over the narrow Onomichi Channel to Mukaishima Island make the walk one of western Japan's finest short hikes. Resident cats lounge on the warm stone throughout the course.
🚡 Senkoji Ropeway & Park
¥320 (one-way)The ropeway ascends from central Onomichi to Senkoji Park in 3 minutes, offering views across the Seto Inland Sea and dozens of small islands. The park contains Senkoji Temple, a rock garden, cherry trees (spectacular in late March to early April), and walking trails descending the hill toward the coast. The ropeway runs from 9:00 to 17:15.
🍜 Onomichi Ramen
¥850–¥1,200Onomichi's signature ramen features a rich soy-based broth with a distinctive floating layer of pork back fat, flat noodles, and toppings including green onion and char siu pork. The fat layer melts into the broth when stirred, creating a uniquely rich flavour profile. Ichibankan and Shukaen on the main Hondori shopping street are among the most recommended shops.
⛴️ Onomichi Channel Ferry
¥110Small passenger ferries cross the narrow Onomichi Channel between the town and Mukaishima Island every few minutes from the pier near the station (¥110 one-way, 3 minutes). The channel crossing is an essential Onomichi experience — the view back toward the hillside temples from the ferry is one of the defining townscape images of western Japan.
🐱 Cat Street & Hondori Shopping
FreeOnomichi is famous in Japan for the large number of cats that inhabit its hillside alleys. The narrow lanes near the ropeway base are particularly cat-populated. The Hondori covered shopping arcade below the temple hill contains vintage shops, craft galleries, coffee roasters, and small restaurants — a cluster of creative businesses drawn by the town's affordable rents and photogenic streets.
Stay in Onomichi or Hiroshima
Onomichi has a small but growing selection of boutique guesthouses and converted machiya accommodations ideal for cyclists. Hiroshima city (70 minutes by train) offers a wider hotel selection and a convenient base for visiting both Onomichi and Miyajima.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Onomichi from Hiroshima or Osaka?
From Hiroshima Station, take the JR San'yo Main Line to Onomichi Station (about 70 minutes on the local train or 80 to 90 minutes on the rapid Setouchi Marine View, ¥1,520). The Setouchi Marine View is a scenic tourist train that runs on weekends. By shinkansen from Hiroshima, take it to Fukuyama Station then transfer to the local San'yo Main Line to Onomichi (15 minutes from Fukuyama). From Osaka (Shin-Osaka), take the shinkansen to Fukuyama then the local train; total time is around 90 minutes, ¥7,000 to ¥9,000. From Tokyo, the shinkansen to Fukuyama takes about 3 hours 30 minutes then transfer to Onomichi. Highway bus services from Osaka (approximately 4 hours, ¥2,000 to ¥3,500) and Hiroshima (70 minutes) are also available.
What is the Shimanami Kaido cycling route?
The Shimanami Kaido (Nishiseto Expressway) is a 70-kilometre cycling and pedestrian route connecting Onomichi (Honshu) to Imabari (Shikoku) via six islands — Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima — connected by some of Japan's longest suspension bridges. The dedicated cycling lanes on the bridges are separate from vehicle traffic and safe for all levels. The full 70-kilometre route is cycled in one day by experienced cyclists (5 to 7 hours riding time) or comfortably split into two days with an overnight on Ikuchijima or Omishima. Bicycle rental is available at Onomichi Station (from ¥1,200 per day for a basic bicycle or ¥2,000 to ¥3,000 for e-bikes). Return bikes at any designated drop point; one-way rentals are allowed for an additional fee.
What is the Onomichi Temple Walk?
Onomichi's 25-temple mountain path (Tenchi Yaku 25 Fudosho) is a 3-kilometre hiking course through 25 Buddhist temples on the hillside above the town. The path passes stone steps, weathered Jizo statues, moss-covered stone lanterns, and viewpoints over the Seto Inland Sea channel. Highlights include Senkoji Park (accessible also by ropeway), Senkoji Temple itself with its rock garden, and the Tenneiji and Fukuzenji temples. The full walk takes 2 to 3 hours and does not require admission fees at most temples. Cats — Onomichi is famous for its many resident cats — are often found resting on the warm stone steps throughout the course. The ropeway from the town centre to Senkoji Park costs ¥320 one-way and allows you to start at the top and walk downhill.
What local food is Onomichi known for?
Onomichi is most famous for Onomichi ramen — a distinctive style with a rich shoyu (soy) broth floating a thick layer of pork back fat, served with flat noodles. The fat melts into the broth when stirred and adds a characteristic richness unlike any other Japanese ramen style. Several ramen shops line the main shopping street (Hondori) with queues common at lunch. The town is also known for fresh Seto Inland Sea fish, particularly fresh shirashu (whitebait) in spring, bream (tai) sashimi, and octopus. Onomichi denim has also become a notable product — a cluster of local craftspeople produce premium hand-finished denim goods from locally grown cotton.