Top Things to do in Onomichi! A Full Guide of Everything from Must-See and Hidden Spots to Food, Shopping and more!

Senkoji Temple is a longstanding, historic temple constructed in 806 on the mountainside of Mt. Senkoji. The main hall, also known as “Akado” (lit. “red hall”) is nicknamed for its vibrant vermillion walls. Many people enjoy its scenic appearance as it stands in gorgeous contrast against a backdrop of blue sky, ocean, and verdant green forests. This temple is worshipped for traveling mercies, family well-being, high test scores, love and more. For an extra thrill, you can even try climbing to the former spiritual training ground atop Mt. Ishizuchi and feel like you’re on a pilgrimage of your own.

The “Setouchi Shimanami Kaido” is a 60km road that connects Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture. It connects 6 different islands across the Seto Inland Sea by bridges, offering a beautiful way to enjoy the each island and bridges as they span the azure sea. The expressway even includes a dedicated cycling road, which has earned it the nickname of a cycling “mecca”.

Setoda Sunset Beach is an 800-meter long beach recognized as one of the best Japanese 88 Swimming Beaches. Home to beautiful white sands and plenty of space for watersports, this beach waterfront is true to its name, offering up beautiful views of the sun as it sets over the Seto Inland Sea. This beach sits at the center of the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road, making it a perfect place to stop for a view of the coast and a bite at the café restaurant.

Cat Alley, or Neko no Hosomichi, is the 200-meter narrow road that stretches from Ushitora Shrine in Nagae, an area of Onomichi City (Hiroshima). The road was started in 1998 when artist Shunji Sonoyama painted the “fukuishineko” lucky stone cats found along the road. Since then, it has been nicked named “Cat Alley”, an attraction loved by many visitors to Onomichi. Nearby you can also find a hidden shop made from a renovated home, museums, and plenty of places to visit over a stroll.

Innoshima Park is the large park located atop the 207m-tall Mt. Tenguyama in Innoshima. Here you can find seasonal blooms planted along the hiking trail year round, including cherry blossoms, autumn leaves and azaleas. At the summit you’ll find a lookout point with views over the islands that dot the Seto Inland Sea, seeing out as far as the distant mountains of Shikoku. The sunset from this lookout point has been selected as one of the 8 Views of Innoshima.

Tonchinkan is a popular, “Onomichi Ramen” specialty ramen shop in Onomichi that has been covered by TV, magazines and other media. It’s known for a rich soup based, made with Onomichi spring waters, pork and chicken bones, kombu and more. You know you’ve got an authentic bowl when it’s made with plenty of pork fatback.

Ichibankan, an Onomichi Ramen specialty shop set in front of Hiroshima Sumiyoshi Shrine along Onomichi Kaigan-dori. It got its start when its mail-order goods became especially popular. Their most famous menu item, Kakuni Ramen, is a volume-packed bowl with large pieces of braised kakuni pork.

Karasawa is a long-standing, charming little shop that sells handmade ice cream in Onomichi. The signature item, Ice Monaka (a wafer ice cream sandwich), is always made to order by sandwiching ice cream between the Monaka wafers. The thin crispy wafer is fragrant, and the delicate sweetness of the ice cream made from plenty of rich eggs is simply divine. We recommend grabbing a seat by an open bench and watching the Onomichi sea while you eat.

ONOMICHI U2 is a seaside multiplex on the west side of JR Onomichi Station. It’s known especially for providing a full range of services for cyclists that are traveling along the Shimanami Kaido. Inside is one spot called “The RESTAURANT”, which serves Italian cuisine prepared used fresh ingredients from Setouchi. You can sit and enjoy casual wines collected from around the world and original cocktails.

"Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street" runs 1.6km in parallel between the sea and mountain, dotted with sightseeing spots in Onomichi City. The shopping streets have about 400 unique shops along the entire district. Well known for its retro atmosphere, you can also see popular spots like "Anago no Nedoko ('Conger eel's bed room')" a guesthouse renovated from an old folkhouse, as well as the Onomichi Commercial Chamber Memorial Hall, designated as a cultural property of Onomichi City. There are so many spots to check along this long corridor that’s also a popular place for filming.

Onomichi Emonya is a shop that, at over 500 different varieties holds the largest collection of Onomichi souvenirs. “Emon” means “good quality products” in the local Onomichi Dialect, and there’s no doubt that there are plenty of good quality souvenirs to browse through. As an added charm and vibe, the storefront sits in a renovated merchant house from the Meiji Era.

Anago-no-Nedoko was created out of a renovated Japanese house along the Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street. It includes dormitory-style rooms at wallet-friendly prices. There’s also a shared kitchen and communal lounge called “Anago Salon” that feel like home away from home. For breakfast, we recommend grabbing a bit at the “Akubi Café”(lit. “Café Yawn”) next door.

This is a hotel inside ONOMICHI U2 that offers a full array of services for cyclists traveling across the Shimanami Kaido. To start, you can ride up to the front counter to check in and take your bike inside with you to your guest room. In the shared space there’s even a repair space where you can do a quick tune up or maintenance.

Onomichi Black Tea from the veteran tea and teawares shop, Imagawatamakozono. Here you can find imported Ceylon teas from Sri Lanka, straight teas sold by region, and special black tea blends made with a local flair that’s reminiscent of Onomichi. You can also find tea favorites like Earl Grey or Cherryblossom flavor teas to try. The tea packaging features a cartoon cat design that is especially cute.

This original tenugui towel features a design that’s made to “truly express the culture and way of life of those who live here”. It’s made with the authentic chusen dyeing technique, which imparts different individual patterns and individual charms to each tenugui. The cute design of this towel can serve as a perfect memento from your trip every time you see it.

Onomichi Betcha Festival is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Onomichi. It occurs every year on November 1st, 2nd and 3rd. For three days, 3 figures wearing oni-masks will lead a parade of portable mikoshi shrines through the city. The festival is said to have got its start when many prayed for protection against a sickness that was spreading in Onomichi. The performances are truly remarkable, and the Betcha Taiko is another sight worth coming to see.

This is a regular, historic festival at Hiroshima’s Sumiyoshi Shrine, beloved by the locals here since the mid-Edo Period. Over 13,000 fireworks are lit over boats floating across the Onomichi Channel, lighting up the sky above. During the day the portable mikoshi shrines are paraded through the city shopping streets, and many festival stalls open up, drawing plenty of crowds.

Onomichi Lantern Festival gives Onomichi a mystic, magical air as 34,000 lanterns are placed in spots all across Onomichi, including on the JR Onomichi Station front lawn and paths leading up to temples. At the same time, the temples will open up their treasure halls, and live concert events are held. This is one way to see Onomichi like never before, lit up beautifully in the dark of night.