Going down a nostalgic slope…
Onomichi city has a wealth of sights to see in a relatively compact area.
As you walk, you’ll find retro-style hilly streets and scenic spots overlooking the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
Try taking the classic walk that slowly descends from the top of Mount Senkoji.
Tips for getting around Onomichi
First, take the ropeway to the top
We recommend taking the Senkoji Mountain Ropeway all the way up to the top of Mount Senkoji, which is about 144 meters above sea level, and then slowly descending the mountain to sightsee in Onomichi.
Stop at a cafe on the slope
There are several cafes along the way, so if you get tired, try stopping by one. Many of them offer sweets and drinks while looking at the spectacular view.
Go down the slope to the seaside area
Enjoy shopping and dining at Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street and Kaigandori.
- StartJR Onomichi Station（JR尾道駅）
⏬️15 min walk
- 1Senkōji-yama Ropeway（千光寺山ロープウェイ）
⏬️3 minutes by ropeway + short walk
- 2Senkoji Temple Summit Viewpoint PEAK（千光寺頂上展望PEAK）
⏬️5 min walk
- 3Onomichi City Museum of Art（尾道市立美術館）
⏬️5 min walk
- 4Path of Literature（文学のこみち）
⏬️10 min walk
- 5Senkōji Temple（千光寺）
⏬️8 min walk
- 6Tenneiji Temple’s Kaiun Pagoda（天寧寺海雲塔）
⏬️8 min walk
- 7Cat Alley（猫の細道）
⏬️3 min walk
- 8Ushitora Shrine（艮神社）
⏬️15 min walk
- GoalJR Onomichi Station（JR尾道駅）
1 Senkōji-yama Ropeway（千光寺山ロープウェイ）
A 3-minute walk in the sky
Take the ropeway that connects the base and the peak to Senkoji Park. During the 3-minute aerial walk, a guide will explain the scenery.
One way 500 yen, round trip 700 yen
2 Senkoji Temple Summit Viewpoint PEAK（千光寺頂上展望PEAK）
You’ll be amazed by the grand panorama overlooking Onomichi!
An observation deck in a park that spreads from the peak to the middle of Mt. Senkoji.
It is one of four “Lovers’ Sanctuaries” in Hiroshima Prefecture.
3 Onomichi City Museum of Art（尾道市立美術館）
A stylish museum designed by Tadao Ando（安藤忠雄）
The museum has a collection of art from Japan and abroad, and regularly hosts special exhibitions.
The building, designed by Tadao Ando, features an all-glass lobby and other features that are works of art in themselves.
（Tadao Ando（安藤忠雄）：A Japanese architect who pursues simple and sophisticated designs.）
4 Path of Literature（文学のこみち）
Thinking about the world of literature
A promenade stretching about 1km from the ropeway’s summit station. Along the path, there are 25 literary monuments inscribed with passages from the works of writers and poets with ties to Onomichi.
5 Senkōji Temple（千光寺）
A Shingon Buddhist temple located on the slope of Mount Senkoji.
It is said to have been founded in 806, making it a historic temple.
The beautiful vermilion-painted main hall has a stage-like structure that juts out from the mountain slope, offering a panoramic view of the city of Onomichi.
6 Tenneiji Temple’s Kaiun Pagoda（天寧寺海雲塔）
A picturesque landscape created by the three-story pagoda and the streetscape
It is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It was originally built as a five-story pagoda, but was remodeled into a three-story pagoda.
7 Cat Alley（猫の細道）
An alley representative of Onomichi, the city of cats
Onomichi has many faces, including slopes and a port town, but another face of the city is that of cats.
Many cats live in the narrow alley that stretches for about 200 meters.
8 Ushitora Shrine（艮神社）
A historic shrine with a giant camphor tree
This shrine is said to be the oldest in Onomichi City.
The 900-year-old camphor tree standing in the precincts is a giant tree with a trunk circumference of about 7m, and is designated as a natural monument.
Explore More Fun
・Buddha-making experience at Jikoji Temple（持光寺）
Try making a Buddha!
This temple has a national treasure Buddha statue that is said to bring good luck in longevity.
You can easily try making a Buddha out of clay without making a reservation. 1500 yen (shipping not included).
5 minutes walk from JR Onomichi Station.
・Ponpon Rock (Drum Rock)（ポンポン岩（鼓岩））
Take a break on a giant rock that makes a strange sound
This giant rock is located just a short walk from Senkoji Temple, and when you hit it with the provided rubber hammer, it makes a strange “ponpon” sound. It is also popular as a scenic spot overlooking the city.
7 minutes walk from the summit station of Mt. Senkoji Ropeway.
