Last Updated:Nov 29, 2023

Hiroshima’s Onomichi

More than Just the Shimanami Kaido

If you’re an avid fan of traveling to Japan (which is now thankfully again possible as of Oct 11, 2022), you’ve probably heard of the amazing Shimanami Kaido. Running from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture all the way to Imabari in Ehime, this cycling route has become extremely popular in recent years both in Japan and overseas. That said, there’s a lot more to Onomichi than just the start of the Shimanami Kaido. Alas, many foreign visitors who intend to cycle their way to Ehime completely miss out on Onomichi’s charms.

In the following sections, we’ll dive into the handful of worthy allures that are located in the seaside town Onomichi. For the most part, I’ll be leaving the Shimanami Kaido out of this article. As great as it is, a full account of what to expect when cycling across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea would require its own article. As such, I suggest that the cyclist out there do some digging in Google for more details. Just be sure not to miss out on what Onomichi has to offer before embarking on the journey to Imabari.

Now, historically speaking, Onomichi was an important port city on the Seto Inland Sea for much of Japanese history. The records we have show that the quaint town first popped up in the year 1168…