Onomichi (尾道市, Onomichi-shi) is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
As of 31 January 2023, the city had an estimated population of 129,314 in 64055 households and a population density of 450 persons per km². The total area of the city is 285.11 square kilometres (110.08 sq mi).
Onomichi is best known for two walks. The Path of Literature (文学のこみち Bungaku no komichi) is the shorter of the two, winding its way downhill from Senkōji Park back to the city. It features 24 stones, carved with memorable quotes from Japanese authors linked to Onomichi; alas, they're all in Japanese, but it's a pleasant stroll through woods, temples, and shrines just the same.
At the bottom of the hill, the path merges with the well-signposted Old Temple Loop (古寺めぐり Koji-meguri), which connects 25 of Onomichi's better-known temples in a 2km east-west walk. The western end is a short distance from the train station, beginning with the stone gate of Jikoji (持光寺); to start at the eastern end, take the bus to Jodoji-shita and head to Kairyuji (海龍寺).
There is a handful of onsen in the vicinity of Onomichi, and there is also at least one sentō (public bath) in a downtown hotel. | address= | lat=34.4101093 | l133.1790740 | directifrom Onomichi station, JA bus for the hospital (, onomichi sōgōbyōin), Tottsu honsha () stop, ¥510 one way ; going by foot (2km) may be possible | ph | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price=adult ¥800, children ¥400, free under 3 ; towel rental ¥150 | lastedit=2017-12-29 | cIf the residential neighborhood is uninspiring, once inside it will not matter. Offers several types of baths (different temperatures and types of water, an outdoor bath) and a sauna. Men/women separated. You can also eat there. }}
The local specialty is Onomichi ramen, a variation of the ubiquitous noodle soup that would look suspiciously like the ordinary soy-flavored kind if not for the hint of fish paste in the stock and the gobs of melted lard floating on top. The cylindrical restaurant at the top of the Senkō-ji ropeway will happily serve you a bowl, as will nearly any restaurant in the station/harbor area.
Onomichi is not long on nightlife. Several of the ramen shops serve beer as well. If you'd just like a drink, do as the locals do — grab something from a convenience store and claim a bench by the harbor.
Unless you have a keen interest in Pure Land Buddhism or Japanese literature or you want to be ready to early in the morning for the Shimanami Kaidō bike-way, it's probably not worth your while to spend the night in Onomichi. Most people opt to day-trip from Hiroshima or Okayama.
A convenient bus shuttles through the town, with a terminal outside JR Onomichi Station.
Though under the radar of most foreign tourists, Onomichi has dozens of ancient temples and monuments, which are connected by two enjoyable walks, and the start of an exceptional bike trail to Shikoku. It has been the home of a number of Japan's more famous authors, such as Shiga Naoya, Takahashi Gen'ichirō, and Hayashi Fumiko. Better preserved than most towns of its kind, Onomichi has also been the setting for a number of movies and TV dramas, including Yasujiro Ozu's 1953 classic Tokyo Story, and a 2005 anime series, Kamichu!
