Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Chūgoku Region, Japan

🇯🇵 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 density of 450 persons per km². The total area of the city is 285.11 square km (110.08 sq mi).

Geography Onomichi is located in south-eastern Hiroshima Prefecture. It faces the Seto Inland Sea to the south, and the coastline is intricate and forms part of the Setonaikai National Park. The main urban concentration is in a narrow band on the coast, where there is very little flat land. Because of its unique scenery, it is often used as a filming location for movies.

Adjoining municipalities Hiroshima Prefecture • Fukuyama • Mihara • Fuchū • Sera.

History 1168: The city's port opened and for the next 500 years served as a rice shipment centre and port for all trades with foreign countries. Its commercial significance somewhat wavered during the Tokugawa period. • 1898: Onomichi Town in Mitsugi District becomes the second city in Hiroshima Prefecture on April 1. • 1935: The RMS Adriatic was scrapped in Onomichi. • 1937: The town of Kurihara and the village of Yoshiwa, both in Mitsugi District incorporated. • 1939: The village of Sanba from Numakuma District incorporated. • 1951: The village of Fukada from Mitsugi District incorporated. • 1954: Three villages from Mitsugi District incorporated. • 1955: Three villages from Numakuma District incorporated. • 1957: The village of Urasaki from Numakuma District incorporated. • 1970: The town of Mukaihigashi from Mitsugi District incorporated. • March 28, 2005: The towns of Mitsugi and Mukaishima (both from Mitsugi District) were merged into Onomichi. • January 10, 2006: The towns of Innoshima and Setoda (both from Toyota District) were merged into Onomichi.

Government Onomichi has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 26 members.Onomichi contributes three members to the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Hiroshima 5th district and Hiroshima 6th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Crime and safety The Kyodo-kai yakuza syndicate is based in Onomichi. The Kyodo-kai is the second largest yakuza group in the Chugoku region after the Hiroshima-based Kyosei-kai.

Economy Onomichi has prospered as a port town and a commercial city. Before World War II, it had an economy comparable to that of Hiroshima City. Shipyards have existed in Onomichi, Mukaishima, and Innoshima for a long time due to their location, which is blessed with water transport. In recent years, the shipbuilding industry has been in decline due to the decline of the industry.

Shipbuilding • Naikai Shipbuilding • Mukaishima Dock • Onomichi Dockyard • Universal Shipbuilding Onomichi dock • Hitachi Zosen Corporation Onomichi dock • JFE Shoji Trade Shipbuilding • Tsuneishi Shipbuilding

Metalworking • Press Kogyo • Union Plate Onomichi plant

Chemistry • Nitto Denko Onomichi plant • Yokohama Rubber Company Onomichi plant

Agriculture • Mikan, Grape, Juncus effusus, Scallion

Fishery • Kamaboko, Stockfish, Tsukudani

Media • Onomichi FM • Onomichi Cable Television

Bookselling • Keibunsha

Education • Onomichi City University.

Onomichi has 24 public elementary schools and 16 public junior high schools and one public high school operated by the city government, and six public high schools operated by the Hiroshima prefectural Board of Education. There are also one private middle school and one private high school. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the disabled.

Transport: Rail JR West – San'yō Shinkansen • Shin-Onomichi; JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line • Onomichi - Higashi-Onomichi.

Transport: Road • San'yō Expressway • Onomichi Expressway • Nishiseto Expressway (also known as the "Shimanami Kaidō") • National Route 2 • National Route 184 • National Route 317 • National Route 486.

Local attractions The city is known for its many temples such as the Buddhist Senkō-ji Temple (founded in the 9th century), has a shipbuilding yard and a motor factory. It offers a steamship service to ports of northern Shikoku and islands in the Inland Sea.

Temples • Senkō-ji – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No. 10 • Kōmyō-ji • Tennei-ji • Jōdo-ji – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No. 9 • Saigō-ji • Saikoku-ji – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage • Kongō-ji • Kōsan-ji in Setoda, Hiroshima • Kōjō-ji in Setoda – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No.11 • Jikō-ji • Kaifuku-ji • Jōsen-ji • Syōjyu-in • Jikan-ji • Myōsen-ji • Taisan-ji.

Shrines • Misode-tenman-gū • Ushitora Shrine – the oldest shrine in Onomichi • Kubohachiman Shrine.

Castles • Innoshima Suigun Castle • Onomichi Castle • Fukuyama Domain Bansho site.

Parks and gardens • Senkoji Park on Mt. Senkoji – connected by Senkōji Ropeway from Onomichi Station • Senkoji Park Green Land (1965–2007) • Bingo Regional Sports Park ◦ Onomichi Shimanami Baseball Stadium – NPB game held twice a year as Hiroshima Carp home game. • Mukaishima Orchid Center • Innoshima Flower Center • Citrus Park Setoda • Innoshima Ohashi Memorial Park • Mt. Takami National Park • Tachibana Nature Village • The Island's Blooms – The Pyrethrum • Hyakka Park • Souraiken Garden • Mitsugi Greenland • Marine Youth Center • Mitsugi Softball Ballpark • Chojabara Sports Center • Mukaishima Sports Park • Innoshima Sports Park • Innoshima Amenity Pool • Kaibutsu-en Ato (The remains of Kaibutsu-en) – The garden of the House of Tomishima (Tenmaya).

Culture: Museums • Onomichi City Museum of Art • Ikuo Hirayama Museum of Art – by named after Ikuo Hirayama • Musee Nakata • Onomichi Literature Museum • Entsuba Katsuzo Sculpture Museum • Honinbo Shusaku Igo Memorial Museum – by named after Honinbo Shusaku • Museum of Setoda History and Folklore • Onomichi Historical Museum • Innoshima History Museum • Island-Wide Art Museum • Onomichi Motion Picture Museum.

Beaches • Shimanami Beach • Ohamasaki Camp Site • Setoda Sunset Beach • Setoda B & G Marine Center • Tachibana Beach • Iwashijima Beach on Iwashijima Island.

Hot springs • Natural Spa Onomichi Fureai no Sato • Mitsugi Yu Yu-Kan • Harada-cho Yujin Hot spring • Yoro onsen.

Others • Literature Path • Nishiseto Expressway – "Shimanami Expressway" connects Onomichi and Imabari, Ehime • Innoshima Suigun Skyline • Kaneyoshi Bus Stop • Statue of Fumiko Hayashi • Onomichi City Library • Tsureshio Stone Monuments • Shimanami Koryu-kan – "Teatro Shell-rune" • Bel Canto Hall • Crossroad Mitsugi.

Festivals • Onomichi Minato Matsuri – the Port Festival – April • Onomichi Sumiyoshi Hanabi Matsuri – Fireworks – the last Sunday of July • Innoshima Suigun Matsuri – at Suigun Castle – August • Onomichi Betcha Matsuri – November 1–3.