{"id":71958,"date":"2020-10-07T08:46:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T23:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=71958"},"modified":"2024-11-25T22:18:59","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T13:18:59","slug":"onomichi-setouchi-hiroshima","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/onomichi-setouchi-hiroshima\/","title":{"rendered":"Stopover in Setouchi: An Afternoon Stroll Through Onomichi"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From popular tourist spots to small picturesque villages, travelling by bike or by ferry to the Seto Inland Sea<\/strong> (\u702c\u6238\u5185\u6d77) area is a great place to stay in any season. Most itineraries of the Setouchi region<\/strong> (\u702c\u6238\u5185\u5730\u65b9, Setouchi Chih\u014d<\/em>) would include Hiroshima<\/a>, Miyajima<\/a> and Naoshima<\/a>, but less well-known spots are also worth a visit. Among these gems, the port town of Onomichi<\/strong> (\u5c3e\u9053\u5e02) is a perfect stopover for half a day to stroll through its alleyways where time seems to have stood still. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Onomichi, the Historical Port Town of Hiroshima Prefecture<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before it became the peaceful coastal town we know today, Onomichi<\/strong> established itself as the business hub of Hiroshima in the 12th<\/sup> Century. During the Edo era and the period of national isolation, the port of Onomichi vibrated with the rhythm of trading boats<\/strong> calling in on the way between Osaka and Hokkaido. The coastal scenery was also featured in the video game, Yakuza 6<\/a><\/em>, complete with fishermen on piers, the neighbourhood streets and the main Senko-ji Temple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
View over the port from the hills of Onomichi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now better known for its quaint streets and dozens of temples spared from the bombings of World War II, Onomichi is a must-see destination during your trip to Japan, especially for cycling enthusiasts<\/strong>. Onomichi is where the Shimanami Kaido <\/a><\/strong>(\u3057\u307e\u306a\u307f\u6d77\u9053, Shimanami Kaid\u014d<\/em>) begins, a 70 km cycle course connecting the main island of the Japanese archipelago<\/strong>, Honshu, to its neighbor, Shikoku (\u56db\u56fd). On this cycling course, you can travel across the Seto Inland Sea<\/strong> and view the unspoiled natural landscapes through numerous small islands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Port Area<\/strong> and Shopping Waterfront<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Not being a seasoned cyclist, I arrived in Onomichi by boat<\/strong>. My visit started in the port area surrounded by impressive moored ships. The place seemed very industrial at first glance and a world away from the postcard-perfect alleyways. But I soon found out it is worth spending some time here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Onomichi Port<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A promenade along the waterfront leads to a completely renovated former warehouse<\/a>: U2 Onomichi. <\/strong>The renovated building includes a hotel, bar, restaurant, coffee shop, and bakery, as well as some souvenir and cycling equipment shops. It is a substantial commercial complex with contemporary and refined decoration and is an ideal place to have a rest before or after visiting the town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n