Onomichi-shi is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
, the city had an estimated population of 129,314 in 64055 households and a population density of 450 people per km².
Geography
Onomichi is located in southeastern 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
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Fuchū
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Fukuyama
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Mihara
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Sera
Climate
Onomichi has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification
Cfa) characterized by cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. The average annual temperature in Onomichi is . The average annual rainfall is with July as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around , and lowest in January, at around .
[ The highest temperature ever recorded in Onomichi was on August 15, 2024; the coldest temperature ever recorded was on 26 February 1981.][
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Demographics
Per Japanese census data, the population of Onomichi in 2020 is 131,170 people.[ Onomichi has been conducting censuses since 1960.
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History
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1168: The city's port opened and for the next 500 years served as a rice shipment center and port for all trades with foreign countries. Its commercial significance somewhat wavered during the Edo period.
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1898: Onomichi Town in Mitsugi District becomes the second city in Hiroshima Prefecture on April 1.
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1935: The RMS Adriatic was scrapped in Onomichi.
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1937: The town of Kurihara and the village of Yoshiwa, both in Mitsugi District incorporated.
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1939: The village of Sanba from Numakuma District incorporated.
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1951: The village of Fukada from Mitsugi District incorporated.
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1954: Three villages from Mitsugi District incorporated.
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1955: Three villages from Numakuma District incorporated.
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1957: The village of Urasaki from Numakuma District incorporated.
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1970: The town of Mukaihigashi from Mitsugi District incorporated.
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March 28, 2005: The towns of Mitsugi and Mukaishima (both from Mitsugi District) were merged into Onomichi.
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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, Onomichi is part of the Hiroshima 5th district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.
Crime and safety
The Kyodo-kai yakuza syndicate is based in Onomichi.[ "2010 Police White Paper Chapter 2 : Furtherance of Organized Crime Countermeasures", 2010, National Police Agency ] The Kyodo-kai is the second largest yakuza group in the Chugoku region after the Hiroshima-based Kyosei-kai.[ "The Second Kyodo-kai", 20 February 2008, Matsue Joho Center ]
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.
Manufacturing
Shipbuilding
Source:
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Hitachi Zosen Corporation Onomichi dock
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JFE Shoji Trade Shipbuilding
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Mukaishima Dock
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Naikai Shipbuilding
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Onomichi Dockyard
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Tsuneishi Shipbuilding
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Universal Shipbuilding Onomichi dock
Metalworking
Chemistry
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Nitto Denko Onomichi plant
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Yokohama Rubber Company Onomichi plant
Agriculture
Fishery
Media
Bookselling
Education
Onomichi features 24 public elementary schools, 16 public junior high schools, and one public high school operated by the City Government. Additionally, six public high schools fall under the administration of the Hiroshima Prefectural Board of Education. The city also hosts one private middle school and one private high school, contributing to a diverse educational landscape. Moreover, the prefecture operates two special education schools for individuals with disabilities. It is also the location of Onomichi City University, a municipal university.
Transportation
Railway
JR West – San'yō Shinkansen
JR West (JR West) - San'yō Main Line
Highways
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San'yō Expressway
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Onomichi Expressway
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Nishiseto Expressway (also known as the "Shimanami Kaidō")
Sister city relations
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Chiayi, Taiwan
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Imabari, Ehime, Japan
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Higashiizumo, Shimane, Japan
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Honfleur, France
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Jung District, Busan, Korea
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Taichung, Taiwan
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.[Hoffart, Jackie, " Nice to nestle at Japan's hometown", The Japan Times, 3 October 2008, p. 24.]
Temples
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Senkō-ji – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No. 10
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Kōmyō-ji
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Tennei-ji
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Jōdo-ji – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No. 9
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Saigō-ji
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Saikoku-ji – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage
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Kongō-ji
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Kōsan-ji in Setoda, Hiroshima
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Kōjō-ji in Setoda – Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage No.11
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Jikō-ji
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Kaifuku-ji
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Jōsen-ji
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Syōjyu-in
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Jikan-ji
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Myōsen-ji
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Taisan-ji
Shrines
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Misode-tenman-gū
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Ushitora Shrine – the oldest shrine in Onomichi
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Kubohachiman Shrine
Castles
Parks and gardens
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Senkoji Park on Mt. Senkoji – connected by Senkōji Ropeway from Onomichi Station
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Senkoji Park Green Land (1965–2007)
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Bingo Regional Sports Park
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Onomichi Shimanami Baseball Stadium – NPB game held twice a year as Hiroshima Carp home game.
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Mukaishima Orchid Center
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Innoshima Flower Center
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Citrus Park Setoda
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Innoshima Ohashi Memorial Park
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Mt. Takami National Park
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Tachibana Nature Village
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The Island's Blooms – The Pyrethrum
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Hyakka Park
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Souraiken Garden
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Mitsugi Greenland
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Marine Youth Center
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Mitsugi Softball Ballpark
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Chojabara Sports Center
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Mukaishima Sports Park
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Innoshima Sports Park
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Innoshima Amenity Pool
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Kaibutsu-en Ato (The remains of Kaibutsu-en) – The garden of the House of Tomishima (Tenmaya)
Museums
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Onomichi City Museum of Art
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Ikuo Hirayama Museum of Art – by named after Ikuo Hirayama
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Musee Nakata
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Onomichi Literature Museum
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Entsuba Katsuzo Sculpture Museum
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Honinbo Shusaku Igo Memorial Museum – by named after Honinbo Shusaku
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Museum of Setoda History and Folklore
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Onomichi Historical Museum
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Innoshima History Museum
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Island-Wide Art Museum
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Onomichi Motion Picture Museum
Beaches
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Shimanami Beach
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Ohamasaki Camp Site
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Setoda Sunset Beach
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Setoda B & G Marine Center
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Tachibana Beach
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Iwashijima Beach on Iwashijima Island
Hot springs
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Harada-cho Yujin Hot spring
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Mitsugi Yu Yu-Kan
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Natural Spa Onomichi Fureai no Sato
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Yoro onsen
Others
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Literature Path
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Nishiseto Expressway – "Shimanami Expressway" connects Onomichi and Imabari, Ehime
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Innoshima Suigun Skyline
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Kaneyoshi Bus Stop
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Statue of Fumiko Hayashi
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Onomichi City Library
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Tsureshio Stone Monuments
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Shimanami Koryu-kan – "Teatro Shell-rune"
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Bel Canto Hall
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Crossroad Mitsugi
Festivals
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Onomichi Minato Matsuri – the Port Festival – April
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Onomichi Sumiyoshi Hanabi Matsuri – Fireworks – the last Sunday of July
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Innoshima Suigun Matsuri – at Suigun Castle – August
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Onomichi Betcha Matsuri – November 1–3
In popular culture
The city is featured in the Japanese film Tokyo Story (1953) directed by Yasujirō Ozu, and became more famous during 80s and 90s decade thanks to Nobuhiko Obayashi movies, such as Exchange Students (1982), The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983), Lonely Heart (1985) or (1995), that were very popular between 80s teen generation. It is the setting for the fantasy 2005 anime series Kamichu! which faithfully depicts many of the city's features and landmarks. Events of the Blue Drop series also happen in this city. It is also the setting of the romantic manga Pastel by Toshihiko Kobayashi. The video game features a fictional district of Onomichi named Jingaicho based on the downtown area of the city as the main location in the story.
Books
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A Dark Night's Passing (1921) by Naoya Shiga
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Diary of a Vagabond (1930) by Fumiko Hayashi
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The Accordion and the Fish Town (1931) by Fumiko Hayashi
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Akumyō (1961) by Tōkō Kon
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Four Seasons in Japan (2023) by Nick Bradley
Films
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Tokyo Story by Yasujirō Ozu (1953)
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Films by Kaneto Shindō
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Kanashimi wa onna dakeni (1958)
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The Naked Island (1960)
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Akumyō series by Tokuzo Tanaka, Kazuo Mori, Kimiyoshi Yasuda, Masahiro Makino, Yasuzo Masumura, Seiji Izumi (1961–2001)
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Nikui an-chikushô by Koreyoshi Kurahara (1962)
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Boy by Nagisa Oshima (1969)
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Films by Nobuhiko Obayashi
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Exchange Students (1982)
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The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (1983)
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Lonely Heart (1985)
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Chizuko's Younger Sister (1991)
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(1995)
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One Summer's Day (1999)
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His Motorbike, Her Island (1986)
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Bound for the Fields, the Mountains, and the Seacoast (1986)
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The Stupid Teacher (1998)
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Yamato by Junya Sato (2005)
Drama
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Teppan (2010)
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A Girl & Three Sweethearts (2016)
Manga
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Hikaru no Go (1998–2003)
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Parallel (2000–2002)
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Pastel (2002–2017)
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Shimanami Tasogare by Yuhki Kamatani (2015–2018)
Anime
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Kamichu! (2005–2007)
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Blue Drop (2007)
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Pon no Michi (2024)
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(2025)
Video games
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(2016)
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Between the Sky and Sea (2017–2019)
Notable people from Onomichi
Politicians
Musicians
Go players
TV
Sports
Authors/artists
Voice Actor
External links
