Senkoji Ropeway Guide 2026: Onomichi's Best Views

If there's one place you absolutely cannot miss in Onomichi,

it's definitely Senkoji Temple.

Perched high on a hill, it is famous for offering

a breathtaking, panoramic view of downtown Onomichi and the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.

Plus, the charming "Cat Alley" (Cat Slope), where adorable neighborhood cats lounge around,

is another must-visit highlight in Onomichi.

Today,

I'm going to share my experience and put together a handy guide for you! 🌟

To get from Onomichi Station to the Senkoji Ropeway Base Station,

you can easily walk (it takes about 15 minutes),

but I chose to take the bus. (Bus fare: 150 JPY (~$1))

Just hop on a bus at Platform 1 right in front of Onomichi Station,

and you'll arrive in just 5 minutes.

It's only about a 2-stop ride from Onomichi Station.

You just need to get off at Nagae-guchi.

As soon as you step off the bus, you'll spot a green sign.

Just head in that direction to find the ropeway ticket office.

Ropeway Base Station

9:00 AM – 5:15 PM

I decided to take the ropeway going up,

and walk back down to enjoy the scenery.

If you choose to walk up, they say it takes about 20 minutes.

Onomichi Senkoji Ropeway Fares
Category	One-way	Round-trip
Adults (Ages 13+)	500 JPY (~$3)	700 JPY (~$4.50)
Children (Ages 6–12)	250 JPY (~$1.60)	350 JPY (~$2.20)
Under 6	1 child free per guardian	1 child free per guardian

They accept cash, credit cards, and IC cards.

After purchasing your ticket, head to the right of the ticket booth.

I read some reviews saying there were no restrooms at the top,

so I made a quick stop beforehand. But guess what? There are actually restrooms

right after you take the ropeway up, so don't worry too much!

Take the elevator to head up to the ropeway boarding platform.

The ropeway runs every 15 minutes.

The lush, vibrant green trees passing by on the way up

were absolutely gorgeous :)

Once you step off the ropeway, you'll see the stairs leading up to the observatory.

There's an elevator as well as stairs,

so if you want to skip the steps, just take the elevator!

And here is the stunning view of the Seto Inland Sea from the top!

It was so beautiful that I just stood there soaking it all in for a long time.

While enjoying the view from the observatory,

I spotted an elderly lady painting the landscape.

The sight of her painting against such a gorgeous backdrop was so heartwarming,

that I asked for her permission and took a quick photo. 📸

Something this pretty deserves to be seen on video too!

I captured it in glorious 4K 😄

Just like any great travel spot, there’s a lovely souvenir shop here.

They sell light drinks and ice cream,

as well as plenty of Onomichi-exclusive items like magnets.

I actually bought a magnet at another shop the day before,

but honestly, the ones here were so much cuter...

After browsing the shop, I decided to walk back down.

If you head toward Senkoji Temple, you'll find the path leading down.

Since it's mostly a dirt path,

sneakers are definitely a better choice than heels or slides!

After walking down for about 5 minutes,

I was greeted by the beautiful sea views and glass wind chimes at Senkoji Temple.

Since I was at a temple, I had to try drawing an Omikuji (fortune slip).

A regular Omikuji was 100 yen,

while the cat Omikuji was 200 yen.

I went with the cat one because it was adorable,

and I got "Great Blessing" (Daiki)! Yay! 🎉

I saw some pet health amulets and couldn't resist buying them.

One for my own fur baby, and one as a gift.

I think they were about ~$6 each.

They also had these academic success amulets

that looked exactly like tiny Japanese randoseru backpacks.

If you walk down a bit further after visiting Senkoji Temple,

you'll find a public restroom and this lovely cafe!

Since it opens at 11:00 AM, I waited around for a bit.

It shows up as a guesthouse on Google Maps,

but they actually run a cafe and guesthouse together in the same building.

After catching my breath at the cafe, I met some cats on my way down.

I remember seeing a YouTuber say they didn’t spot a single cat here,

but for me, they were popping up

on almost every corner!

If you're a cat lover, make sure to bring some cat treats (like Churu).

You'll instantly become the most popular person on the street 😄

As you keep winding your way down,

you'll come across this famous photo spot!

Since it's quite popular, there were a few people waiting to take pictures,

but the crowd was nothing compared to Tokyo Tower.

Though, that retro yellow train barely ever passed by...

Once I made it all the way down, I headed straight to

a famous crepe spot I’d planned to visit for brunch.

But even though it wasn't their scheduled day off, they were closed.

Just a heads up, sudden closures are quite common in Onomichi!

If you're planning your Onomichi itinerary,

I highly recommend keeping the Senkoji Observatory

on your absolute must-visit list!

The views are gorgeous, you get to meet adorable cats,

and you can truly soak in the slow, peaceful vibes of a small Japanese town.

Since it only takes a half-day trip from Hiroshima,

it's perfect for those planning a Hiroshima trip.

Or, you could even spend a cozy night in Onomichi like I did!