Onomichi, Hiroshima


Onomichi is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea. The city was founded on April 1, 1898.
As of April 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 141,811 and a population density of 497.8 persons per km². The total area is 284.85 km².
It is well known for being featured in the 1953 film Tokyo Story, as well as in the 1960 film The Naked Island.

History

The city is known for its many temples such as the Buddhist Senkō-ji Temple, 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

Manufacturing

Shipbuilding

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.

In popular culture

The city is featured in the Japanese film Tokyo Story directed by Yasujirō Ozu. 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 heavily features Onomichi as an in-game location, and its fictional mascot, Ono-michio.

Books

Musicians

Onomichi has Sister City relationships with: