If you're heading to Onomichi for the insanely gorgeous ocean views and to explore Senkoji Temple, riding the Senkoji Ropeway is definitely the most fun and effortless way to start! Just buy a ticket at the base station and hop into a car. During the short three-minute ride through the air, the whole landscape suddenly bursts open beneath your feet like you've activated a cheat code! As the Senkoji Ropeway climbs toward the summit, the view quickly rises from shrine torii gates and rows of retro red-tiled houses packed along the hillside to the entire wide Onomichi Channel and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea in the distance. There's also a super-friendly guide in the car who enthusiastically points out the scenery along the way. That wide-open feeling of having the entire port city beneath your feet is truly incredible!
The insider way to do it is to buy a one-way ticket up! Take the ropeway straight to the top with no effort, and as soon as you leave the summit station, you can walk onto the newly built, wave-shaped PEAK observation deck. Feel the sea breeze while looking out over unbeatable 360-degree ocean views and taking tons of photos. Then just follow the slope down to explore Senkoji Temple and Cat Alley, which is full of adorable cats. You won't have to climb uphill until your legs give out, and you can easily experience all the highlights of Onomichi's artsy route in one go!
Mt. Senkoji Ropeway | Review by Jk
Other Reviews by Jk
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Senso-ji Temple
One of Asakusa's leading tourist attractions, Senso-ji Temple welcomes more than 30 million visitors annually. This iconic Tokyo temple hosts many annual events, including New Year's visits and Setsubun. Kaminarimon Gate, a symbol of Asakusa, features a large red lantern flanked by statues of the gods of wind and thunder.
The moment you walk out of the subway station and see that ridiculously huge red lantern at Kaminarimon Gate, you instantly feel like, “I’m really in Tokyo!” Built in the seventh century, Senso-ji Temple is the oldest historic temple in Tokyo and the heart and soul of the city’s old downtown area. Pass through Kaminarimon Gate and enter the bustling Nakamise shopping street, where dozens of old Edo-style shops line both sides. The aromas of freshly baked ningyo-yaki cakes, soy sauce from grilled rice crackers, and sweet matcha desserts all mingle together, and the atmosphere is incredibly lively as you walk around and browse. Continue through Hozomon Gate, with its giant straw sandals, to the main hall. Waft the smoke from the incense burner over your head and body to pray for good health and wisdom, then shake the fortune-telling box nearby and draw an omikuji. Even if you happen to draw bad luck, there’s no need to worry—just tie it to the rack nearby and leave all that bad luck behind at the temple!
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Abeno Harukas
A 300-meter-tall mixed-use skyscraper that opened in 2014. The second basement through 14th floors house the Kintetsu Department Store Main Store Abeno Harukas and Abeno Harukas Dining.
Walk into the super-impressive Harukas 300 Observatory from Tennoji Station and take the incredibly fast dedicated elevator, which even has cool lighting effects on the ceiling. In just a few dozen seconds, before your ears can even adjust, you’re shot straight up to the 60th-floor Sky Corridor, 300 meters above the ground! Standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling glass windows with completely unobstructed 360-degree views, the entire Osaka cityscape instantly shrinks into an adorable LEGO model. You can clearly see Tsutenkaku Tower, Osaka Castle, Kyocera Dome, and, when the weather is especially good, even the distant Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Awaji Island. That floating sensation of having the entire city beneath your feet is seriously breathtaking!
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Senkoji Temple
Located about halfway up Mt. Senkoji, Senkoji Temple has a long history dating back to its founding in 806. The main hall, also known as the “Red Hall,” is painted a vivid vermilion. Its striking color forms a picturesque contrast with the blue sky and sea and the surrounding greenery. The temple sells a variety of amulets for wishes such as road safety, family well-being, success in exams, and good relationships.
As Onomichi’s aerial tram slowly climbs toward the summit, look down at the tightly packed old houses with red-tiled roofs and the incredibly wide Seto Inland Sea channel below, and you’ll instantly feel like this trip was absolutely worth it! Built on a cliff halfway up the mountain, Senkoji Temple is definitely the most popular landmark with the most spectacular views in this super-artsy port city. The bright red suspended stage of Kyoonro sits boldly against the massive rocky mountainside. Looking out from in front of the main hall, the entire Onomichi Channel, the bridge across the sea, and the islands of all sizes floating in the distance spread out right before your eyes. The sea breeze is cool and comfortable, and every random photo looks like an unbeatable postcard view!
What makes Senkoji Temple especially unique is that the entire temple is surrounded by so many strangely shaped natural boulders, making a visit feel like a fun treasure-hunting adventure! There’s the legendary Tama-no-Iwa rock, whose top was once said to actually glow, as well as the thrilling Chain Mountain ascetic experience, where you have to climb using both your hands and feet while holding on to thick iron chains. After visiting the temple, definitely don’t take the tram back down. Be sure to slowly walk down through the retro Cat Alley and the narrow stone-step lanes beside it. Along the way, plenty of lazy stray cats randomly appear while sunbathing and asking to be petted, and there are also lots of artsy cafés and distinctive little variety shops hidden around. The whole place is so chill that you won’t want to leave at all! -
