Hiroshima Road Trip: 2-Day 1-Night Itinerary Overview
For a 2-day, 1-night Hiroshima road trip, we recommend combining the hillside lanes of Onomichi, the island scenery of the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, and the port town of Tomonoura.
Linking these three areas clustered in eastern Hiroshima Prefecture lets you enjoy the charm of the Seto Inland Sea comfortably, both by car and on foot.
An Itinerary from Onomichi to the Islands, Ending at Tomonoura
On Day 1, after walking through central Onomichi, you drive along the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido to Mukaishima, Innoshima, and Ikuchijima.
On Day 2, it is natural to set off from Ikuchijima or the Onomichi area, return to the Honshu side, visit Tomonoura, and return your rental car around Fukuyama.
Onomichi Station or Fukuyama Station Make Convenient Rental Car Bases
If you are touring only eastern Hiroshima Prefecture, picking up a rental car near Onomichi Station or Fukuyama Station makes it easier to keep driving to a minimum than making a round trip from central Hiroshima City.
Onomichi Station and Fukuyama Station are linked by the JR San'yō Main Line, and the San'yō Shinkansen also stops at Fukuyama Station, so it is an easy base to reach even if you are coming from far away.
Plan Your Hiroshima Road Trip by Time of Day
Organizing the flow of the trip makes it easier to switch between driving and strolling around town.
| Order | Area | Main Way to Spend Time |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 morning | Central Onomichi | Slopes and temples |
| Day 1 midday | Onomichi Hondori | Lunch and shopping |
| Day 1 afternoon | Shimanami Kaido | Bridges and island views |
| Day 1 evening | Ikuchijima | Seaside and overnight stay |
| Day 2 morning | Back to Honshu | Take a break |
| Day 2 afternoon | Tomonoura | Port town stroll |
Day 1 Morning: Walking Onomichi's Slopes and Port Town
In Onomichi, rather than driving into the narrow hillside lanes, it is reassuring to use a parking lot as your starting point and explore this town of steep ups and downs on foot.
The sea, the railway, temples and shrines, and old rows of houses overlap within a small area, and the scenery changes with every step.
Views of the Onomichi Channel and Mukaishima from Senkoji Park
Heading first to Senkoji Park (Senkō-ji Park), you can take in central Onomichi, the Onomichi Channel, and Mukaishima on the opposite shore all at once.
Senkō-ji, adjacent to the park, sits partway up Mount Daihozan at an elevation of about 140 m, and its visiting hours are from 9:00 to 17:00.
From the Senkoji Park parking lot it is about a 10-minute walk to the area around the main hall, so it is easier to leave your car and continue on foot.
After enjoying the view, following the temples, shrines, and alleys down toward the town center helps you reduce the amount of uphill walking.
Stroll Slowly Down Neko no Hosomichi and the Temple Alleys
Around Neko no Hosomichi (the Path of Cats), small alleys and slopes continue, letting you feel Onomichi's everyday scenery and art up close.
The alleys are not just for tourists but are also places residents use in daily life, so please avoid blocking doorways or entering private property.
Lunch and a Break with Onomichi Ramen on Onomichi Hondori Shopping Street
After coming down the slopes, having lunch around Onomichi Hondori shopping street or Kaigan-dori makes it easier to switch into the drive that follows.
There are choices such as Onomichi ramen, seafood dishes, sweets, and cafes, but since opening days differ from shop to shop, check the official information if there is a particular place you want to visit.
Day 1 Afternoon: Driving the Shimanami Kaido to Ikuchijima
The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido is a road of about 60 km linking Onomichi and Imabari with islands and bridges, and even the Hiroshima side alone offers views of the sea and the bridges.
In this model course, rather than driving all the way to Shikoku, you tour Mukaishima, Innoshima, and Ikuchijima and stay overnight, leaving room to stop off at the islands along the way.
On Mukaishima, Drive the Local Roads Without Rushing
Because the road width changes once you leave the tourist route, give priority to the road signs and easy-to-drive roads over the shortcut your navigation suggests.
The Shimanami Kaido is also known as a cycling road, and many travelers ride it by bicycle, so do not rush to overtake and keep a sufficient distance as you go.
Feel the Scale of the Bridge at Innoshima Bridge Memorial Park and Ohamasaki Lighthouse
On Innoshima, choosing the area around Innoshima Bridge Memorial Park or Ohamasaki Lighthouse (Ōhamasaki Lighthouse) lets you park the car and gaze at the bridge and the strait.
Ohamasaki Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse first lit in 1894, standing in a spot that overlooks the Mekari-seto strait between Innoshima and Mukaishima.
If you walk to the area around the lighthouse, check your footing and the weather, and do not force your way toward the shore in strong wind or rain.
Walk Ikuchijima's Shiomachi Shopping Street and the Kosanji and Hirayama Ikuo Museum
On Ikuchijima, we recommend parking your car in the Setoda district and walking around Shiomachi shopping street and the nearby temples, museums, and harbor.
Kosanji Museum (Kōsan-ji) is open from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 30 minutes before closing), admission is 1,800 yen for adults, and it is open all year round.
The adjacent Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art is also open from 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30), where you can view works by the Japanese-style painter who was born on Ikuchijima.
The Hirayama Ikuo Museum is in principle open every day, but some exhibition rooms may close temporarily for exhibit changes, so check the opening information for the day of your visit.
Spend the Evening at Setoda Sunset Beach and Stay Overnight on Ikuchijima
In the evening, choosing a seaside spot with clear parking, such as around Setoda Sunset Beach, lets you enjoy the scenery at ease.
The sun setting into the Seto Inland Sea is one of Ikuchijima's highlights, and looking up the sunset time in advance makes it easier to plan your time by the sea.
Adjusting the priority of your stops to match your travel interests makes for a comfortable itinerary.
| What You Value | Possible Stops | How to Enjoy It |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge scenery | Around Innoshima Bridge | Gaze up from below |
| Port town walking | Setoda district | Stroll the shopping street |
| Cultural appreciation | Temples and museums | Explore the interiors |
| Seaside break | Around the sandy beach | Wait for the evening view |
Day 2 Morning: Traveling from Ikuchijima to Tomonoura
On Day 2, rather than adding sightseeing facilities from the morning, enjoying the island's quiet scenery before returning to the Honshu side gives you more time for an afternoon stroll in Tomonoura.
Check the expressway traffic conditions, the weather, and parking information around Tomonoura before you set off.
Take a Short Morning Walk Near Your Lodging
If you stayed on Ikuchijima, a short walk around the harbor or shopping street lets you savor the morning light and the island's everyday scenery, different from the day before.
If you stayed in central Onomichi, you can change the plan to stroll along Kaigan-dori before heading to Tomonoura.
Check the Shimanami Kaido Tolls and Traffic Information, Then Return to Honshu
The vehicle sections of the Shimanami Kaido have tolls, and from Nishiseto-Onomichi IC to Imabari IC it is 2,950 yen on weekdays and 2,310 yen on holidays for a standard car with ETC.
Tolls differ depending on the section used and the payment method, and there are days when the holiday discount does not apply.
Because driving conditions can change due to construction, strong wind, accidents, or events, base your decision on the traffic information just before departure.
Day 2 Afternoon: Walking Tomonoura's Joyato and Townscape
Tomonoura is a port town with a history of thriving on ships that waited for the tides, where harbor facilities and old townscapes remain within a small area.
Rather than driving deep into the town, switching to walking from a nearby parking lot makes it easier to avoid passing oncoming cars on the narrow streets.
After Parking, Walk in a Single File and Don't Block the Local Roads
The center of Tomonoura has narrow alleys, and cars, residents, and tourists share the same roads.
When walking in a group, do not spread out sideways, and when a car approaches, form a single file in a safe spot so as not to obstruct traffic.
Understand Tomonoura Port's Function Through the Joyato and Gangi
The port's joyato (jōyatō), a stone lantern, was a light that supported ships coming and going, and the gangi are stone steps built so that people could easily board and disembark even as the tide level changed.
Rather than just looking at their shapes, observing their positional relationship with the sea surface and the direction of the town leading to the port makes it easier to understand that Tomonoura was a town of maritime shipping.
If entry is restricted in front of the joyato, please follow the on-site signs.
View Bentenjima and Sensuijima from Fukuzenji Taichoro
Taichoro (Taichō-rō), adjacent to Fukuzen-ji, is known as a place from which you can look out from the tatami room toward Bentenjima and Sensuijima.
It is a view that Yi Bang-eon, an envoy of the Joseon missions, praised as "Nitto Daiichi Keisho" (the most beautiful scenic spot in Japan), and admission is 300 yen for adults, 150 yen for junior and senior high school students, and 100 yen for elementary school children.
Visiting hours are from 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays and from 8:00 to 17:00 on weekends and holidays.
At the temple, keep your voice down and check on-site signs for whether photography is allowed indoors and for the permitted areas.
If the opening times do not fit your schedule, you can change the plan to take a longer stroll along the harbor and enjoy the connection between the town and the sea from the outside.
Choose Homeishu or Sea Bream Dishes While Taking In Old Merchant Houses and Alleys
Around the joyato, old merchant houses and alleys remain, and there are shops where you can experience Tomonoura's culture, such as homeishu (hōmeishu) and dishes made with sea bream.
Homeishu is a medicinal herb liquor handed down in Tomonoura since the Edo period; it is a liqueur of about 14% alcohol made by steeping medicinal herbs in a sweet base brewed from glutinous rice, rice malt, and shochu.
Because restaurants and facilities open to visitors differ in their closing days and reception methods, check the business information for the day of your visit if you are aiming for a specific shop or building.
Since you still have driving to do on the way back, only purchase homeishu, which contains alcohol, and drivers should not drink it.
Driving and Parking Tips for Travelers to Japan
While this course has fine scenery, it also has a series of places where you will want to concentrate on driving, such as Onomichi's slopes, the islands' local roads, and Tomonoura's alleys.
Check Japan's Left-Hand Traffic and Road Signs Before You Leave
In Japan, cars drive on the left, and you need to be careful not to mistake the direction of entry when pulling out onto a road from an intersection or a parking lot.
Do not operate your smartphone while driving, and set up your navigation only after you have stopped.
Park and Walk in the Centers of Tourist Areas
In Onomichi and Tomonoura, using an officially designated parking lot and walking can be easier to navigate than driving right up to the entrance of your destination.
When a lot is full, do not wait on the road; move to another parking lot, and do not park at the entrances of homes or shops.
Because parking fees, hours of use, and vehicle height and length limits differ from lot to lot, check the signs at the entrance.
Know What to Do and What to Avoid for Safe Driving
If you get lost while driving, do not make decisions while moving; check your map at a spot where you can stop safely.
| Situation | What to Do | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Narrow roads | Slow down | Rushing a shortcut |
| Taking photos | Shoot after parking | Stopping on the road |
| Overtaking cyclists | Keep your distance | Forcing your way past |
| Getting lost | Head to a safe area | Operating the screen |
| Port town strolling | Walk in single file | Spreading across the road |
How to Build Your Hiroshima Road Trip by Season
Even on the same route, how easy it is to walk and how the sea looks change with the sunlight, heat, wind, and rain.
In Summer, Do Onomichi Walks Early and Add More Breaks
Because slopes and stone steps use up your energy easily in summer, place your Onomichi walking sightseeing in the morning, and take breaks in air-conditioned shops or in the car during the day.
Since there may be few places to block the sunlight by the sea, prepare a hat, drinks, and sun protection.
Increase Walking Distance in Spring and Autumn, and Avoid the Wind in Winter
While it is easy to make town walks in Onomichi and Tomonoura longer in spring and autumn, on days when tourists gather, act early with the crowded parking lots in mind.
Because parking lots tend to fill up on days when tourists gather, a plan to arrive early in the morning works well.
Because you tend to catch the wind along the coast in winter, it works well to prepare a windproof jacket and plan not to stay by the sea too long into the evening.
Let's check the seasonal adjustments in a table.
| Season | How to Build It | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Make town walks longer | Check for crowds |
| Summer | Focus on morning walks | Heat measures |
| Autumn | Focus on island scenery | Check the sunset |
| Winter | Include indoor spots too | Windproof jacket |
Summary: Touring Onomichi, the Shimanami Kaido, and Tomonoura Comfortably
On a 2-day, 1-night Hiroshima road trip, dividing your time into walking Onomichi, enjoying the bridges and islands on the Shimanami Kaido, and touching the history of the port town in Tomonoura makes you less likely to be rushed by travel.
A flow of heading from Onomichi to Ikuchijima and staying on the island on Day 1, then returning to the Honshu side and walking Tomonoura on Day 2, is an arrangement that makes it easy to balance scenery and town walking.
Before you leave, check road conditions, tolls, parking, and facility opening information on official websites, and on narrow roads, slow down and enjoy the trip while respecting the life of the local community.
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