Senkoji Temple and Park
千光寺・千光寺公園34°25′ N 133°12′ EPark
Senkoji suits anyone with a spare hour in Onomichi who wants the view over the channel to Mukaishima, and the trade-off is a steep climb on stone steps unless you take the ropeway.
Photo そらみみ · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Access
A gentle curved ramp and a lift reach the upper level of the PEAK deck.
Senkoji is a temple said to date from 806, set high on Senkoji-yama above the old port. The park around it covers the hilltop, which is one of Japan's 100 best places for cherry blossom. Along the Path of Literature, poems by Onomichi writers are carved into the rocks.
The Mt Senkoji Ropeway climbs from the town in three minutes, passing over the old camphor trees of Ushitora Shrine. A single costs ¥500 and a return ¥700, with children under 12 at half price. At the top the PEAK observation deck opens around the clock for free, and its plain design keeps it from crowding the temple.
Walking up through the lanes is the other way, and it joins the temple walk and Cat Alley on the way. The steps are steep and uneven in places, so take it slowly and save the ropeway for the way down if your legs are tired from the ride.
Worth knowing
- On cherry-blossom weekends the city restricts traffic round the park; in 2026 it did so from 10:00 to 17:00 on 28 and 29 March and on 4 and 5 April.
- The Senkoji Park car park raised its fees on 1 December 2024.
- Senkoji is the third stop on the Onomichi Shichibutsu Meguri pilgrimage of seven temples.
Quick answers about Senkoji Temple and Parkよくある質問
How much is the Senkoji Ropeway in Onomichi?
The Mt Senkoji Ropeway costs ¥500 one way and ¥700 return for anyone 12 or older, and half that for children. It runs every 15 minutes from 9:00 to 17:15 every day.
What are the opening hours of Senkoji Temple and Park?
Senkoji Temple and Park keeps these hours: Mon–Sun 00:00–24:00.
When is the best time to visit Senkoji Temple and Park?
Senkoji Temple and Park: Late March and early April, when the park's cherry trees flower.
Can you get to Senkoji Temple and Park by bike?
The lanes up Senkoji-yama are steep stone steps, so lock the bike in town by the ropeway station and walk or ride the ropeway.
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