Onomichi Station Guide: Gateway to the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Route

Onomichi Station: What You Need to Know

Onoichi Station (尾道駅) is the starting point for the Shimanami Kaido (しまなみ海道) and the gateway to one of Japan's most photogenic hillside port towns. The station sits on the JR Sanyo Main Line directly at the waterfront — step outside and you are looking at the Seto Inland Sea with the islands of the cycling route visible in the distance.

The station was renovated in 2019 and has a clean, modern layout with tourist services geared toward cyclists and day-trippers. This is not the Shinkansen station — that is Shin-Onomichi, 3 kilometers inland. If you arrive by bullet train, you need a bus or taxi to get here. For broader Hiroshima transit options, see our Hiroshima station guide.

Getting to Onomichi Station

From Hiroshima by JR Sanyo Main Line

The direct route from Hiroshima Station to Onomichi Station is the JR Sanyo Main Line. According to the JR West station page, the journey takes approximately 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 40 minutes depending on whether you catch a rapid or local service, and costs ¥1,320 (~$8.80). JR Pass holders ride free.

Rapid services are significantly faster and run regularly throughout the day. No reservation is needed — just check the departure board at Hiroshima Station for westbound Sanyo Line trains.

From Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen Station by Bus

If you arrive by Shinkansen, you will be at Shin-Onomichi Station (新尾道駅), which is 3 km north of the town in a suburban area. Buses run to Onomichi Station approximately every 15-30 minutes, taking about 15-20 minutes and costing ¥400 (~$2.70). A taxi takes roughly 10 minutes for ¥1,400-1,800 (~$9-12).

For full details on Shin-Onomichi — including which Shinkansen trains stop there (Kodama only) and how to plan the transfer — see our Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen station guide. If you are also planning to visit Miyajima, see our Miyajima access guide.

Bicycle Rental: Where to Get Your Bike

Giant Store at Onomichi U2

Onoichi U2 (尾道U2) is a cycle-friendly complex housed in a converted warehouse, about a 5-minute walk east from the station along the waterfront. According to the Shimanami Kaido cycling official site, the Giant Store here offers road bikes, cross bikes, and electric-assist bikes for rental.

Bike Type	2-Day Rate	Notes
Cross bike	¥5,500 (~$37)	Comfortable for casual riders
Road bike	¥6,500 (~$43)	Faster, for experienced cyclists
E-bike	¥8,000 (~$53)	Electric assist for hills and longer rides

Prices include one-way return — you can drop the bike off at the partner terminal in Imabari on Shikoku and the company handles the return. Online reservation is recommended, especially on weekends and during peak cycling season (March-November). The store is open 9:00-18:00 with seasonal variations.

Docomo Bike Port: Quick Share Bikes

For shorter rides or a quick trip to the cycling route start point, Docomo share bikes are available near the station at ¥150 (~$1) per 30 minutes. These are electric-assist city bikes accessed via the Docomo Bike Port app. They are not designed for the full 70-kilometer Shimanami Kaido route, but work well for getting around Onomichi town or reaching the ferry to Mukaishima.

Luggage Storage and Forwarding

Coin lockers at Onomichi Station are available in three sizes:

• Small: ¥300/day (~$2)
• Large: ¥700/day (~$4.70)
• Oversize: ¥1,000/day (~$6.70)

Lockers fill up on weekends and holidays, especially during cycling season. If you are cycling the full Shimanami Kaido one-way to Imabari, coin lockers are not practical — you would need to come back for your bags.

The better option for one-way cyclists is takkyubin (宅急便) luggage forwarding. Send your bags ahead to your hotel in Imabari or your next destination. Many travelers on Reddit and travel forums recommend this as the most stress-free approach. The tourist information center at the station can help arrange forwarding, or you can use a Yamato Transport counter in town. Typical delivery is next-day for domestic destinations.

From the Station to the Shimanami Kaido Start Point

The Shimanami Kaido cycling route begins with a short ferry crossing from Onomichi's port area to Mukaishima (向島), the first island. The ferry pier is about a 10-15 minute walk from Onomichi Station, heading east along the waterfront.

Follow the blue line (ブルーライン) painted on the road surface. This marked route guides you from the station area through to Mukaishima and continues across all six islands to Imabari. The blue line is the Shimanami Kaido's signature navigation system — as long as you follow it, you will not get lost.

The ferry to Mukaishima runs frequently and costs just ¥100 (~$0.70) per person plus ¥10 for your bicycle. The crossing takes about 5 minutes.

Station Facilities and Tips

• Tourist Information Center: Located inside the station, staffed with English-speaking help during peak hours. Pick up a Shimanami Kaido cycling map (free, available in English), and ask about current bike rental availability. They can also help arrange luggage forwarding.
• IC Card gates: Suica, ICOCA, and other IC cards work at the ticket gates.
• Restaurants and shops: The station area and nearby shotengai (shopping street) have restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores. Eat before you start cycling — food options on the island bridges are limited.
• Restrooms: Available inside the station.
• Helmet rental: The tourist center can direct you to helmet rental options if you did not bring your own. Helmets are not legally required for adults in Japan but are recommended, especially on the bridges.