Onomichi Ikuchijima Temple Tour: Ferry and Ropeway Ride
Cross the Seto Inland Sea to two temple complexes built centuries apart, then descend a mountain on foot.
This full-day guided tour explores Onomichi, a small town in Hiroshima Prefecture, and the island of Ikuchijima via ferry. You visit Kosanji Temple, founded in 1936 with structures modeled after Japan's most famous religious sites, including the marble garden "The Hill of Hope". Then walk to Senkoji Temple, a 9th-century landmark perched on a hillside. An English-speaking guide leads the route, which includes a 40-minute ferry ride across the Seto Inland Sea, ropeway access up the mountain, and entry to all sites. You choose to join from either Shin-Onomichi Station or Onomichi Station.
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Step-by-step itinerary
Onomichi temples and island tour
- Visit Senkoji Temple on hillside
- Descend mountain on foot
- Board ferry at Onomichi Port
- Ferry ride to Ikuchijima Island
- Tour Kosanji Temple grounds
- Explore The Hill of Hope marble garden
The experience
How do you get to a temple on a remote island without a car? You take the ferry from Onomichi Port Terminal, a 40-minute crossing of the Seto Inland Sea that gives you views of the scattered islands as you sail. Once you land on Ikuchijima, your guide leads you to Kosanji Temple, a sprawling complex founded in 1936 and built over three decades as a memorial to the founder's mother. Unlike ancient temples, Kosanji is an eclectic collection of structures: each one modeled after famous religious sites across Japan. The ornate Koyomon Gate draws inspiration from the Yomeimon Gate at Nikkō Tōshogū. The five-storied pagoda echoes the Buddhist Muroji Temple's ancient design.
The centerpiece is "The Hill of Hope," a marble garden created by sculptor Itto Kuetani over 16 years and opened in 2000. Walking through it, you see monuments arranged to harmonize with the surrounding landscape: a design found nowhere else in Japan. From the top of the hill, you look out over the island itself. Your guide provides the historical context that makes the whole complex legible. Without it, the eclecticism might feel scattered instead of intentional. Then the walking trail descends toward Senkoji Temple, Onomichi's most recognizable landmark, founded in the 9th century and set on a hillside overlooking the town.
Senkoji's vermillion Main Hall houses Kannon, the bodhisattva of compassion, and the air carries the smell of incense as you move through the grounds. You have time to pray, buy amulets, and explore on your own before walking back down the mountain. The tour wraps a full day of movement (ferry, walking, climbing, descending) into a single itinerary, with your guide handling the logistics and the route. You'll need moderate fitness for the walking and stairs. If seasickness is a concern, take precautions before the ferry ride.
What’s included
- English-speaking guide for the full day.
- round-trip ferry tickets to Ikuchijima.
- one-way ropeway ticket up the mountain.
- entry fees to Senkoji Temple, Kosanji Temple, and "The Hill of Hope" marble garden.
- transportation between tour sites via public transport.
Options for this experience
2 optionsOptions with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.
Before you book
Prices and times updated today
Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)
Is this one for you?Choose the morning departure from your preferred station if you want to complete both temple complexes and the island crossing in a single day without rushing. The fixed route and guide pacing fit a full 9 hours of movement, so this tour suits travelers with moderate fitness who are comfortable with walking, stairs, and a 40-minute ferry ride.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (under 6): free.
What's the ferry ride like on this tour?
The ferry from Onomichi Port Terminal to Ikuchijima takes 40 minutes and crosses the Seto Inland Sea, giving you views of the small islands scattered throughout the water. The crossing is part of the tour experience, though travelers prone to seasickness should take precautionary measures.
Can I explore Kosanji Temple on my own, or does the guide stay with me the whole time?
Your guide leads you through the Kosanji Temple grounds and provides in-depth historical context about the structures and their models. You'll have your own time to walk "The Hill of Hope" marble garden and explore the pavilions, with the guide available to answer questions.
What makes "The Hill of Hope" different from other gardens in Japan?
"The Hill of Hope" is a marble garden created by sculptor Itto Kuetani and completed in 2000. Its design incorporates monuments that harmonize with the surrounding landscape in a way that cannot be found anywhere else in Japan, making it a distinctive feature of Kosanji Temple.
How do I get down from Senkoji Temple at the end of the tour?
You walk down the mountain on foot from Senkoji Temple. The descent is part of the tour route, and your guide will lead the way. The temple sits on a hillside overlooking Onomichi, so the walk down gives you views of the town and surrounding area.
Do I need to arrange my own way to the meeting point, or is transportation included?
Transportation to and from the tour activities is included and uses public transport. If you join from Shin-Onomichi Station, you'll arrange your own way there. If you join from Onomichi Station, the same applies. Once the tour begins, all transport between sites (ferry, ropeway, and local transit), is covered.
Onomichi Ikuchijima Temple Tour: Ferry and Ropeway Ride
9h · EN
from JP¥ 23,800 per person
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