Onomichi, Japan's Best Cafes and Restaurants

Onomichi is host to a breathtaking view of the Setouchi inland sea, a bicycle bridge that leads to Shikoku Island, and too many cafes to count, it is a beautiful stop on your trip between Hiroshima City and Osaka.

Onomichi

Located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Onomichi is about an hour east by local train on the way to Osaka. This small ocean and mountain side city is a famous spot amongst cyclists for the Shimanami Kaido, a cycling route between Honshu, Japan’s largest island, and Shikoku, the smallest of the four major islands. This cycling route brings many international travelers to Onomichi, but Onomichi is also famous within Japan for its’ breathtaking view of the Setouchi inland sea and famous temple walk.

Over the years, Onomichi has also gained a reputation for the number of cafes in this small city, as well as Onomichi Ramen. A large number of these cafes are in old Japanese houses on the mountainside, making them a love place to relax and enjoy some food while looking at Onomichi’s famous view. Be sure to visit on a Saturday or Sunday if you want the most cafe options.

View from Onomichi's mountain, looking across the inland sea at Mukaishima Island

TOTEM

7-16 Higashitsuchidocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0033, Japan (Google Maps)

Located along the mountain side in an old Japanese house, TOTEM takes inspiration from Indian cuisine and drinks, with their speciality being chai. They serve two different regional types of chai, as well as lassi and other tea based drinks. On Saturdays TOTEM also serves curry, which we unfortunately missed. The cafe itself has a very bohemian look to it, with many antiques and books about India. This beautiful cafe is a great place to visit and relax!

Sign for cafe along an old Japanese road

Tree tunnel leading to an old Japanese house

View of cafe seating facing the Onomichi view

Carrot cake, lassi, and chai with a view of nature

Two person cafe table seating against a window in an old Japanese house

Floor seating in a boho style room along a window in an old Japanese house

Cafe Alterna

2 Chome-6-34 Kubo, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0045, Japan (Google Maps)

Cafe Alterna is a popular lunch spot that serves a small selection of teishoku lunch sets and sandwiches. They usually have a curry and a daily special teishoku lunch set, as well as cakes and drinks. If you’re looking for a hardy lunch give this place a try!

Retro Japanese building turned into a cafe

Tea Stand Yamate (Tea Factory Gen)

9-8 Higashitsuchidocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0033, Japan (Google Maps)

Tea Stand Yamate is a small tea house operated by Tea Factory Gen, a Hiroshima Prefecture based tea company that focuses on small farm single origin organic teas. They also operate a sister shop in Onomichi’s main shopping arcade called Tea Stand Gen.

Tea Stand Yamate is located on the mountain side of Onomichi in a converted two story old Japanese house, that has a beautiful traditional Japanese inspired interior. The first floor has more typical cafe seating, while the second floor is a tatami mat room with small floor tables and a giant window facing the Setouchi inland sea.

Given their focus on small farm single origin teas, their tea menu is exceptional. They serve teas hot or iced. If you order a hot tea, they provide a how water heater to re-steap the tea 3 to 5 times. For iced teas, they allow you to select two options for a two drink iced tea set. Tea Stand Yamate requires that all customers purchase a tea, so this is definitely a place for you to stay and relax while you enjoy your drink. They also sell small snacks such as tea flavored cookies and they sell loose leaf tea to bring home.

Old Japanese house turned into a modern Japanese tea house

Tea Stand Yamate menu and sign on wooden exterior wall

Photo of Tea Stand Yamate's tea pot collection mounted on a wall with a caster iron water heater next to a sink.

Entrance to tea stand yamate, an old Japanese style house converted into a tea shop

Metal tea canisters in a 4 by 4 row mounted to a wall

Tea from tea stand yamate being poured from a hand made ceramic tea pot into a tea cup

Old Japanese windows and hallway with view of Onomichi in the background

Tea house tea set with a view of old Japanese windows in the back

Koro Bakery

1 Chome-3-31 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0035, Japan (Google Maps)

Koro Bakery is a popular bakery in Onomichi’s shopping arcade. They serve a large selection of both sweet and savory pastries, with both traditional French flavors and unique Japanese flavor profiles. This bakery is an excellent stop to pick up food for your train ride to your next destination.

Korobakery store front with solid concrete exterior and industry black framed windows.

Koro Bakery's bread selection with sweet and savory breads, as well as quiche

Koro Bakery's morning bread selection featuring savory and sweet breads.

Koro Bakery's bagel selection with cinnamon sugar& rum raisin, green tea & black bean, coconut & banana, and sweet potato black sesame bagels

Sweet morning bread options from koro bakery in Onomichi

Quieche, mushroom sausage, edamame hotdog, and mixed Japanese vegetable breads on a silver tray from korobakery

Korobakey pastry topped with seasonal veggies, including baby corn, edamame, kabocha squash, carrot, and red onion on the streets of Onomichi

Edamame and bacon filled bread shaped like a moon from korobakery on the streets of Onomichi

POUR speciality coffee

1 Chome-12-12 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0035, Japan (Google Maps)

POUR is a gem of a specialty coffee shop located along the port side of Onomichi. POUR is their own in house coffee roaster, roasting, serving, and selling single origin coffee beans from around the world. Their shop does not have indoor seating, but they do have some sidewalk benches and stools for you to sit and enjoy a quick cup of their single origin espresso. When we visited we also bought beans from Honduras and China to enjoy when we got home. I highly recommend POUR for speciality coffee lovers!

Latte with heart latte art with an iced latte in the back

Oyatsu-to-Yamaneko

3-1 Higashigoshocho, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0036, Japan (Google Maps)

Oyatsu-to-Yamaneko is a famous 15 year old pudding shop located in-between Onomichi station and the main shopping arcade. This pudding shop sells delicious and cute pudding in branded milk bottles with classic flavors like vanilla and matcha, as well as regional flavors like Hassaku orange or Setouchi lemon. This shop is an Onomichi classic, so much so that it was featured in the video game Yakuza 6. Get yourself a sweet little treat here!

Hassaku orange pudding in small milk jars being held next to each other in front of the store front

Hassaku orange pudding in a small milk jar stacked on top of each other

Kankitsu Stand Orange

Japan, 〒722-0036 Hiroshima, Onomichi, Higashigoshocho, 1−1 JR尾道駅ビル 1F (Google Maps)

The Setouchi inland sea is famous for setouchi lemon, but did you know that the area also grows a variety of different types of oranges and mikan? Kankitsu Stand Orange located at Onomichi station hosts massive selection of local citrus juices, including Onomichi’s speciality, Hassaku orange juice. I highly recommend getting the orange juice flight to taste and compare these regional delights!

Close up of three orange juice flight at Kankitsu Stand Orange outside of Onomichi station

Orange juice flight in Onomichi, Japan with juice from local orange varieties

Shoya Honten

1 Chome-11-2 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima 722-0035, Japan (Google Maps)

Onomichi Ramen is a famous speciality ramen made of chicken broth and dried small fish dashi named after Onomichi. When I asked my hotel host for his recommendation, he asked me if I liked real ramen. He then went on to explain that Onomichi Ramen is something made up by a corporation roughly 20 years ago, and if I like actual ramen not to waste my time with it, and instead go to places with 中華そば(Chuuka Soba, Chinese Soba, or Ramen) banners instead. He seemed to be an oddly casual hater of all things Onomichi considering his position in the Onomichi hospitality industry. We wanted to try it despite his warnings, and found ourselves having an enjoyable time at Shoya Honten.

Onomichi Ramen shop exterior in a shopping arcade.

Onomichi Ramen shop sight with a cat eating ramen

Bowl of Onomichi Ramen with ajitamago, pork chaser, green onions, bamboo shoots. Also a side of gyoza dumplings and fried rice.

Shoya Honten has a friendly, modern, and appreciable atmosphere while serving Onomichi ramen. They also have fried rice and gyoza sides too. If you wanna give Onomichi ramen a try and judge for yourself, this is the place to go!

Onomichi is a must visit for Japanese cafe lovers! There’s plenty to try and explore, tell us your favorite places in the comments below!

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Onomichi, Japan’s Best Cafes and Restaurants