Tosen - Ferryboat
To get a sense of Onomichi, many visitors choose to take in the view over the city from Mt. Taiho, also known locally as Mt. Senkoji. The panoramic view from the mountain is impressive, but there’s nothing quite like seeing Onomichi from the water. Fortunately, there is no need to book a cruise to do it.
Onomichi has three tosen (ferry) lines running between the city and Mukaishima Island, which operate regularly from morning to night. Ticket prices vary, but riding a tosen costs up to ¥100 for adults, making it the cheapest and easiest way to get out on the water. The nearest island, Mukaishima Island, is just a five-minute tosen ride across the Onomichi Channel.
Before the Onomichi Bridge was built in 1968, tosen were the only connection between Onomichi and Mukaishima Island. In fact, many locals still use the tosen to commute to work, with the craft carrying a mix of bicycles, cars, and people on the same trip.
Because the Onomichi Bridge does not have a cycle path, cyclists are encouraged to begin their ride along the scenic Shimanami Kaido expressway by catching a tosen to Mukaishima Island. On the way, riders are able to look down the striking dark blue expanse of the Onomichi Channel in both directions and watch as the city of Onomichi spreads out before them.
