In December of 2018, the newly renovated Lantern Onomichi Garden (LOG) opened to visitors. Located on Mount Senko not far from Senko-ji Temple, this former apartment complex offers guest lodgings, a garden, and singular shopping and dining experiences. At the LOG restaurant, seasonal freshness is the focal point of every dish, and each meal is made with ingredients that conjure an image of the locals who produced them. The facility also holds frequent workshops and public events with themes that highlight regional foods, local traditions, and the wisdom of living in accordance with the seasons.
The visual appeal of Onomichi has been likened to “a miniature garden straight from the middle ages.” It is a city where historic temples and shrines—some containing national treasures—line the winding streets, and whose higher slopes give views that look out across the sprawling coastal landscape. Notable artistic figures have also found Onomichi’s scenery captivating: novelist Shiga Naoya (1883-1971) stayed at a residence not far from the LOG, and director Ozu Yasujiro’s 1953 masterpiece Tokyo Story begins here. In fact, the town’s aspect has changed very little from the views recorded in the film’s opening scene.
Located at its head, the Onomichi U2 facility has twenty-eight rooms for lodgers, on-site bike rentals, shops, and restaurants featuring hand-selected local ingredients. Visitors seeking a more aquatic experience can book rooms on the “guntû,” a nineteen-room cruise ship that circles the Seto Inland Sea. Passengers can dine on Inland Sea specialties and participate in cultural excursions, like purchasing fish under the guidance of local experts.
Furthermore enjoy the Yawatahama local cuisine ‘Satsuma soup making experience’ etc, there are many activities here special to the town of mandarins and fish.
