ONOMICHI STATION (ONOMICHI, HIROSHIMA PREFECTURE)
Historic station a bridge to Seto Inland Sea
| Against the backdrop of the Seto Inland Sea, the bright red roof of JR Onomichi Station stands out among the drab buildings surrounding it. |
| An arriving train is welcomed by a rendition of "Ware wa Umi no Ko "(We are children of the sea). |
| A statue of famed author Fumiko Hayashi, who attended a girls school in Onomichi |
| Visitors descend the steps from Jodoji temple overlooking the Seto Inland Sea as a train passes by. |
| Momentos, including cameras and stills, from films such as Yasujiro Ozu's "Tokyo Monogatari" (Tokyo Story) that were shot in Onomichi are displayed at Onomichi Eiga Shiryokan museum. |
Photos by Yomiuri Shimbun Photographer Sei Kohama
By Takashi Kondo
Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer
I passed through the turnstiles at JR Onomichi Station in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, to find the sea lying before me.
Four years ago, the area in front of the station was transformed into a huge square, with the paved roundabout, green belt and hotel joining to form a seaside building.
There were lots of people coming and going — some on their way to work, some going to school.
At first glance, it appeared to be just like any other train station in any other town. Except for one thing — the ocean is about 100 meters from the station.
I spoke with stationmaster Ikuo Tokumitsu, 48, as we crossed over to Mukaishima island on a ferry leaving from a bridge just outside the station.
"When you return (to Onomichi), you can clearly see Mt. Senkoji," he told me.
On the ferry back, the green mountain rose above me — just as he said.
About halfway up, houses dotted the slopes, seeming to cling to the side of the mountain, while the bright red roof of the train station stood out — caught between the green of the mountain and the blue of the sea.
Completed in 1891, the station remains pretty much today as it was when it was built, except for one renovation in 1928.
Despite the Shimanami Kaido road, which connects the city to Shikoku, the ferry still remains the gateway to the Seto Inland Sea for many.
JAPANESE
The Daily Yomiuri, The Yomiuri Shimbun
