Ondo no Seto Park

Ondo-no-Seto Park is a park on the mainland side of Kure, offering panoramic views of the Ondo Strait. “Seto” refers to a narrow strait, and Ondo-no-Seto is only about 90 meters wide. Spanning the strait between Kure’s mainland side and Kurahashi Island are the red arch bridges “Ondo Bridge” and “Second Ondo Bridge.” The strait is associated with a legend from 1162 (late Heian period) that Taira no Kiyomori called back the setting sun and completed the channel in a single day. From late April to early May, the park is known for about 8,300 azaleas, and the view of the bridges through the blossoms is especially beautiful. From late March to early April, the park’s Sakura-no-Sato area features about 2,300 cherry trees of five varieties. The park also includes historical and cultural sites such as the former Yasumiishi Battery (completed in 1901, before the Russo-Japanese War) and a monument engraved with words by novelist Eiji Yoshikawa, who visited the area while researching his novel “Shin Heike Monogatari.” Near the closest bus stop, “Ondo Tosen-guchi,” you’ll also find the Ondo Ferry pier, which crosses to Kurahashi Island in about 3 minutes—worth trying if you have time.