---
title: Cinema Onomichi
url: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/notes/cinema-onomichi/
lang: en
journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/onomichi-2/
---

# Cinema Onomichi

A little of each town’s story　/　Onomichi, Hiroshima

The only cinema in Onomichi, the movie town known for Ozu's Tokyo Story and Obayashi's Onomichi trilogy. After the city's last cinema closed in 2001, a group of film lovers founded a nonprofit, raised 27 million yen in donations from residents, renovated the former Onomichi Shochiku theater, and opened Cinema Onomichi in October 2008. One screen, 112 seats.

6-2 Higashigosho-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima

## This moment in the journey: The only cinema in the movie town

On a corner of the arcade stands a small cinema. This is a movie theater that once closed its doors. In 2001 the last cinema in the city shut down, and the movie town was left without one.

The current manager, who I was told was in her twenties at the time, founded a nonprofit with film-loving friends, asked the townspeople for donations, and in 2008 reopened the old theater building as a cinema. It still operates today as the only movie theater in Onomichi.

Beyond the streets reflected in the glass doors hung a round sign. Next Week's Screening, read the board, above a wall covered in posters. Through the glass, a bag of popcorn faced the street. The story felt like something out of a film, and my heart fluttered.

Leaving the cinema, I climbed an alley up the hill and looked up at the drifting clouds.

![Looking at the Next Week's Screening board and the poster wall](https://karigurashijourney.com/img/onomichi-2/s26-1200.jpg)
- Sources: https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/site/dayori-2016/201707-sp2.html
- Sources: https://en.jff.jpf.go.jp/movie/cinema-onomichi/
- Sources: https://movie.jorudan.co.jp/theater/1001915/
- Sources: https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/尾道市

Read this scene in the full journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/onomichi-2/