懐かしい尾道も時とともに変化するが、自然の風景は昔のまま。 Nostalgic Onomichi changes over time, but the natural scenery remains as it was.

一昨年の夏に、かれこれ20年近くぶりの、瀬戸内の観光スポットである尾道散策を楽しむ時間があった。西隣の三原市が私の故郷で、墓参りのついでに立ち寄ったのだが、どちらかというと尾道巡りがメインになった。

Last summer, I had the time to enjoy a walk in Onomichi in Hiroshima prefecture, a sightseeing spot in Setouchi for the first time in almost 20 years. Mihara, the west side of my hometown, and I stopped by while visiting a grave, but rather, I went to Onomichi.

まず、お昼時ということで腹ごしらえに、食べるなら「尾道ラーメン」をと思い商店街へ。評判の人気店は行列だったので諦め、小さなお店に入った。味は想像以上で、たまたま居合わせたお客さんから「あの人気店よりも、ここの方が旨いと思うよ！」という声を聞いた。なんか、ちょっぴり嬉しくなりお店をでた。

First of all, at lunch time, I was hungry, so I thought "Onomichi Ramen" to eat and head to the shopping district. The popular restaurant had a long queue, so I gave up and entered a small shop. The taste was more than I imagined, and I heard a customer who happened to be there saying, "I think this place is better than that popular shop!" Somehow, I got a little happy and left the shop.

商店街をぶらぶらと歩いてみた。高校時代によく通ったこの商店街は懐かしい街並ではあるが、いまでは雑誌に取り上げられるほど人気のお店が軒を連ねている。全国から集まる旅女が好きそうなオシャレな商店街に変貌していた。

I walked around the shopping street. This shopping street that I used to go to when I was in high school is a nostalgic street, but nowadays there are many shops that are popular enough to be featured in magazines. It was transformed into a fashionable shopping district that travelers like from all over the country seem to like.

商店街を突き抜けたところに、千光寺公園へ上がるロープウエイ乗り場がある。ロープウエイに乗って山頂へ。車窓から眺める尾道水道や、3年間通った向島は、過去を呼び起こす、昔のままの風景だった。

There is a ropeway platform that goes up to Senko-ji Park just past the shopping street. Take the ropeway to the summit. Onomichi Strait seen from the ropeway window and Mukaijima, which has been through for three years, were the scenery of the past that recalled the past.

レポート & 写真 /  渡邉雄二

Reported & Photos by Yuji Watanabe