Sanyo-Onoda City: Japan’s Cement Capital with 4 Must-Visit Spots for Food and Hot Springs

Sanyo-Onoda City, famously known as the birthplace of Onoda Cement, even has a district called “Cement Town.” Interestingly, its five-character all-kanji city name is the longest in Japan. This charming city in Yamaguchi Prefecture is also home to the prefecture’s only winery and is celebrated for local gourmet delights, such as the renowned Onoda Asari clams that gained national fame after being featured on the TV show Dotchi no Ryori Show (“Which Dish Show?”).
Blessed with natural hot springs, Sanyo-Onoda offers relaxing options for weary travelers, from springs located within large recreational park complexes to unique drive-in hot springs that draw from two separate sources. The city also boasts family-friendly attractions, such as beautiful flower-viewing spots perfect for all ages. Here, we present four carefully selected must-visit tourist destinations in Sanyo-Onoda City, showcasing its best experiences for both leisure and culture.

1. Ejio Park: A Year-Round Scenic Destination with a Lake, Hot Springs, and Camping Grounds

Among the many attractions in Sanyo-Onoda City, Ejio Park (江汐公園) stands out as a must-visit destination. Centered around the picturesque Ejio Lake, this park boasts walking trails adorned with seasonal flowers. Along the way, you’ll find the iconic Ejio Lake Bridge—a suspension bridge offering beautiful views of 50,000 blooming Kobano Mitsuba Azaleas reflected on the lake’s surface, making it one of the best azalea viewing spots in the region.
The park features a variety of outdoor facilities, including a field athletics area and a fully equipped campground. The management building also offers a training room for various activities. A major highlight is the Ejio Lake Onsen at the Natural Green Park Hotel, where visitors can enjoy a relaxing day-trip soak. This natural sodium chloride hot spring, clear and colorless, is perfect for easing travel fatigue. Whether you choose to stay overnight at the hotel as your sightseeing base or drop by for a rejuvenating bath, Ejio Park is a highly recommended stop for travelers to Yamaguchi Prefecture.

2. Hana no Umi: Enjoy a Sea of Flowers and Unlimited Strawberry Picking

Hana no Umi is one of the largest integrated horticultural farms in western Japan, offering a breathtaking display of seasonal blooms. True to its name, vast fields transform into a “sea of flowers” with colorful cosmos and bright sunflowers stretching as far as the eye can see. In the greenhouses, unique rose potted plants—available only here in Japan—bloom in abundance, filling the air with a sweet, unforgettable fragrance.
One of the most popular activities for visitors is strawberry picking, and at Hana no Umi, there’s no time limit. This means children who eat slowly and parents who want to take their time can enjoy the freshest, sweetest strawberries without any rush. The strawberry fields are impressively large—about the size of three soccer fields—ensuring plenty of space for everyone.
After the strawberry season, guests can look forward to blueberry picking. The farm also features a restaurant serving dishes made with freshly harvested vegetables, as well as bakeries and dessert shops. With its wide range of attractions and activities, Hana no Umi is a must-visit destination in Sanyo-Onoda City for nature lovers and families alike.

3. Enjoy Two Luxurious Hot Springs! Featuring the Famous Onoda Asari Clam Soup at Natural Hot Spring Michishio

In Sanyo-Onoda City, one of the local specialties is the premium “Onoda Asari” clams. Unlike typical clams harvested on sandy shores during low tide, these are gathered through a unique method where professional divers plunge into the waters off Onoda’s coast and use hand rakes to collect the clams directly from the seabed.
At Drive-in Michishio, you can enjoy not only this exquisite local delicacy but also a relaxing hot spring experience. The Natural Hot Spring Michishio draws water from two renowned sources—Ouki Onsen and Itone Onsen—offering visitors an exceptional bathing experience. Facilities include not just spacious indoor baths but also an open-air bath, an electric bath, and a sauna, perfect for soothing travel fatigue after exploring Sanyo-Onoda. To complete your visit, savor the famous Onoda Asari clam soup right after your bath—a truly delightful spot where you get “two pleasures in one trip.”

4. Yamaguchi Winery: The Only Winery in Yamaguchi Prefecture Using Premium European Grape Varieties

Located in Sanyo-Onoda City, Yamaguchi Winery is the only winery in Yamaguchi Prefecture, known for producing fine wines from premium European grape varieties. The winery is a collaboration between Yamaguchi Wine Farm Land, renowned for cultivating wine-specific grapes, and Yamaguchi Wine, which handles the winemaking process. Taking advantage of the karst plateau’s alkaline soil, they grow high-quality grapes such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon—perfect for winemaking.
Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the winery and experience the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape, where fireflies dance in summer nights. Yamaguchi Winery also invests in preserving the environment around its vineyards, maintaining clear streams and small waterfalls. It’s a family-friendly tourist destination—parents can savor wine tastings and purchase bottles as souvenirs, while children enjoy the scenic surroundings.

◎ Summary

Sanyo-Onoda City offers many more attractions beyond Yamaguchi Winery. From Ryuo Mountain Park, visitors can admire the cityscape below and see the distant mountains of Shikoku and Kyushu, as well as stunning views of Suo-nada Bay. At Kirara Beach Yakeno, you can witness one of Japan’s top 100 sunsets over the Seto Inland Sea, and nearby spots like Kirara Glass Future Museum and Kirara Exchange Hall are also popular.
The city is home to parks such as Wakayama Park and Monomiyama Comprehensive Park, where seasonal flowers, including cherry blossoms, create a colorful display year-round. Sanyo-Onoda is also famous for auto racing at the Sanyo Auto Race Track, drawing fans from across Japan, who also explore the city’s historical treasures—ancient temples, shrines, burial mounds, and archaeological sites.