The city of Onomichi in the southeastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, which looks out to the Seto Inland Sea, has a rich and long tradition as a hub of trade. During the Edo Period (1603-1867), it prospered as a key docking point for domestic ships peddling goods, and from the early 20th century it grew to host shipbuilding industries.
Today, however, while some of the heavy industries are still active, signs of decline in the local economy are abundant. Nearly half of the shops in the local shopping arcade that stretches along the coast for more than 1 km are now closed. Many of the others are open only on weekends — when the number of tourists picks up — and those that do open on weekdays draw their shutters at 5 p.m.
In the midst of this decline, two properties in the city offer a ray of hope. Renovated to emphasize their original historical beauty and reopened as inn-like places to stay, they not only welcome visitors to the area, but also visibly celebrate the history of the city's once-affluent merchant class. Formerly owned by the Shimazui family, the expansive estate, now renamed Setouchi Minato no Yado, comprises Shimazui Manor and Izumo House and sits midway on a hill overlooking the Onomichi harbor. Their renovation is the work of Discovery Link Setouchi (DLS), a venture set up last year by local business executives with an aim of revitalizing the region's struggling economy.