Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road

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Highlights

The Shimanami Kaido is well set up to welcome cyclists from all walks of life. Helpful features include blue lines to mark the course, information signs along the route, and cycle-friendly "Cycle Oasis" rest stops with bike racks and facilities. A variety of bicycles can be rented at terminals on both the Onomichi and Imabari sides, and you can return them at any terminal along the route. You can reserve a bicycle in advance in English through Shimanami Rental Cycle. Pamphlets in English are also available.

Riding the Shimanami Kaido, cyclists can enjoy the sensation of almost flying through the air, as they cross the sea by bridges. There are seven bridges connecting islands along the route, and riders can experience the different cultural and historical backgrounds of the different regions and islands along the way. Road conditions are generally good from March to May and August to November. Expect wet conditions in the rainy season, from late June to early July.

Enjoy fascinating historical and cultural sites along the route. Take time to visit Onomichi, Imabari, and Matsuyama, and historical sites such as Kosanji Temple on Ikuchishima Island, and Imabari Castle. Innoshima Suigun Castle and the island of Nojima are associated with the Murakami Pirates who occupied the area in the 16th century. There is a wide range of accommodations along the route, including seaside resort hotels and traditional inns with hot springs.

Cycle through the breathtaking beauty of the Seto Inland Sea on the Shimanami Kaido, a 70-kilometer-long National Cycling Route. The route runs from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture on Japan’s main island over the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. The route is well-maintained and very easy to navigate (just follow the Yahane Blue Line), with numerous bicycle rental shops, roadside stations, and cyclist-friendly facilities along the way. Stop by some of the islands dotting the Seto Inland Sea, like Mukaishima, Innoshima, and Ikuchijima, to experience the quaint culture of small fishing villages, cycle past sacred shrines, historic buildings, and natural wonders, and dine on local delicacies.

Detail

Length 70km
Duration 6hours
Elevation Gain 20m

* Duration is an estimate and may vary depending on route and pace.

Reference: Route from JR Onomichi Station to Sunrise Itoyama

Access

To start cycling from Onomichi, take an 80-minute flight from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Hiroshima Airport. From there, take the Hiroshima Airport Line, and transfer to the Sanyo Line to JR Onomichi Station, a trip of about an hour.