Transport

Getting to Shimanami

Where is the Shimanami Kaido?

The Shimanami Kaido cycling route connects Onomichi on the main island Honshu with Imabari on the island of Shikoku. Onomichi is about 80 km east of Hiroshima City and about 120 km west of Osaka. Imabari is located on the northern tip of western Shikoku, approximately 45 km from Matsuyama.

Getting to Onomichi

Onomichi Station

By Train

The most convenient way to get to Onomichi is by train. Visitors have two options when coming by train.

(1) Take the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Fukuyama Station (approx 1hr 5min from Shin Osaka Station, approx 23 min from Hiroshima) followed by a local train to Onomichi Station (approx 20 min).
(2) Take the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Shin Onomichi Station (approx 35 min) from where it is a 10-minute taxi ride or 15-min by bus to Onomichi Station.

*Please note that not all Shinkansen trains stop at Fukuyama and Shin Onomichi Stations.

By Bus

・Willer overnight bus service bound for Hiroshima from Kyoto Station/Osaka Umeda to Higashi Fukuyama Station (from where it is a 25 min local train ride to Onomichi Station).
・Willer overnight bus service bound for Hiroshima from Tokyo Shinjuku Station to Higashi Fukuyama Station (from where it is a 25 min local train ride to Onomichi Station).
・Approx 90 min from Hiroshima by Highway Bus.

Hiroshima Airport

From Hiroshima Airport

・Buses run to Fukuyama Station from Hiroshima Airport (approx 1hr 5min), from where it is a 20-min local train ride to Onomichi Station.
・Airport shuttle to Shiraichi Station from where it is approx 50 min by local train to Onomichi Station.
・A shared taxi service between Hiroshima Airport and Onomichi Station is offered 4 times a day with advance reservation (approx 50 min).

Getting to Imabari

Imabari Station

By Train

・From Matsuyama (1 to 2 hours)
・From Takamatsu (approx 2 hr 20 min)

By Bus

・Approx 80 minutes from Matsuyama by Highway Bus
・Approx 3 hours from Hiroshima by Highway Bus (direct)
・Approximately 2 hours 20 minutes from Takamatsu by Highway Bus

Overnight Ferry from Osaka

The Orange Ferry sails between Nanko Ferry Terminal in Osaka to Toyo Port on Shikoku which is about 20 km east of Imabari.

Getting to Kamijima

Kodama Shinkansen

From Osaka or Hiroshima

Take the Kodama Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Mihara Station.
Take the ferry to Ikina Island from Mihara Port (350m from Mihara Station).
Find a detailed explanation on the Kamijima Tours website here.

From Imabari

Regular ferries from Imabari Port stop at Iwagi Island, Sashimi Island, Yuge Island and Ikina Island.

From the Shinanami Kaido

Ferries run from Habu Port on Innoshima Island to Iwagi Island and Ikina Island.
Ferries run from Sunoe Port on Ikuchi Island to Okogi Port on Iwagi Island.

Getting around Shimanami

Imabari to Onomichi

Unfortunately, there is no direct transport between Onomichi and Imabari. The easiest way to travel between the start and finish of the Shimanami Kaido is to use the Highway Bus that runs between Imabari and Fukuyama. It is approx 20 min by local train between Fukuyama and Onomichi.

Useful Ferry Services

・Onomichi Port – Setoda Port, Ikuchijima Island (approx 40 min)
・Imabari Port – Iwagi Port – Sashima Port – Yuge Port – Ikina Port – Habu Port (Innoshima Island)
・Imabari Port – Okamura Port (Tobishima Kaido) (approx 1hr 20min)
・Sakari Port (Omishima Island) – Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) (approx 15 min)