Features

Your gateway to the Shimanami Kaido, right next to Onomichi Station.

A Fresh Start in the Heart of Onomichi

At the beginning of October 2025, a brand-new cycling hub opened its doors at Onomichi Station, marking a major milestone for cycling tourism along the world-renowned Shimanami Kaido.

The Onomichi Station Rental Bike Terminal will serve as the new base for travelers setting out to explore the stunning and beginner-friendly island-hopping route connecting Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture.

The terminal, located on the first floor of the redeveloped Onomichi Station building (formerly occupied by a department store), replaces the previous Onomichi Port terminal. The move places it directly beside JR Onomichi Station, giving cyclists seamless access from trains, ferries, and nearby hotels. Together with the recently opened capsule hotel, Station Inn The Urashima, located on the building’s second floor, the area is evolving into a full-service travel hub for cyclists and tourists alike.

A Gateway for Global Cyclists

The redevelopment was designed to enhance convenience and visibility for both domestic and international visitors. With this new terminal, Onomichi aims to further strengthen its role as the gateway to the Shimanami Kaido and attract even more cycling enthusiasts from abroad.

English-speaking staff will be on hand to assist the growing number of foreign visitors, providing multilingual information about bike rentals, local attractions, accommodations, and cycling safety.

Terminal Features and Facilities

Spanning approximately 661 square meters (about 7,100 square feet), the new Shimanami Japan Onomichi Station Rental Bike Terminal has been designed with comfort, convenience, and community in mind. The modern interior combines sleek design with functional spaces for serious cyclists and casual riders alike.

Key features include:

Rental Bicycles

Shimanami Japan’s fleet of bikes has been refreshed with around new 270 new bikes. Among the new city bikes, hybrid cross bikes, battery-assisted bicycles, and sporty E-bikes with wide tires are more bikes for taller customers. We are happy to announce that we can now provide hybrid cross bikes and sporty E-bikes for customers up to 203cm in height.

Luggage forwarding drop off and pick up

Sagawa Hands Free Luggage Service
 

The new terminal is now the place to drop off and pick up baggage for those using the Sagawa Hands Free luggage forwarding service in Onomichi, for those who are not staying in affiliated accommodation.

 
Same-day forwarding: Drop off your luggage by 08:30
Next-day service: Drop off your luggage by 12:00 noon

Storage too!
 
These lockers can also be used as regular storage lockers, for up to 96 hours.
 
※Although the lockers indicate that they are available from 07:00 to 23:00, items can only accessed here during terminal operating hours.

 
Same-day forwarding: Drop off your luggage by 08:30
Next-day service: Drop off your luggage by 12:00 noon

Pikuraku Porter Smart Lockers
 
Several Pikuraku Porter [ja] smart lockers can also be found in the new terminal. With this service, you can drop your luggage in a locker anytime until 14:00, and it will be delivered to any of approximately 60 affiliated accommodations in the islands on the same day.
 
These lockers can also be found at Onomichi Station, Setoda Port (Ikuchijima Island), and Imabari Station.

Retail Corner

A small shop will sell cycling gear, travel accessories, and locally made products, including our popular Shimanami Japan cycle jerseys and Finisher T-shirts, making it easy to pick up essentials and souvenirs at the start or end of your ride.

Tourist Information Desk

English-speaking staff are on hand to provide travel advice, maps, and real-time updates about the Shimanami Kaido and surrounding islands. There is even an AI-assisted communication system that can handle many languages.

Free Exchange Space

A rest and communication area where cyclists can relax, meet others, and share travel stories—a nod to Onomichi’s culture of hospitality.

Eemonya Souvenir Shop

Opening alongside the terminal will be a new branch of Eemonya, a souvenir and specialty goods shop. The store will sell over 500 varieties of local specialties—from Onomichi ramen and handmade sweets to artisanal crafts and seafood products.

“Eemon” means “good things” or “fine goods” in the local Onomichi dialect, and the shop embodies this spirit. It will also include a takeout food area and mini food court, allowing visitors to enjoy local flavors on the go before setting off on their cycling adventure.

A new mural, packed with local easter eggs

Don’t miss taking a look and getting a photo at the colorful mural that decorates the front of the terminal. Created by local designer, artist, and letterpress evangelist, Noriyoshi Ueda of Chameleon Works Inc. and Letterpress Campanella, the image is big, bright, and full of energy and fun.

Along with the Shimanami Kaido, many of Onomichi’s attractions are included, as well as favorite culinary delights like Onomichi Ramen and huge debera flat fish. Onomichi’s large cat population plays a leading role, and the artist told us that there are actually 47 cats in total, one feline representative for each of Japan’s prefectures. See if you can count them all!

Part of a Broader Urban Renewal Vision

The Onomichi Station Terminal project is a centerpiece of Onomichi’s broader station-front redevelopment plan, which aims to revitalize the area surrounding the station by integrating tourism, retail, and transportation.

With the addition of the new terminal, souvenir shop, and nearby hotel, the station area will form a compact, traveler-friendly hub. Visitors can now arrive by train, rent a bicycle, shop for local goods, and begin their Shimanami Kaido journey—all within minutes. This synergy is expected to bring new energy to the picturesque Onomichi waterfront.

Whether you’re planning a full Shimanami Kaido cycling journey, a short scenic ride along the coast, or simply a visit to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of Onomichi, the new terminal will make your experience smoother, friendlier, and more memorable.
So why not start your Setouchi adventure at the Shimanami Japan Onomichi Station Rental Bike Terminal?