Features

What Is the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road?

The “cycling road” on the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido is the first bicycle road in Japan that lets you cross a sea strait.

Rental cycles are available along the “Shimanami Kaido” between Onomichi City and Imabari City so that you can fully enjoy cycling this ocean road, linking together islands filled with history and culture across its full length of approximately 70 km (*). You can also freely drop off bicycles at the rental cycle terminals in each area. You can drop off bicycles at some of the hotels and ryokan (Japanese inns) in Imabari City as well.(*From Imabari Port to Onomichi Port (Ekimae-Kowan Car Park))

Cyclists' Sanctuary

This monument was constructed both to commemorate the signing of a sister cycling road agreement between the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido and the Sun Moon Lake (Ri Yue Tan) Cycling Course on October 25, 2014, and the holding of the “Cycling Shimanami” international cycling event on October 26, 2014, as well as to pray that the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido will be beloved by many people as a “Cyclists’ Sanctuary.”

4 Reasons Why Cyclists Fall in Love with the Shimanami Kaido

01 Beautiful scenery woven by natural and man-made beauty

he Shimanami Kaido area is filled with beautiful scenery woven by the natural beauty of many islands dotting the Seto Inland Sea, and the structural beauty of the bridges linking those islands. Leisurely enjoy the scenery in a comfortable sea breeze.

What Is the “Shimanami Kaido” area?

The Shimanami Kaido area is filled with beautiful scenery woven by the natural beauty of many islands dotting the Seto Inland Sea, and the structural beauty of the bridges linking those islands. Leisurely enjoy the scenery in a comfortable sea breeze.

Shimanami Kaido : This is the common name for the route of the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway project connecting Onomichi and Imabari. The pedestrian and bicycle roads built together with the vehicle highway bridge form a cycling road that is approximately 70 km long, one-way.

Yumeshima Kaido : This cycling road consists of bridges connecting the remote islands of Ikinajima, Sashima, and Yugeshima in Kamijima Town.

02 Easy-to-follow “Blue Line” ensuring you never get lost

A blue line indicates the recommended cycling route from the JR Onomichi Station to the JR Imabari Station. This blue line, said to have been invented for the Shimanami Kaido, is a roadmap for cyclists visiting from all over the world

03 Over 150 cyclist-friendly cycle oases

Retail shops, guest houses, and the like participate in this program, providing rest areas where cyclists can feel free to stop. In addition to air pumps, bicycle stands, benches, and the like, they also provide drinking water and toilets for use.

04 Various facilities accepting cyclists

The environment is one where you can visit bringing your own personal bicycle with peace of mind.

• Bike set-up areas arranged in each area
• Running of cycle buses, cycle trains, and cycle ships
• Services for luggage storage and same-day delivery to your lodging
• Many lodging facilities that allow you to bring your bicycle into your room