✅ Quick Answer: How Do You Get There?
To access the Shimanami Kaido cycling route (between Onomichi, Hiroshima and Imabari, Ehime), the fastest and most efficient option from major international cities is:
✈️ From Tokyo, Osaka, or Abroad:
- Fly to Hiroshima Airport (~1 hr 30 min from Tokyo Haneda)
- Take a bus to Onomichi Station (~1 hr)
- Rent a bicycle at Onomichi Port and start your journey
📍 Alternative access:
- From Tokyo by train: Shinkansen to Fukuyama, local line to Onomichi (total ~4.5 hrs)
- From Osaka: Shinkansen to Fukuyama or Mihara, then local trains (~2.5 hrs)
📝 You can also begin in Imabari if arriving via Matsuyama Airport (Shikoku side).
🚴 Step-by-Step: How to Ride the Shimanami Kaido
1. Plan Your Route
The entire route is ~70km (43 miles) crossing 6 major islands via dedicated bike paths.
| Route Option | Duration | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Route (Onomichi → Imabari) | 1–2 days | Moderate | Scenic, requires some pacing |
| Half Route (e.g., Onomichi → Omishima) | Half-day | Easy | Great for beginners |
| Round Trip (Out and back) | 2–3 days | Advanced | For hardcore cyclists |
🔄 One-way rental and bike drop-off is available across most terminals.
2. Rent a Bike
🅿️ Rental Locations
- Onomichi Port (Shimanami Rental Terminal)
- Imabari Station (Sunrise Itoyama)
- Island-based rentals also available
🚲 Types Available
- City bikes (~1,000–2,000 yen/day)
- E-bikes (~3,000–4,000 yen/day)
- Road bikes (~2,000–4,000 yen/day)
Helmet, lock, and map usually included.
3. Book Accommodations (If Overnighting)
Popular overnight stops:
- Omishima Island – historic temples, quiet beaches
- Ikuchijima Island – famous for art and citrus orchards
🏨 Accommodation types:
- Guesthouses, seaside inns, minshuku (traditional), capsule hotels
- Prices range: 4,000–10,000 yen per night
4. Recommended Stops & Side Trips
| Spot | Island | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Tatara Bridge | Omishima | Iconic cable-stayed bridge |
| Shimanami Museum of Art | Ikuchijima | Contemporary art + cycling focus |
| Kosanji Temple & Hill of Hope | Setoda | Artistic Buddhist temple + marble sculpture park |
| Local Japanese Gardens | Sparse but can visit near Imabari Castle (Kikkoen) |
🧭 Most riders skip gardens – include them for a unique angle!
🌤️ When to Go & What to Pack
- Best Seasons: Spring (Mar–May) and Fall (Sep–Nov)
- Avoid: Summer (very humid) and typhoon season
- Essentials:
- Sunscreen, windbreaker, gloves
- Portable battery, water bottle, light snacks
- Bike repair kit (or at least know where bike stations are!)
👤 Real Traveler Stories
“I cycled the whole 70km in one day with plenty of breaks. Tatara Bridge views were unforgettable.”
— Peter, UK
“We rented e-bikes and did half the route with our kids. The quiet beaches and orange farms were the highlight.”
— Sarah, Singapore
“The route was well-marked, but Japanese garden culture wasn’t visible at all. I’d love to see more nature-meets-design spots.”
— Eliot, US-based landscape designer
🧠 Reflection: Beyond Cycling – A Coastal Meditation
While Shimanami Kaido is widely known as Japan’s premier cycling road, its true beauty lies not in speed, but in slowness.
- You coast through island life, where schoolchildren wave as you pass.
- You stop at unmanned cafés with honesty boxes, leaving coins for citrus juice.
- You ride over bridges that feel like suspension between past and present—where each island has a different rhythm.
Yes, there are few manicured gardens or formal landmarks. But what you get instead is a natural garden of ocean wind, sunlight, salt, and smiles.
💰 Budget Breakdown: 1–2 Day Shimanami Cycling Trip
| Item | Estimated Cost (JPY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flight (Tokyo → Hiroshima) | 8,000–15,000 | Budget airlines available |
| Bus (Airport → Onomichi) | ~1,500 | Direct or via Mihara Station |
| Bike Rental | 1,000–4,000/day | Varies by type (city bike → e-bike) |
| Accommodation | 4,000–10,000/night | Guesthouses or seaside inns |
| Meals + snacks | ~3,000/day | Local food or konbini |
| Ferry (optional return) | 1,000–2,000 | Between islands or to Imabari |
| Total | ~18,000–34,000 yen | ~$120–230 USD |
📝 Costs can be lower with advance flight/train deals or budget stays.
🗓️ Sample Itinerary – 2-Day Scenic Ride
Day 1 – Start from Onomichi
- 09:00 – Arrive Onomichi, rent bike at port
- 09:30 – Ride to Mukaishima → Ikuchijima (~25km)
- 13:00 – Lunch at Setoda Sunset Café
- 14:30 – Visit Kosanji Temple & Hill of Hope
- 16:30 – Stay overnight in Omishima guesthouse
Day 2 – Ride to Imabari
- 08:00 – Morning ride across Tatara & Kurushima Bridges
- 12:00 – Lunch at Imabari Port
- 13:00 – Return bike, explore Imabari Castle or garden
- 15:30 – Take ferry/train/bus back to Hiroshima or Matsuyama
