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Outdoors

Shimanami Kaido Bike Ride

You ride from the port town of Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari on Shikoku, crossing six islands, including Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakata and Oshima, on seven bridges over the Seto Inland Sea. A painted blue line and signs mark the way.

For The Reps · Updated

bike ride scenery for Shimanami Kaido near Seto Inland Sea
Photo: Setouchi Cycling Road - panoramio by Masahiko MORIYASU, CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Seto Inland Sea, Japan
Distance
About 70 km one way
Time
About 6 hours

The route

Shimanami Kaido cycling route, Onomichi to Imabari.

Start at JR Onomichi Station: about 2 hours from Osaka or 4-5 hours from Tokyo by shinkansen with a change at Fukuyama, or 1-2 hours by train from Hiroshima. To get back from Imabari, take the Shimanami Liner highway bus to Fukuyama and a local train to Onomichi.

When to go

JNTO says road conditions are generally good from March to May and August to November, with wet weather in the rainy season from late June to early July.

Permits and fees

Bicycle tolls on the bridges are waived until 31 March 2028.

Before you go

  • Rent a bike at around ten terminals along the route and drop it at a different one if you like; tandems must go back to the terminal you hired them from.
  • Regular rental costs 3,000 yen a day, or 4,000 yen for electric-assist bikes (japan-guide, July 2025).
  • Sagawa Express runs a same-day luggage service between selected hotels in Onomichi and Imabari.
  • The ramps up to the bridges were built with gentle gradients for cyclists.

What to bring

  • Helmet
  • Spare tube, tyre levers and a pump
  • Water and snacks
  • Front and rear lights
  • A layer for descents and stops

Getting ready for it

Plan for a long day: about 6 hours.

Time in the saddle matters more than speed.

If you have not ridden for a while, do two or three rides of an hour or two first so your legs and your seat are used to it.

Staying safe

  • Since April 2026, police in Japan can fine cyclists aged 16 and over, tourists included, on the spot: for example 12,000 yen for using a phone while riding and 6,000 yen for ignoring a signal. Keep to the left.
  • Wear bright clothing and use lights wherever there is traffic.
  • Check your brakes and tyres before you leave.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against japan.travel, shimanami-cycle.or.jp, japan-guide.com, pref.ehime.jp and matcha-jp.com. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.