Shimanami Kaido & Beyond: Onomichi to Ōzu
A 5-Day Self-Guided Cycling Journey Through Western EhimePrice from
265,000 JPY
Duration
5 Days | 4 Nights
Level
A five-day self-guided cycling journey through western Shikoku — from the bridge-hopping Shimanami Kaidō to the castle cities and river valleys of western Ehime, balancing fun riding with time to absorb the places you pass through.
Quality Bikes
Fantastic Accommodation
Self Guided
Fully Supported
Flexible Dates
Exceptional Food
ABOUT THIS TOUR
The Shimanami Kaido is one of the most celebrated cycling routes in the world, and it’s where this journey begins — six islands, seven bridges, and the Seto Inland Sea at its most beautiful. But where our shorter Shimanami tours turn back towards Honshu, this route keeps going: on into Shikoku proper, through the castle city of Matsuyama, and deep into the rural river valleys of western Ehime, finishing in the beautifully preserved castle town of Ōzu. If you’ve ever finished the standard Shimanami crossing wanting more, this is that “more.”
Start of the trip
Onomichi
Day 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 2
Day 3
Day 2
Day4
- Duration: 5 days, 4 nights
- Difficulty: 2/5 – suitable for most fitness levels; an easygoing pace with optional extensions for those who want more distance. E-bikes available for an additional fee.
- Group size: We can work with groups of most sizes, from couples to larger groups (contact us for information about solo travellers)
- Things to see
- Things to eat
- Cross the Shimanami Kaido — six islands and seven bridges suspended over the Seto Inland Sea, Japan's most celebrated cycling route
- Tatara Bridge — the longest of the Shimanami spans at 1,480 metres — and the panoramic views from Kirosan Observatory
- The Kurushima Kaikyō — three consecutive bridge crossings over one of Japan's most powerful tidal straits
- Dōgo Onsen — a 3,000-year-old bathhouse where samurai once soaked, said to have inspired Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away
- Ōzu Castle and Garyu Sanso — a beautifully restored castle town and a Meiji-era villa and garden overlooking the Hiji River
- Fresh sashimi and local noodles at a restaurant stop on Ōmishima
- Ehime's celebrated seafood, including local sea bream (鯛), at your minshuku on Ōshima
- Okonomiyaki at a local restaurant on the ride into Matsuyama
- Dinner among the restored kura storehouses of Ōzu's old quarter, where independent restaurants and craft producers have taken root
- Quality Bikes
- Support
- Maintenance & Support Line
- Fees
- E-Bike Options
- Top Hotels
- Route Notes & Guidebook
- Memories & Mementos
- Not included: travel insurance (required
- Cross bike and helmet rental included. If you'd prefer a road bike, we can arrange this for an additional fee, ready for you on Day 1. You're also welcome to bring your own.
A support van accompanies the route with your luggage, carried seamlessly between each night's accommodation. Pack once, ride light.
A 24-hour support line runs throughout the tour, so help is always a phone call away if anything goes wrong.
Ferry crossings are covered as part of the tour.
Want a bit more help on the climbs? Electric assist bikes are available for an additional fee, subject to availability.
Four nights blending traditional Japanese inns, a minshuku by the sea, a modern hotel in the Dōgo Onsen area, and a distinctive machiya (townhouse) stay in Ōzu's historic merchant district — each chosen for its character and position.
Detailed route notes and a custom guidebook point you towards the best lunch stops, quiet backroads, and the climbs worth doing for the view. This is a self-guided tour — no bilingual guide accompanies the ride.
You'll receive a Hidden Japan Travel water bottle. Cycling jerseys also available for pre-order.
please arrange prior to departure); meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary; optional entrance fees (temples, castles, gardens); personal expenditure.
¥265,000 per person
- Ages 12+
- Based on shared twin room
- Cross bike included
- After reading the Terms & Conditions, click the Enquire about this Tour button and submit the form.
- We will get back to you to confirm your reservation and send you a registration form.
- Once you’ve sent this back to us, we’ll arrange for payment of your deposit, which is 10% of the trip price. We accept credit cards and wire transfer.
- Full payment is due 21 days prior to the first day of the trip.
Please see our terms and conditions: hiddenjapantravel.com/terms-and-conditions/
[NOTE: confirm deposit/payment terms above — carried over from another self-guided tour’s standard terms; adjust if this tour uses different timing.]
Please click here for our terms and conditions.
Maybe you’re thinking “Is it worth doing a self-guided tour?”. Well, yes!
ot only do we take care of everything — accommodation, luggage transfer, bike rental — but we’re also on hand in case you need support. We’re never too far away! We also provide very detailed maps, with information about the history of each area and our favourite places to enjoy the local culture, nature, and cuisine. We send you this information as a PDF prior to your tour so you can start planning your adventure from the options we suggest. We hand-pick these locations based on our local knowledge of the area and the needs of our guests. We also choose great hotels — the ones with the most character, the best food, and the most relaxing views. We can provide a phone in case you need to get in touch and electronic maps so you can navigate to your hotels easily. All this means that you can concentrate on having a unique experience that’s facilitated by local knowledge and supported safely if anything goes wrong.
So yes, doing a self-guided tour (with us), is definitely worth it!
ITINERARY
Day 1: Onomichi to Ikuchijima
Minimum 35–40km, with opportunities to extend the route further if you want more distance. Begin in the historic port city of Onomichi and cross by ferry into the Shimanami chain, riding largely flat terrain with short ramp climbs to each bridge approach. Finish at Setoda port on Ikuchijima, approx. 15:30. Stay at a traditional Japanese onsen inn. Dinner not included.
Day 2: Ikuchijima to Ōshima
Minimum 35–40km, with opportunities to extend the route further if you want more distance. Ride bike paths and small roads across the heart of the Shimanami archipelago, crossing the Tatara Bridge — the longest of the Shimanami spans — with a stop at Kirosan Observatory for the best views on the route. Restaurant lunch at Ōmishima. Finish at Ōshima, approx. 15:30, staying at a traditional minshuku with a seafood dinner featuring local sea bream.
Day 3: Ōshima to Matsuyama
55km, +800m elevation gain — the tour’s most demanding day. Cross the Kurushima Kaikyō, three consecutive bridges over one of Japan’s most powerful tidal straits, then climb steadily through the Ehime interior towards Matsuyama. Okonomiyaki lunch along the way. Finish at Dōgo Onsen, approx. 15:30, staying in a modern Japanese hotel in the onsen area.
Day 4: Matsuyama to Ōzu
66km, +436m elevation gain, 4–5hrs riding time — longer, but less demanding than Day 3. Leave the city behind and follow the Hiji River through rural Ehime: mikan terraces, persimmon groves, cedar ridgelines, and a lovely stretch of coastline. Finish in Ōzu, staying in distinctive lodging in the historic merchant district, with dinner among the restored kura storehouses of the old quarter.
Day 5: Ōzu, at your own pace
No cycling. A day entirely your own to explore Ōzu Castle (open from 09:00), the Meiji-era garden at Garyu Sanso (allow 60–90 minutes), and the preserved merchant street of Ohanahan-dōri. Consider a train out to Uchiko’s old quarter. Depart by train via Ōzu Station (Yosan Line) to Matsuyama (~45 min, with onward connections to Takamatsu, Osaka, and Tokyo), or by car/taxi to Matsuyama Airport (~55 min).
[Testimonials — none yet; add guest reviews here once the first departures run]
AFTER YOUR TOUR, WHY NOT…
MATSUYAMA FOOD AND CULTURE
SOBA MAKING
Ready to see the real Japan?
Book your Onomichi to Ōzu cycling adventure and explore the Japan few do – from island-hopping tranquility to castle-town calm.