THE SHIMANAMI KAIDO IN STYLE
A Private Guided Cycling AdventurePrice from
400,000 JPY
Duration
4 Days |3 Nights
Level
A three-night, three-day fully guided and fully private cycling journey across the Shimanami Kaido, starting with an arrival night in Onomichi, from Onomichi to Imabari, tailored to your group’s ability and pace, with a dedicated English-speaking guide riding alongside you the whole way, e-bikes, road bikes, or cross bikes included as standard, and high-quality accommodation.
Quality Bikes
Fantastic Accommodation
Self Guided
Fully Supported
Choose Start Date
Exceptional Local Food
ABOUT THIS TOUR
A three-night, three-day fully private and fully guided cycling journey across the Shimanami Kaido — six islands and seven bridges from Honshu to Shikoku — ridden at a pace and rhythm set entirely by you. The tour begins with a night in Onomichi before any riding starts, giving you time to settle in and explore the town, before a dedicated English-speaking guide accompanies your group for the three days of cycling that follow, alongside a private support vehicle, so every crossing, meal, and stop is arranged and nothing is left to chance.
The route below is indicative. Before the tour, your guide works with you to shape the actual day-to-day distances, terrain, and pace around your group’s preferences and ability — more climbing and distance for confident riders, a gentler route and more stops for a relaxed pace, e-bike support throughout for anyone who wants it. The islands, bridges, and overnight stays stay the same; how you get between them is built around you.
The Shimanami Kaido is one of the most celebrated cycling routes in the world, and this is the definitive way to experience it: island-hopping across quiet backroads and long bridge crossings over the Seto Inland Sea, with the freedom to linger wherever the day calls for it — an extra climb, a longer lunch, a detour to a shrine your guide knows well.
Night before
Onomichi
Day 1
Ikuchijima
Day 2
Ōshima
Day 3
Imabari
- Duration: 4 days, 3 nights (including an arrival night in Onomichi)
- Difficulty: 2/5 — the route, distance, and pace are shaped around your group before the tour; e-bikes included as standard
- Group size: Fully private — your group and guide only, no joining other travellers
- Tour type: Fully guided, with a private support vehicle throughout
Day 1: Onomichi waterfront, the Shimanami Kaido’s opening islands, and Kōsan-ji temple, with your guide’s own stories along the way.
Day 2: Three more islands, Tatara Bridge, Hakatajima beach and ice cream, and Ehime’s celebrated seafood.
Day 3: Kirosan Observatory and the Kurushima Kaikyō — three consecutive bridge crossings over one of Japan’s most powerful tidal straits — finishing into Imabari with your guide.
Included:
- Fully private tour — your group and guide only, no joining other travellers
- A route shaped around your group’s ability and preferences, agreed with your guide before the tour
- Private English-speaking guide accompanying you for all three days
- Premium e-bike, road bike, and cross bike rental included as standard; helmet rental also included
- Private support vehicle accompanying the route
- Hand-picked, high-end accommodation (3 nights, including the night before departure in Onomichi)
- Luggage transfers between each night’s accommodation
- Ferry crossings
- All meals — lunch, dinner, and breakfast throughout the tour, chosen and hosted by your guide
- 24-hour support line throughout the tour
- A welcome gift on arrival
NOT included:
- Travel insurance (required — arrange prior to departure)
- Alcoholic drinks
- Optional entrance fees (temples, castles, gardens)
- Personal expenditure
From ¥400,000pp, based on twin/double share as a private package (guide and vehicle costs are per group, not per person, so this rate assumes a group of 2). Includes the additional night before departure in Onomichi. Single traveller supplement applies.
- 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 click here for our terms and conditions.
ITINERARY
Night Before — Onomichi
Arrive in Onomichi and settle in ahead of the ride, with time to explore the waterfront and old town. Accommodation: hand-picked hotel in Onomichi; dinner included.
Day 1 — Onomichi to Ikuchijima
Approx. 35km at a baseline pace — shortened, extended, or re-routed based on your group’s ability and preferences, discussed with your guide before the tour. Start: Onomichi. Finish: Setoda port, Ikuchijima, approx. 15:30 (indicative; flexes with your route). Lunch: included — your guide selects and hosts lunch at a spot suited to your group. Terrain: largely flat with short ramp climbs to each bridge approach as a baseline; optional climb route available for stronger riders. Accommodation: boutique ryokan on Ikuchijima; dinner included. Highlights: Onomichi waterfront and temple walk; quiet island backroads; Kōsan-ji temple.
Day 2 — Ikuchijima to Ōshima
Approx. 35km at a baseline pace — shortened, extended, or re-routed based on your group’s ability and preferences. Start: Ikuchijima. Finish: Ōshima, approx. 15:30 (indicative; flexes with your route). Lunch: included — your guide selects and hosts lunch at a spot suited to your group. Terrain: bike paths and small roads as a baseline; your guide can add distance or climbing on request. Accommodation: high-end ryokan on Ōshima; dinner included, featuring Ehime’s celebrated seafood, including local sea bream. Of course, we can adapt the food to meet any dietary requirements. Highlights: Tatara Bridge; Hakata-jima beach; Kirosan Observatory; Yoshiumi fishing community.
Day 3 — Ōshima to Imabari
Approx. 35km at a baseline pace — shortened, extended, or re-routed based on your group’s ability and preferences. Start: Ōshima. Finish: Imabari Station. Lunch: included — your guide selects and hosts lunch at a spot suited to your group. Terrain: two islands and some ups and downs as a baseline, finishing with the most picturesque bridge on the route. Accommodation: breakfast included; tour ends on arrival into Imabari. Highlights: Kirosan and Kurushima Kaikyō (three consecutive bridge crossings over one of Japan’s most powerful tidal straits); final island exploration with your guide; arrival into Imabari with luggage waiting.
AFTER YOUR TOUR, WHY NOT…
MATSUYAMA FOOD AND CULTURE
SOBA MAKING