Cycle the Highlights of Shikoku

Guided Tour

Price from

310,000 JPY

Duration

6 Days | 5 Nights

Level

Get in touch

A 6 day 5 night guided and fully supported cycling tour across Japan’s remotest island. Experience outrageous views, fascinating history, and enchanting culture as you cycle across the Shimanami Kaido, climb into the mountains, journey through cities and small villages, eat outstanding local food, and stay in a mixture of traditional and modern accommodation. This tour takes you on fantastic roads to the best parts of the island – great cycling and great travel!

Approx 400km

Meals & Accommodation

Local Guide

Fully Supported

Small Groups

Popular sightseeing

ABOUT THIS TOUR

Explore Shikoku and the best cycling that Japan has to offer. Unbelievable landscapes, epic bridges, challenging climbs, cinematic seascapes, great accommodation, and stunning local cuisine, this six-day tour takes you through the heart of Shikoku and visits the natural and cultural highlights of the island. It’s perfect for those who love cycling and want to experience the varied beauty of Shikoku, Japan’s best kept secret.

This tour lasts 6 days and 5 nights, with epic cycling and time to enjoy the villages, towns and cities through which we pass. The tour starts in Onomichi, the start of the world-famous Shimanami Kaido. Cycling over the Shimanami Kaido and staying on one of the islands, we leave Honshu behind. On Day 2, we cycle the rest of the Shimanami Kaido and enter Shikoku, making our way to the traditional and culturally important city of Matsuyama. That evening we stay near Dogo Onsen, with opportunities to visit one of the oldest castles and the oldest hot spring in Japan. See the sites, enjoy hot springs, visit local sake distilleries, and much more.

 

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Start of the trip

Onomichi

Day 1

Hakatajima

Day 2

Matsuyama

Day 3

Nakatsu Gorge

Day 4

Kochi

Day 5

Iya Valley

Day 6

Kotohira

The Niyodo river
View of the Shimanami Kaido
Cyclists on the Shimanami Kaido
Iya valley
Onomichi
Traditional Japanese food in Matsuyama
The Iya Valley
中津渓谷
Hirome Ichiba
Dogo Onsen
The Iya Valley
Local food in Kochi
cycling shikoku
  • Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
  • Difficulty: 4/5 – Suitable for people who frequently cycle and who don’t hate hills.
  • Price: 310,000 JPY (click here to see how much this is in other currencies).
  • Group size: 3-8 guests (the tour needs three people to run). We can accommodate groups of ANY size. Get in touch if you have a bigger group.

From 310,000 JPY per person based on shared twin room.

  • There is no fee for single travellers. Single travellers share a room with another group member. If you require a single room, there is a supplement of 50,000 JPY. Please note, it may not always be possible to meet all requests for single rooms.
  • We need a minimum of 3 to run the tour. Alternatively, we can run a private tour for an additional fee.
  1. After reading the Terms & Conditions, click the Enquire about this Tour button and submit the form.
  2. We will get back to you to with a reservation form.
  3. Once you’ve sent this back to us, we’ll book everything for you and arrange for your payment. We accept credit card and wire transfer.

Please click here for our terms and conditions.

 

Additional Conditions

  • be able to cycle 50-80kms per day for 6 consecutive days. There are some long climbs and some steep hills. If that sounds like your idea of fun, this is the tour for you.
  • have travel insurance. We won’t check this but it is a condition of the tour.
Enquire about this tour

ITINERARY

Day 1: The Shimanami Kaido　

Approx. 60km | 500 ↑ Sea, The Shimanami Kaido | Lunch, Dinner| Japanese hotel

Meet at Onomichi Station in the morning. Onomichi is accessible by bullet train and close to Hiroshima Airport (click here to learn about cheap internal flights if you live outside Japan). Cycle over the world-famous Shimanami Kaido. We’ll cover 5 islands, see spectacular views and explore the culture of the Seto Inland Sea. We’ll stay in a Japanese hotel, located near the sea in a stunning location.

Day 2: Shimanami - Matsuyama

Approx 75 kms | Approx 800m ↑ | The Shimanami Kaido, sea, castles | Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner |  Business hotel

Finish the Shimanami Kaido and head down the coast to historic Matsuyama, the prefectural capital of Ehime. We cycle through the city, looking at the castle, towards the hotel in the Dogo area. Enjoy the famous Dogo Onsen area in the evening with a local dish, tai meshi and a glass of local sake. Free time after dinner.

 

Day 3: Matsuyama - Nakatsu Gorge

Approx 75 kms | Approx 1200m ↑| In the mountains | Breakfast, lunch & dinner | Japanese hot spring hotel

Cycle through the city of Matsuyama then climb into the mountains on one of our favourite roads. The cycling then follows a picturesque river. Stay in a stunning hotel in a remote gorge.

Day 4: Nakatsu Gorge - Kochi City

55 kms | Total 500m ↑| Mountains & rivers | Breakfast, lunch, & dinner | Business hotel

An optional morning walk in the spectacular Nakatsu Gorge. Then cycle out of the mountains along one of Japan’s most celebrated rivers, with opportunities for impromptu wild swimming to cool off. Reach the city of Kochi and visit a famous street food market.

Day 5: Kochi City - The Iya Valley

Approx 80 kms | Total 1500m ↑ | Mountains & gorge | Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Japanese hot spring hotel

Cycle out of the city and up into the celebrated Iya Valley. A challenging climb rewards outrageous landscapes. Cycle down the valley surrounded with terraced rice fields and walk across the famous vine bridges of the Heike warriors. Stay in a traditional Japanese inn. Stunning.

Day 6: The Iya Valley - Konpira Shrine

Approx 55 kms | Total 750m ↑ | | River & mountains | Breakfast & Lunch |

The final day – Journey out of the Iya Valley  along the beautiful Yoshino River. After a final climb, we arrive at the acclaimed Konpira Shrine, a popular area and our final highlight. We relax with a drink and reflect on our six-day journey into hidden Japan. There are train stations nearby that connect with the bullet train. Alternatively, Takamatsu Airport is a few kms away (click here to learn about cheap internal flights if you live outside Japan). Let us know if you require airport transfer or would like us to organise accommodation for the final night. We’re happy to help with that!

 

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AFTER YOUR TOUR, WHY NOT…

Dogo Onsen at night

MATSUYAMA FOOD AND CULTURE

Half day small group tour

Click Here
kneading dough at a cooking class in Shikoku

SOBA MAKING

One day small group tour

Click Here

CHECK AVAILABILITY

Check the calendar for availability then fill in the enquiry form with your dates. If none of the dates don’t work for you, please get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.

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Shikoku Highlights – April (B) ❘ 四国ハイライト － 4月(B)

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Cycle the highlights of Shikoku

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