Shimanami Kaido Cycling 3 Days

Self-Guided Tour

Price from

78,500 JPY

Duration

3 Days | 2 Nights

Level

Experience the breath-taking beauty of the Seto Inland Sea as you journey by bicycle on this three-day adventure. Cycle the Shimanami Kaido from Honshu to Shikoku, stay in traditional Japanese hotels, eat exceptional local food from the area. Suitable for cyclists of all levels.

Quality Bikes

Fantastic Accommodation

Self Guided

Fully Supported

Choose Start Date

Exceptional Local Food

ABOUT THIS TOUR

Cycle the Shimanami Kaido – 6 islands and 7 bridges from Honshu to Shikoku. Click here to find out about the Shimanami Kaido. This is a two night, three day self-guided adventure that takes through the stunning landscapes of the Seto Inland Sea, via traditional Japanese hotels serving fantastic local food. This tour is suitable for cyclists of all levels – from those who haven’t ridden a bike for a while to seasoned members of the pelaton. We take care of all bookings, luggage transfer, and provide quality cross bikes and helmets. This is a self-guided tour, but you receive our custom Shimanami Kaido guidebook to direct you to secret spots and the best restaurants. We also provide a phone in case of emergencies and we’re always close by if you need support.

Read More

Start of the trip

Onomichi

Day 1

Day 1

Day 2

Day 2

Day 3

Day 2

  • Duration: 3 days, 2 nights
  • Difficulty: 3/5 – suitable for those with a reasonable level of fitness. You do not have to be a cyclist to enjoy this tour. We have e-bikes (subject to availability) if you need a helping hand.
  • Group size: We can work with groups of most sizes, from couples to larger groups. (contact us for information about solo travellers)

Adults (12+) – 78,500 yen per person based on shared room.

Children (under 12) – 50,000 yen per person.

  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 confirm your reservation and send you a registration form.
  3. 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.
  4. Full payment is due 21 days prior to the first day of the trip.

Please click here for our terms and conditions.

Maybe you’re thinking “Is it worth doing a self-guided tour?”. Well, yes!

Not 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. These have information about the history of each island 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 defintely worth it!

ITINERARY

Day 1: Leave Onomichi

35 kms | Some ups and downs | Next to the sea, cafes, beaches | Dinner | Japanese
A bride on the Shimanami KaidoOn the morning of the first day, we’ll meet you at Onomichi train station. You drop off your luggage and collect your bike, and we’ll give you all the information you need for your journey – maps, information about the route, money for the ferries. We’ll see you to the port from which it’s a short ride to the start of the route. There are 4 islands on this day. Your accommodation for the first night is in a really special Japanese-style hotel on a small island. It’s a sleepy place with narrow streets and traditional houses, where people greet you as you pass…it’s a million miles away from the pace of Tokyo.

Day 2: On the Islands

35 kms | Some ups and downs | Next to the sea, shrines and temples, rabbit island| Breakfast & Dinner| Japanese

 

Bridge next to mountains in Japan Day two starts with a traditional breakfast. After leaving your luggage at reception, you’ve got another 35kms ahead of you. Short enough so that you have enough time to get off your bike and truly experience this landscape, but long enough so that there are plenty of places to explore. We enjoy visiting Kosanji and the surrounding street food stalls…but really, you can’t go wrong whatever you decide to do. After three more islands you’ll arrive at your next hotel. This is again a traditional inn with exceptional food just next to the sea. Sitting on the sea front and breathing in the sea air, before a first-class meal and a relaxing bath, that’s how to truly see Japan.

Day 3: Ride to Imabari
35 kms | Some ups and downs| Next to the sea, spectacular bridges | Breakfast

View of the Shimanami KaidoAfter another traditional breakfast and leaving your bags for us to pick up, it’s back on the bike one last time. On the final day you’ve got two islands to explore and the most picturesque bridge of the lot to look forward to…leave at least an extra 30 minutes for photos! After that, Shikoku awaits. Once you arrive on the island, you will head towards Imabari train station where we’ll be waiting with your luggage and a smile. This is a wonderful springboard into Shikoku proper or an easy place from which to return to Honshu (by train to Okayama or boat to Hiroshima). Either way, we’re sure you’ll have special memories of this hidden part of the Japan, and a better sense of this fantastic country.

Had an amazing experience with Hidden Japan Travel. My husband and I did their self-guided Shimanami Kaido cycling tour and we had such a great time that we then did their Soba Making tour. Both unique and interesting experiences that were the highlight of our trip to Japan. Highly recommend.

Di & Luke
UK

Five stars? Hidden Travel Japan deserve six! We’d recommend them unhesitatingly and hope to travel with them again in future. Contact Hidden Japan Travel NOW, book your trip and see what we all mean!

Al & Jan
UK

This was everything that we had hoped for and more! Sam and Miho were very responsive to any questions prior, during, and after the trip. It made all the arrangements very simple. I highly recommend the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Tour from Hidden Travel Japan! Go check them out – you will be delighted!

Nicholas
USA

So happy we rode, explored, saw, ate, and admired the beautiful Shimanami Kaido. Huge thanks to our new friends at Hidden Japan Travel. Put this experience on your “must-do” list!

Lauren & Chris

USA

AFTER YOUR TOUR, WHY NOT…

Dogo Onsen at night

MATSUYAMA FOOD AND CULTURE

Half day small group tour

kneading dough at a cooking class in Shikoku

SOBA MAKING

One day small group tour

Shimanami Kaido Cycling 3 Days Contact Form

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