The shimanami kaido
What is the shimanami kaido?
Lying in between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, the Seto Inland Sea is a place of tranquil waters, kind people, and hundreds of small islands. It’s also home to the Shimanami Kaido, the longest series of bridges in the world. It spans the 70 km stretch from Onomichi to Imabari. It is possible to cycle from one side to the other – across a bridge, down onto an island, up to another bridge. This is island hopping by bike, slow tourism at its best.
The Shimanami Kaido is one of Japan’s three national cycling roads and known throughout the world as a heaven for cycling. It appeared in the Lonely Planet’s Epic Rides of the World, as well as newspapers such as the Financial Times. Although it is becoming more and more popular, most people do not make the full journey, turning around after one or two islands. That’s fun of course, but it doesn’t allow you to truly appreciate the tranquil beauty of this area. For that, 2 or 3 days is needed.
Many of our tours include the Shimanami Kaido. These include cycling, kayaking, and taxi tours.