Experience · Japan

The Shimanami Kaido

Japan built a cycling route across the Seto Inland Sea and made it a national treasure: 70 kilometres of dedicated, blue-lined lanes island-hopping from Onomichi to Imabari over six soaring bridges, with citrus groves, shrines and gelato stops between.

Best forAdventure seekers · Couples · Solo travellers
In October22°C · 8 rainy days
Ideal stayTwo days, plus a night in Onomichi
Approx. flying time~11h 45m from Los Angeles

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Happens around Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan — nearest airport Hiroshima (HIJ), about 26km away.

CurrencyJPYJapanese yen
LanguageJapanese
Local time21:058h ahead of the UK
PlugsType A / BBring an adapter
Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
Dialling code+81

The experience

Seventy kilometres of dedicated cycleway hop six islands of the Seto Inland Sea between Onomichi in Hiroshima prefecture and Imabari on Shikoku. Bridge approaches spiral up on long, shallow ramps built for the purpose, so nothing is steep, and a blue line painted on the tarmac removes any need to navigate. In between are citrus terraces, small ports, shrines and enough sea views to slow anyone down.

A fit rider covers it in a long day, but two days with a night on Omishima or Ikuchijima makes the better trip. Rental cycle terminals sit along the route and one-way returns are normal, so you can start at either end and take a train or bus back. Spring and autumn are the best seasons. Note that bicycles cross to the first island by a short ferry rather than the initial bridge.

Ideal stay: Two days, plus a night in Onomichi
The vibe: Sea-bright, easy, quietly joyful

From our guides

The ramps onto the bridges are engineered for grandmothers, rental bikes can be dropped at the far end, and one energetic day or two gentle ones covers it. Spring and autumn are ideal. The lemon soft-serve on Ikuchijima is compulsory.

Featured in Ten cycling holidays for completely normal legs

Make a trip of it

Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge

Four kilometres of suspension bridge over tidal whirlpools on the run into Imabari, and the finest stretch of the whole route. Ride it in the late afternoon if you can.
Setoda on Ikuchijima

A small port town with a deliberately extravagant temple complex of reproductions and a marble hillside above it. The local lemons turn up in everything, soft serve included.
Oyamazumi Shrine

On Omishima, a shrine set among ancient camphor trees that holds a large national collection of armour and weapons dedicated by warriors over many centuries.
Mount Kirosan viewpoint

A short, sharp climb on Oshima ends at a platform looking straight down the line of the Kurushima bridges. The best photograph on the route by a distance.
Onomichi's temple walk

Before you start, a stepped hillside of temples, cats and narrow lanes above the harbour, with a ropeway to the top and a slow wander back down.
Setouchi seafood

The inland sea is known for sea bream and octopus, sold plainly cooked in the small ports along the way. Imabari is equally known for its towels.

Getting there

Fly to
Hiroshima (HIJ)

Nearest airport to Onomichi, about 26km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Onomichi

Hiroshima (HIJ) is the realistic gateway, about two hours to Onomichi by airport bus and train; HND is Tokyo, at the far end of the country. From Tokyo the shinkansen to Fukuyama and a local train takes roughly four and a half hours.
On the ground
Getting around

Rental bikes are picked up at Onomichi and dropped at Imabari, and the 70-kilometre route follows dedicated blue-lined lanes with gentle spiral ramps onto each bridge. A short ferry gets you from Onomichi across to the first island.

Public transport: Good. Trains serve both ends, buses run the expressway across the islands and the rental scheme is one-way, so no car is needed.

Flights

Los Angeles Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan

Flying from

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Roughly 11h 45m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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Pick your departure date, then your return.

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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.

When to go

Daytime highs run from about 9°C in January to 32°C in August. Driest November to January; wettest in July, with rain on about 14 days.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

October22° · rain 8 daysMild with rain most weeks.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2015–2024 at Onomichi (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to base yourself

Business hotels and guesthouses at each end, family-run minshuku and ryokan on the islands, plus a couple of cycling-focused hotels that let you wheel the bike to your room.

Best base overall
Onomichi

The mainland start, on the shinkansen line at Shin-Onomichi, with bike rental, temple walks and a lively harbour front. It is a working port town, not a resort.
Find stays in Onomichi
Best for couples
Setoda, Ikuchijima

Halfway along, with a lemon-growing island, a temple complex and one or two beautifully converted places to stay. Very quiet after dark and few dinner options.
Find stays in Setoda, Ikuchijima
Best value
Imabari

The Shikoku end, with ordinary business hotels at low rates and the castle. Less atmospheric than Onomichi, but handy if you ride north to south.
Find stays in Imabari
Quietest
Omishima or Hakatajima

Mid-route islands with small minshuku inns and a sea view from nearly everywhere. Shops close early and bike rental terminals have limited hours.
Find stays in Omishima or Hakatajima

Worth knowing before you book: Island inns are tiny and fill in spring and autumn, and one-way rental bikes must be reserved. Confirm dinner when you book, since island restaurants shut early.

Search everything else in Onomichi by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

Or see everything in Onomichi

Good to know

Bikes: Rental terminals stand at both ends and on the islands, with one-way drop-off. Bring your own pedals and gloves if you are fussy, and note that e-bikes have limited return options.
Getting there: Take the shinkansen to Fukuyama and a local train to Onomichi, or fly to Hiroshima or Matsuyama. Buses link Imabari back to Onomichi, with bikes carried on some services.
Timing: April to early June and October to November are ideal. July and August are hot and humid, and typhoons can close the bridges at short notice.
The first crossing: Cyclists take a short ferry from Onomichi to Mukaishima rather than the road bridge. It runs frequently and costs very little.
Cash: Island shops, shrines and small cafes often take cash only. Draw yen at a convenience store machine before leaving Onomichi.