I’m a fairly robust particular person. However all of the wild issues I’ve accomplished outdoors of Japan—mountaineering to Everest Base Camp; leaping out of a airplane in New Zealand—I’ve accomplished a few of the most excessive actions right here, from climbing Mt. Fuji to doing the Kumano Kodo in summer season.
I carry this up to not brag, however to provide some context: I didn’t assume biking ~70 km over the Seto Inland Sea could be a giant deal in any respect. Spoiler alert: It was.
Now, this isn’t to say you shouldn’t plan a Shimanami Kaido itinerary—you completely ought to. Nonetheless, I encourage you to be taught from the errors I made, and certainly from my hubris.
The way to Hire a Bike for the Shimanami Kaido
Not surprisingly, if you wish to bike the Shimanami Kaido, you’re going to want a motorcycle. The excellent news is that there are lots of corporations that provide Shimanami Kaido bike rental. The dangerous information? Whereas an e-bike would clearly make this journey lots simpler, there’s some superb print that makes it impractical for most individuals to lease one. Specifically, if you wish to lease an e-bike, it’s important to journey all of it the best way again to Onomichi to return it.
If you wish to do a one-way rental—and except you’re feeling assured that you would be able to bike 140 km in in the future, assisted or not, you’re going to must—you could lease an extraordinary bike. I personally selected to make a motorcycle reservation right here, however there are lots of outlets and even lodges in Onomichi (and Imabari, in the event you’re beginning there) that may help you in procuring a motorcycle.
The Shimanami Kaido, Step by Step
A brief ferry journey from Onomichi
After you lease your bike close to Onomichi Station, the bike rental affiliate will advise you to bike round 500 meters to a pier. This can assist you to board a ferry that, in only a few minutes, will take you over the water to Mukaishima island, the place the biking route formally begins.
The primary bridge
Previous this level, you begin to get a really feel for what it is going to be wish to cycle the Shimanami Kaido. After crossing the primary suspension bridge onto Innoshima island, you’ll cycle previous attractive mikan orchards and thru charming cities. You gained’t have lined a lot floor, however relying on the wind, it could really feel like you might have.
Ikuchijima: Gasoline up right here
This can take you onto Ikuchijima, which was the primary place alongside the Shimanami Kaido that I actually began to really feel like I used to be “there.” As you method the city of Setoda, you’ll discover a variety of eating places (or, comfort shops, in the event you don’t need to sit down). You’ll additionally discover Kousan-ji temple, the route’s most well-known vacationer attraction.
Say a prayer at Kousan-ji
Kousan-ji is extra of a museum than a temple, extra of a celebration of Buddhist artwork and structure than a spot the place precise Buddhists go to wish. Nonetheless, it’s by far essentially the most spectacular non-bridge construction on any of the islands alongside the Shimanami Kaido—and, whether or not you keep in a single day in Setoda or not, a fantastic place to kiss goodbye to civilization earlier than the grueling remaining a part of your journey.
One final bridge
After all, I didn’t understand this till I used to be biking down the steep hill from Oshima’s Kirosan Park viewpoint, at which level it was too late to do something about it. Effectively, besides bike over the extraordinarily lengthy Kurushima Kaikyo bridge, throughout which I found the being “virtually” all the best way to Imabari can nonetheless really feel like a good distance away.
Can You Do the Shimanami Kaido in One Day?
I did the Shimanami Kaido in in the future, so I can say for certain that it’s potential. However, it took me for much longer to finish than I anticipated, though I rented my bike in Onomichi proper at 8 AM. In truth, I got here inside 10 minutes of not having the ability to return my bike in Imabari, and lacking the final bus of the night time again to Hiroshima. A few of this was because of my bike’s entrance tire going flat, however a whole lot of it was my very own hubris.
The following time I bike the Shimanami Kaido—assuming there’s one—I’m positively going to remain in a single day someplace. In all probability on Ikuchijima, because it’s each the island with essentially the most issues to see and do (I’m gutted I didn’t have time to go to Kousan-ji!), but in addition the one with essentially the most lodges, even when properties like SOIL Setoda and Suminoe Ryokan are reasonably spartan.
Different FAQ About Biking the Shimanami Kaido
How lengthy does it take to cycle the Shimanami Kaido?
Official tourism authorities advise that biking the Shimanami Kaido can take wherever between 4-6 hours for skilled cyclists, to 8-10 and even 12 hours for individuals who are merely sightseeing. Nonetheless, based mostly alone expertise, I actually advocate spending an evening on one of many islands to take a few of the stress off your self.
What’s the greatest bike for Shimanami Kaido?
Ideally, you’ll use an e-bike to finish the Shimanami Kaido biking route. Sadly, as of January 2024, you could return these bikes to the place you lease them from, which is a sophisticated proposition, given that almost all vacationers bike a one-way journey. However, whereas the extraordinary bikes accessible for rental ought to get the job accomplished, I do know first-hand that this method is just not with out its dangers.
How far to cycle the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari?
The biking distance between Onomich and Imabari is about 70 km, give or take, assuming you start your journey with a ferry to the start of the path, because the bike store in Onomichi will advocate. Time-wise, you possibly can anticipate the Shimanami Kaido to be an all-day tour, except you’re a aggressive bicycle owner with little need to cease and sightsee alongside the best way.
The Backside Line
I hope this publish has helped your plan your Shimanami Kaido itinerary, and never made you afraid of Japan’s most well-known biking route. There’s a purpose the 70 km of trails between Honshu and Shikoku islands are generally known as the most effective biking route in Japan. On the identical time, having the next baseline of knowledge than I did after I embarked upon my very own Shimanami Kaido journey will allow you to keep away from a few of the errors I made. Want personalised assist working this journey into your individual journey, or deciding in the event you ought to do it in any respect? I do hope you’ll take into account hiring me to plan a customized Japan itinerary—let me sweat all the main points for you!