Shimanami Kaido

The Shimanami Kaido is Japan’s most famous cycling route. This 70 km cycling route  connects the Honshu mainland to the island of Shikoku via a series of bridges over a chain of islands in the Seto Inland Sea. While there are other land connections, this is the only one you can walk or cycle.

The Shimanami Kaido begins in Onomichi on Honshu and terminates in Imabari on  Shikoku. You could also cycle this the other way around. With the exception of short inclines up to the bridges connecting the islands, the route itself is fairly flat, making it enjoyable and accessible for most people, whether you’re an experienced road biker or casual cyclist.

Of the two cities, Onomichi is worth spending some time to explore. Though it might seem rather  industrial at first glance, head to the old city centre and you’ll quickly discover its old-world charm –– tightly packed houses, a maze of narrow lanes, and a slightly dilapidated but charming shopping  district. It’s also home to a number of beautifully preserved temples and elegant cafés. No  surprise, then, that the town was used in movies like Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story and Nagisa  Oshima’s Boy.

It’s entirely possible to zip across the islands in a day, and indeed, most intermediate cyclists with  their own bikes are likely to complete the Shimanami Kaido as part of a longer cycling journey  across Shikoku. However, breaking up the journey across two days allows you to slow down and  take in the sights along the way. Ikuchi Island is the perfect midpoint.

Besides the fantastic scenery, the islands are home to a number of fascinating temples, shrines,  museums, and observation points. However, the most important part of the whole cycling trip  might be the ice cream. Fuelling up with excellent soft serves at every other stop makes all the  huffing and puffing worthwhile!