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Shimanami Kaido
Shimanami Kaido
4.5
Points of Interest & LandmarksBridgesLookoutsScenic Walking Areas
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Very famous japan's road. Driving or cycling.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5 of 5 bubbles40 reviews
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We Travel the World
Mannheim, Germany2,823 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
Absolute must do if you are in the area and my highlight of the Japan trip! For 76 km you cycle over 6 islands by means of 6 bridges. The route is easily done in one day with some breaks and sightseeing if you leave directly at 8am. We were out in the summer at 35°C and sunshine, but drank a lot. If it is a bit cooler, the track is probably very relaxed.
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Written August 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pres D
Sydney150 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Friends
We had one of the best times ever, cycling the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari over five days, and then returning to Onomichi in one day. The bridges are architectural works of art, and the natural scenery- of the Seto Inland Sea and islands and hills were amazing. On sunny days and on overcast drizzling days, the views were so beautiful. We had some great stays at a variety of accommodations en route, together with amazing meals.
The cycling is varied- from a few busy suburban roads, to dedicated bike paths, and from flat bridge paths and coastal roads, to steepish inclines (up to 3%) up to bridge level. The Shimanami Kaido is marked by a blue line through it's length, but the blue line also marks some other paths around the various islands, and it's easy to miss the turn-off up to a bridge. It pays to study the map and get a feeling for the layout of the islands and where the bridges are and then the details of where the cycle paths and the blue lines are. The cycling surface is paved all the way- no gravel or dirt.
There are many places to stop for snacks, coffee, ice cream etc- and plenty of toilet stops along the course. Most of these stops have souvenir shops attached or adjacent. There are also some really good photo spots designed to allow for great pictures of the bridges.
Cycling back 75km from Imabari to Onomichi, took me 5 hours. Fit cyclists would do it in half that time. The main difficulties are the ramps and roads ascending up to the bridges. Some of these inclines last for 2 km or more and you need to be fit, other wise you will want to get off your bike and walk up.
Overall it was a great ride, and I will do it again if I have the chance.
Written April 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anne U
Yangshuo County, China4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Solo
This is so amazing! If you like to bike just a little bit you have to do this.. SO beautiful and so nice an experience.
Written November 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ccsfamily
Geneva, IL346 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
We researched this bicycle route after our 27 year old son and his friends rode it. They rode from Imabari to Onomichi in a day. We decided to bicycle from Onomichi to Imabari in a day. We booked our hotel in Onomichi way in advance (stayed at Hotel Cycle for 3 nights). We reserved cross bicycles through Shimanami Rental at 60 days out so we could pick up the bicycles at Onomichi and turn them in at Imabari. We picked up the bikes at 7 am and walked to the ferry with the bikes to cross the small channel to begin the route. The route is well marked with a blue line and counts down your kilometers towards Imabari. (If cycling towards Onomichi, it also has the blue line and count down.) You still have to pay attention so you do not miss any turns. The switchback paved trails to get up to the bridges are not easy, but not too difficult if you are in shape. We did not have any trouble with the inclines to the bridges. Plus, you knew you were riding downhill after crossing the bridge. There was one long stretch of highway that was a long slow incline that was not too fun. The Shimanami Kaido is 46 miles and we finished in one day. It took us 8 1/2 hours with all of our stops for water, food, photos, and taking in the scenery.
Note: about half way, there is a large bicycle sanctuary which looks like a great place to get some food and rest - wrong. It had nothing to offer except water from a vending machine and a place that sold fried foods. We took some snacks with us, but there are lots of convenience stores along the way. We wish we would not have wasted our time stopping at this so called bicycle sanctuary.
We were worried about completing the route in one day before the bicycle rental return closed. By starting at 7:30 am, we finished at 4 pm. After crossing the last bridge into Imabari, the blue line continues for about 5 miles to the Imabari bus station in town where the Shimanami Rental return was located. After turning in our bikes, we were able to catch the Shimanami express bus back to Onomichi where we were staying. The bus ride was about 90 minutes and included a transfer to another bus along the way. We are very thankful to the young Japanese couple who helped us navigate the bus schedule. When you get on the bus, you take a ticket and pay when you get off. It is important to have Yen with you along the route since some places may not take credit cards. Also, it is very helpful to learn some Japanese since many people do not speak English in these smaller towns. Everyone we met along the route were incredible nice and friendly! We loved the experience of bicycling through the Japanese islands on this incredible route! The route goes across six magnificent bridges and you are either riding across it on a path safely beside the cars or on a path directly under the bridge with cars above you. We wish we would have spent a little more time enjoying the beautiful scenery and we wish we would have spent an extra day in Onomichi to explore the area.
Written April 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sabina b
roma19 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
The cycle path is mostly on the car road and crosses many industrial areas. With kids it can be dangerous and mostly is not pleasant.
Written August 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Shimanami Kaido - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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