Setouchi Shimanami Kaido

The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido is the nickname of the Nishi-Seto Expressway. It is a bridge route that connects Onomichi City in Honshu, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, with a total length of about 60 km (cycling road about 70 km).

There are six large islands in that section, and they are connected by bridges of different shapes, so it is also called the “Bridge Museum”. The biggest feature of the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido is that it is the only one in Japan that you can cross the strait and cross it on foot or by bicycle. It has also been selected as the “Seven Greatest Cycling Courses in the World” by CNN.

Not only is it famous as one of the best cycling courses in the world, cyclists come from all over the world. In addition, the international cycling competition “Cycling Shimanami,” was held on the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido with the Expressway in service closed to traffic, in November 2019.

The Shimanami Kaido cycling road has been designated by the country as a “National Cycle Route".

The “Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Cycling Course” and the “Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) Cycling Course” in Taiwan signed a sister bicycle path agreement in 2014. To commemorate this agreement the international cycling competition “Cycling Shimanami,” was held in the same year. Also, a sacred monument for cyclists was build in the Road Station Tatara Shimanami Park (Imabari City Omishima).

By doing all those exchanges, the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Promotion Council and the Taiwan Cyclist Association hope that the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido will be loved by many people as a “sacred place for cyclists.”

The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido has a blue line on the left side of the roadway that clearly indicates the recommended cycling route so that even beginners can easily cycle. You can enjoy cycling from JR Onomichi Station to JR Imabari Station without getting lost.

Innoshima is an island where the Murakami Policement Pirates were based in the Middle Ages. This is why you can find here a castle type naval museum (Innoshima Suigun Castle), which is rare in the whole country.

Shirotakiyama is the island's viewpoint. There, you can find impressive stone of Buddhas of the 500 Rakan scattered around the approach and summit. Other popular spots are Innoshima Park, Innoshima Flower Center where you can relax comfortably in a lawn square surrounded by flowers, and the Ohamasaki Lighthouse and Lighthouse Memorial Innoshima Ohashi Memorial Park, which has a museum and a campsite

It is also the birthplace of Hassaku and Anseikan, species of citrus fruits. If you are a cyclist, it is also indispensable to visit Oyama Shrine, commonly known as the bicycle shrine.

“Shimanami Curry Rion” where you can taste exquisite Indian cuisine using seasonal ingredients from Shimanami, “Hassaku Ya” known for Hassaku Daifuku, “Nanohana” which is a cafe terrace that also serves as a resting place for cycling, etc. It is also packed with interesting dishes and sweets.

Omishima is the largest island in the Geiyo Islands and has been called the “Island of God” and “The Island of National Treasures” because it has Oyamazumi Shrine, which has many national treasures.

Around the Tatara Observatory at the foot of Tatara Ohashi, there is the Murakami Mishima Memorial Hall and the Tatara Campsite. There is also the Road Station Tatar Shimanami Park which is a cycling Terminal and where you can find a shop of local specialties.

There is also a cycling road on the island, and you can enjoy it in various ways, such as the tour facility to the “Hakata Salt Factory”, the “Tokoro Museum Omishima”, which is an art museum of contemporary sculpture, and hot springs. “Incense” is popular for pizza baked in a brick pot, “Limone” which sells liqueur and citrus juice made from island lemons that you want to buy as souvenirs, and cafes where you can drink authentic coffee of commitment” Also check out the “Omishima Coffee Roastery”.

The gateway to the Shikoku side of the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, Oshima, which is connected to Imabari by the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge,

It is a “pirate-related island” that used to be home to the Noshima Village pirates. From the exhibits at the Murakami Suigun Museum and the naval races held in the summer, you can learn about the activities of Murakami pirates who were based in the Seto Inland Sea.

The fishing industry is also thriving, and fresh seafood is delicious.

It is also famous as a production area of high-grade granite Oshima stone. One of the features is that there are many viewpoints where you can overlook the Seto Inland Sea, such as Mt. Kiro Observation Park and Mount Flounder Observation Park.

It is also fun to experience whirlpools on the Kurushima Strait Rapid Current. Boat are based on the “Road Station” Yoshiumi Iki-iki-kan. At Yoshiumi Rose Park, beautiful roses bloom from the fresh green season to early winter.

“Shokudo Mitsubachi” where you can enjoy gentle dishes from specialities of the Seto Inland Sea spreads out in front of you. “Ishi No Cafe”, a healing cafe made of timber with impressive Oshima stone and grain. The bakery Paysan who make organic bread using homemade natural yeast is very popular. An old private house cafe “Miyakuboshima no Dining” in a calm and relaxing space, and “Sunrise Itoyama-style restaurant” where you can taste dishes from local production for local consumption It's recommended.