Shimanami Kaidō Bike Path ((ja)し ま な み 海道) | |
 | |
| Tatara Bridge, from Ikuchijima Island. | |
| Information | |
| Departure | Mukaishima |
|---|---|
| Steps | Innoshima Ikuchijima Ōmishima Hakatajima Ōshima |
| Arrival | Imabari |
| Length | 70 km |
| Country |  Japan |
| Region | Seto Inland Sea |
| Tourist information office | |
| Location | |
 34 ° 14 ′ 52 ″ N 133 ° 5 ′ 45 ″ E | |
| Touristic site | |
The Shimanami Kaidō bike path is a route connecting Onomichi in the prefecture of Hiroshima on the island of Honshū To Imabari in the prefecture ofEhime on the island of Shikoku. It allows cyclists to go from island to island on the Seto Inland Sea.
Understand
This cycle path of 70 km connects Onomichi with the islands of Mukaishima, Innoshima (with the pirate castle of Suigun), Ikuchijima (with the Kōsan-ji temple), Ōmishima, Hakatajima and Ōshima, and ends at Imabari on Shikoku. You can walk or jog there on any part of the bridges, but pedaling is the best way to get around. The route is mostly on a cycle path or on wide sidewalks, generally along the road but separate from it. The whole route is very well maintained and easy to follow: it is bordered all the way by a blue line. The ascent necessary to reach the bridges (up to 50 m altitude) is also not a big obstacle thanks to the winding cycle paths and the gentle slope.
Preparations
There are at least two rental companies that allow you to rent a bike on one side of the track and return it on the other side:
- Shimanami Japan (し ま な み ジ ャ パ ン)
1 000 JPY/ day rental, 1 000 JPY deposit returned only if the bike is returned to the rental deposit. – This association is managed by the three municipalities covering the cycle path. Its network has 14 depots along the route where you can rent bicycles, plus 2 in Imabari just for depots. The depots have several types of bikes including 18-speed hybrid bikes, 8-speed road bikes, and 3-speed Dutch bikes. VTCs are sized for average people; the course does not present any difficulty, even a person exceeding 1m80 can use them. Tandems are available at Setoda Sunset Beach (just for this island) and Sunrise Itoyama. E-bikes are available at Onomichi, Setoda Tourist Office, and Setoda Sunset Beach and must be returned to the rental depot. Helmets are available but sizes may be limited. The reservation is available from the website (in).- Onomichi Port Depot (from Onomichi station, go towards the seaside; it will be in the parking lot to the right of the Green Hill hotel),
81 848-22-5332 
7 h - 18 h. – On weekends, plan to rent before 10 h if you start from Onomichi.
- Onomichi Port Depot (from Onomichi station, go towards the seaside; it will be in the parking lot to the right of the Green Hill hotel),
- Giant (Onomichi port and Imabari station) adults: from 4 000 JPY per day for a VTC, up to 13 000 JPY for a high-end road bike. – The bicycle manufacturer has two shops at both ends of the course.
An excellent brochure in English is available at depots and in line. It provides cyclists with routes to additional tourist sites on the islands and alternative routes for those who want to take a more strenuous journey. The brochure also has information on stops, depot locations, public transport (if you get tired) and other amenities; there are many choices along the way for lunch, snacks and more. If you are staying overnight in Onomichi, it is recommended that you pick up the brochure from the depot the night before your ride.
To go
- 1 Onomichi Station (尾 道 駅, onomichi-eki) – The stationOnomichi is an interesting access point as a bike rental is at a parking lot a few minutes walk away and the ferries from the port next door are the best way to reach Mukaishima Island from where the cycle path starts.
- The station is on the JR San'yō Line and does not accommodate Shinkansen trains. Since Hiroshima, count 1 h and 3 940 JPY/5 470 JPY depending on the type of Shinkansen and with a change to a local train. By local train only with one change, count 1 h 40 and 1 490 JPY. Since Okayama, it will be 50 min and 3 770 JPY/3 980 JPY by Shinkansen and local train, and 1 h 20 by direct local train on the San-yō line.
The Green Hill Hotel is also where the ferry connects Ononichi to Mukaishima, Innoshima and Ikuchijima / Setoda. The more athletic cyclists can ride it on a long day. But if you want to take the time to admire the scenery a little more, stopping to take photos and see tourist sites, two days will be necessary, even more if you make detours or long stops. Also bear in mind that a possible headwind could require more effort. It is also possible to make only one of the two halves by taking the ferry from Onomichi to Setoda: either leaving from Onomichi and coming back there, or leaving from Shikoku and jumping from Setoda to the lesser islands. more rural north of the route. Ferries depart Onomichi once an hour from 7 h 20 the morning ; the journey to Setoda lasts 40 min. Tickets can be purchased at the ferry terminal behind the Green Hill Hotel.
- 2 Imabari Station (今 治 駅, Imabari-eki) – At about 7,5 km from the bike path and with Giant's bike shop on site and Shimanami Japan rental office a little further away.
Steps
The main route is generally flat except for reasonable, well-leveled bridge approaches and a large hill on Ōshima Island. At the end of 2017, the entire route was free for bicycles and pedestrians (as indicated on the toll boxes).
It is quite possible to do the route in the opposite direction to that indicated. This also allows you to have the wind with you rather than in front.
The distances of the main “recommended” route are:
- 1 Onomichi (尾 道) – To go from Onomichi to Mukaishima, it is recommended to take the ferry (110 JPY bicycle included): The Shin-Onomichi-ōbashi Bridge is not intended for bicycles and pedestrians and the adjacent Onomichi-ōbashi Bridge has only a narrow lane for these.
- 2 Mukaishima (向 島) – (9,2 km) Tranquil seaside landscapes contrasting with the hustle and bustle of Honshū once you leave the port approaches.
- 3 Innoshima Bridge (因 島 大橋, innoshima ōhashi) – (1,3 km)
- 4 Innoshima (因 島) – (9,3 km) A course by the sea near the bridges and passing more inland in rural landscapes halfway. A detour takes you to a pretty castle towards the center of the island.
- 5 Ikuchibashi Bridge (生 口 橋) – (0,8 km)
- 6 Ikuchijima (生 口 島) – (13 km, the port of Setoda being about halfway)
- 7 Tatara Bridge (多 々 羅 大橋) – (1,5 km)
- 8 Ōmishima (大 三島) – (6 km)
- 9 Ōmishima bridge (大 三島 橋, ōmishima-bashi, ōmishimakyō) – (0,5 km)
- 10 Hakatajima (伯 方 島) – (4,3 km)
- 11 Hakata – Ōshima Bridge (伯 方 ・ 大 島 大橋, hakata ōshima ōhashi) – (3 km)
- 12 Ōshima (大 島) – (11,4 km)
- 13 Kurushima Strait Bridge (来 島 海峡 大橋, kurushima kaikyō ōhashi) – (4,1 km)
- 14 Sunrise Itoyama depositImabari (サ ン ラ イ ズ 糸 山) (on Kyūshū, before the Kurushima-Kaikyō bridge on the east side) – The nearest depot to the Kyushu side bike path. However, public transport connecting it to Imabari station is infrequent, and so if their schedules do not correspond you might prefer to rent / return your bike to Imabari station at 7,5 km by the seaside is approximately 30 min.
- Bus – A limited number of buses connect Sunrise Itoyama (name of the stop: "Tenbōdai-iriguchi », 展望 台 入口) and JR Imabari station in 25 min about. They leave from Sunrise Itoyama to 9 h, 10 h 20, 13 h 42, 16 h 14 and 18 h 17, and from Imabari station to 8 h 38, 9 h 58, 13 h 20, 15 h 52 and 17 h 55 (2015 timetables).
- 15 Hashihama Station (波 止 浜 駅, hashihama-eki) – This station is less than 2 km by Sunrise Itoyama. 05 min journey time and only one train per hour.
- 16 Imabari (今 治)
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To see
Innoshima
- 1 Suigun-jō Castle (因 島 水 軍 子, innoshima suigun-jō) (once on road 367 going towards the center of the island, continue on it instead of turning right; towards the end of route 367, turn right, then right again at the end of 500 m ; count a detour from 3 km go and 130 m/100 m of ascent / descent on an unpleasant route) – A lovely reconstructed castle isolated, but only offering views of the surrounding hills.
Ikuchijima
Once on the island, about 4 km on the main cycle route are:
- 2 Kōsan-ji temple (耕 三 寺) (in Setoda, from the sea, cross the shopping street "Shiomachi", to the right after the crossroads) all year 9 h - 17 h ; Villa: 10 h - 16 h. adults 1 400 JPY, students 1 000 JPY, high school students 800 JPY, 65 years 1 200 JPY, college students and younger: free; entry into the Chōseikaku villa: 200 JPY what's more. – A site where the industrialist Koso Kōsanji first built there in 1927 the Chōseikaku villa, of Japanese / Western hybrid construction, as a refuge for his mother. After her death, from 1936, he developed there in her honor a temple of the Jōdo Shinshū school of Buddhism. The complex is spread over an area of approximately 55 000 m² and many of its buildings are inspired by the country's most famous temples and historic shrines. Beautiful foliage colors in autumn. The Hill of hope (未来 心 の 丘, miraishin no oka) is a totally atypical monument by Kazuto Kuetani, furnished with 5 000 m² of Carrara marble weighing some three thousand tons. The Kōsan-ji Museum houses more than two thousand objects including nineteen important cultural objects of Japan.
Upper level of Kōsan-ji temple
The Hill of Hope
- 3 Hirayama Ikuo Museum (平 山 郁 夫 子術館, hirayama ikuo bijutsukan) – Museum of a Japanese painter, pacifist, active activist in nuclear disarmament and knight of the French Legion of Honor.
- 4 Kōjō-ji temple (向上 寺) free. – If this Buddhist temple is not at all as flamboyant as its neighbor, its three-story pagoda is classified as a “national treasure”.
Ōmishima
The island has several tourist sites, those located in the southwestern peninsula of the island require a detour of 9-30 km in total compared to the main route along the east coast.
- 5 Santō Murakami Memorial Museum (村上 三島 記念 館, murakami santō kinenkan) (near the bridge on the Onomichi side) Tue.- Sun. : 9 h - 17 h; if Monday is a holiday, closed on Tuesday; closed from 29 Dec. to 2 Jan. 300 JPY, students 150 JPY. – Dedicated to the calligrapher Santō Murakami.
- 6 Ōmishima Art Museum (今 治 市 大 三島 子, imabari-shi ōmishima bijutsukan) (from the North Bridge, go north for 1,5 km approx, then take the road going west for approx. 4,5 km; going this far will require a steady pace if you make the trip over two days) Tue.- Sun. : 9 h - 17 h, closed from 27 to 31 Dec.. 500 JPY, children 250 JPY.
- 7 Ōyamazumi shrine (大 山 祇 神社, ōyamazumi-jinja) (in front of Ōmishima art museum) – Its Treasure Hall, featuring offerings of swords, armor, and other military equipment, is the largest museum of equipment used in the battles of Samurai-Age Japan.
- 8 Toyo Ito Architectural Museum, Imabari (今 治 市 伊 東 豊 雄 建築 ミ ュ ー ジ ア ム imabari-shi ito toyo kenchiku mujiamu) (in the south-west of the island, at 15 km of the two bridges located on the east coast) Tue.- Sun. : 9 h - 17 h; if Monday is a holiday, closed on Tuesday; closed from 27 to 31 Dec.. 800 JPY, students 400 JPY. – The permanent exhibition includes reproductions of 3 buildings at 1/20 and 1/10. Temporary exhibitions.
- 9 Tokoro Museum Omishima (と こ ろ ミ ュ ー ジ ア ム 大 三島) (in the south-west of the island, at 14 km of the two bridges located on the east coast) Tue.- Sun. : 9 h - 17 h; if Monday is a public holiday, closed on Tuesday; closed from 27 to 31 Dec.. 300 JPY, students 150 JPY. – Contemporary sculptures.
- 10 Ken Iwata Mother and Child Museum, Imabari Town (今 治 市 岩田 健 母 と 子 の ミ ュ ー ジ ア ム) (at the southwestern tip of the island, at 16 km the North Bridge and 12 km from the south bridge) Tue.- Sun. : 9 h - 17 h; if Monday is a holiday, closed on Tuesday; closed from 27 to 31 Dec.. 300 JPY, students 150 JPY. – Scupltures.
Two museum passes are available:
- 3 Museum Pass: Tokoro Museum Omishima, Architecture Museum and Ken Iwata Museum, 1 000 JPY instead of 1 400 JPY, students 500 JPY
- Pass 5 museums: 1 400 JPY instead of 2 400 JPY, students 700 JPY
Do
- 1 Tatara Onsen (多 々 羅 温泉) (on Ōmishima island; after getting off the north bridge, take route 317 heading northeast and after passing under the highway take the first left, then left twice again) sea.- Mon. : 10 h - 20 h, end of entries at 19 h 30. adults 310 JPY, from 3 years to schoolchildren: 160 JPY. – A bathhouse.
To buy
Eat
On the way, you will see many orange plantations. In the shopping street of the town of Setoda on the island of Ikuchijima, you will find lemon in many forms (cakes, ramen, bottle of sauce to bring back as a souvenir…).
The Kombini and shops are more widely spaced on the islands than in most of the country: it is advisable to spot them before the trip to plan supplies.
Housing
Booking accommodation in this area is much more complicated than elsewhere in Japan: there are only a very small number of offers on booking sites in French and English. Being able to get help from someone who speaks Japanese and can book in this language, by Internet, telephone or fax, will greatly expand the choices available to you.
If you are making the trip in two days, Tatara on Ōmishima is a good place to spend the night before / after the trip to Ōyamazumi shrine.
The bivouac, although prohibited in Japan, is quite possible by moving away from the route.
Have a drink / Go out
Security
Around
- 1 Onomichi (尾 道) (to the north, on Honshū) – Hillside port town with pleasant paths connecting dozens of small temples, also known for its Japanese authors
- 2 Imabari (今 治) (to the south, on Shikoku) – A maritime city, having the 3e largest shipbuilding company in the world (No. 1 in Japan), with over 20,000 ship owners.
