Cycle the Shimanami Kaido by E-Bike

With multiple route options available on most days, the distances provided are intended as a guide only and may vary depending on the choices you make.

The daily kilometres listed reflect cycling times only and do not account for stops, breaks, or visits to attractions, all of which contribute to a complete day of activity.

Make your way to Imabari, located in Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku and serving as the gateway to the iconic Shimanami Kaido cycling route.

Imabari boasts a thriving maritime industry and a rich local heritage. Though compact in size, it’s worth arriving early enough to explore its highlights – especially Imabari Castle, one of Japan’s Top 100 castles. Surrounded by a seawater moat, the castle is particularly striking when illuminated at night.

Imabari is also famous for its premium towel production, and a visit to the Towel Museum is highly recommended. The museum features beautifully curated seasonal gardens and is a great place to enjoy a relaxing lunch.

There are also some excellent dining options near your accommodation, offering a chance to sample the local cuisine before your Shimanami adventure begins.

Meals: –

Fuel up with a hearty breakfast this morning – you’re in for a rewarding day on the bike. Make your way to the bike centre, where you’ll receive a briefing and get fitted with your e-bike before setting off on the Shimanami Kaido.

You’ll leave Imabari and soon approach your first bridge crossing, an exciting moment that offers breathtaking views across the Seto Inland Sea. Before crossing, consider a short detour to a nearby viewpoint overlooking the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge – the longest suspension bridge on the route and a fantastic introduction to the series of bridges ahead. Looking over the water below, you might spot the swirling patterns of tidal currents, similar to the famous Naruto whirlpools (which are strongest in the Naruto Strait of Tokushima). From this high vantage point, the natural patterns are still fascinating to observe.

Once you reach Oshima Island, follow the scenic coastal road past quiet fishing villages, offering beautiful views back toward the bridge. If you enjoy flora, you may like to stop in at Yoshiumi Rose Park. The park showcases rose varieties from around the world and also has a café perfect for a snack or an ice cream break.

Continuing on, you’ll pass a coastline dotted with large granite stones – Oshima is known for its high-quality stone, famously used in architecture and sculpture. There are several inviting cafés along the route, so you may like to break here for a relaxing lunch. You’ll then cross the Hakata-Oshima Bridge to Hakatajima Island, where the views will continue to impress. The island offers more great photo stops, tranquil sea vistas and additional places to pause for food, drinks or snacks.

Depending on your timing and energy, you may like to take a detour up to Hirakiyama Park, a popular viewpoint with sweeping panoramas of the surrounding islands – especially stunning in spring and autumn.

From here, you’ll cross a short bridge to Omishima Island and cycle through to your accommodation for the evening.

Meals: B, D

Enjoy breakfast with a view across the Seto Inland Sea as you prepare for another rewarding day on the Shimanami Kaido.

This morning, you’ll cycle around the coastline of Omishima, the largest island on the route. The ride takes you through peaceful scenery, passing through groves of mandarins and oranges for which the island is known.

As you continue along the coast, you’ll come across a couple of art and architecture museums, both worth a visit if time permits and you’re interested in seeking creative inspiration along the way.

From here, turn inland to visit the Oyamazumi Shrine, one of the most important Shinto shrines in Japan. Dedicated to Oyamazumi-no-Kami, the elder brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu, he is revered as the god of mountains, the sea, and warriors. The shrine also holds the largest collection of samurai armor and weaponry in Japan, once worn by some of the country’s most legendary warriors.

After exploring the shrine, cross the impressive Tatara Bridge, which marks the border between Ehime and Hiroshima Prefectures and arrive on Ikuchijima, an island renowned for producing some of Japan’s best lemons.

Here, you can choose between cycling the full loop around Ikuchijima, taking in more coastal views or the shorter route directly to the charming port town of Setoda. Once there, drop off your bike at your accommodation and take a leisurely stroll along Shiomachi Shopping Street toward Kōsanji Temple. This striking temple complex, known for its vibrant architecture and elaborate grounds, is considered one of the most beautiful in Japan. Don’t miss a walk up to the Hill of Hope, a dazzling marble terrace offering stunning views.

If time allows, you may also wish to visit the nearby Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art, which showcases the work of one of Japan’s most celebrated Nihonga (Japanese-style) painters.

Setoda offers a variety of fantastic dining options, so unwind this evening with a delicious local meal, reflecting on the day’s discoveries.

Meals: B

Back on the bike this morning, enjoy the relaxed ride from Setoda across the Ikuchibashi Bridge to Innoshima Island and the next leg of your Shimanami Kaido journey. Take in the expansive sea views as you pedal toward new discoveries.

Innoshima offers several worthwhile detours, depending on your interests and energy. For sweeping views, consider a ride up to Innoshima Park, a favourite spot in spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom – though be prepared for some hill climbing to reach the top. Alternatively, head inland to explore Innoshima Suigun Castle, a small museum that tells the story of the Murakami Suigun, a powerful maritime clan who ruled these waters between the 14th and 15th centuries.

The Innoshima Flower Centre makes for a peaceful stop to wander among seasonal blooms and enjoy its well-kept gardens. It’s also a great option for a relaxed lunch break.

If you’re up for more adventure after lunch, hike up to the Mt. Shirataki Observation Deck. Along the trail, you’ll encounter around 700 stone Buddha statues in a variety of poses and expressions. At the summit, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the entire route.

From here, cross the final bridge of your island-hopping journey to Mukaishima Island. Once across, pause at Tachibana Seaside Park to look back at the last bridge and reflect on the incredible ride you’ve just completed.

Continue cycling through to Mukaishimacho, from where a short ferry ride will take you across to your final destination – the quaint and welcoming port city of Onomichi.

On arrival, drop off your bike and check in to your accommodation. After a full day of scenic cycling and memorable stops, treat yourself to a well-earned dinner and celebrate the successful completion of your Shimanami Kaido adventure.

Meals: B

Your trip concludes after breakfast this morning. If time allows, you may wish to extend your stay and explore more of Onomichi – a city known for its charming laneways, hillside temples and artistic flair. Otherwise, depart when ready, traveling by train to your next destination.

Meals: B

24kg of CO2-e per person per day

We pay for a monthly offset to cover the estimated emissions of our walkers / cyclists for all trips with RAW Travel, which goes into local reforestation or biodiversity restoration. Explore the practical actions behind these estimated carbon offsets for your trip here, following a philosophy of ‘re-wilding the planet’ with native tree planting & Ocean plastic cleans ups.

A reasonable estimate for a pilgrim is 24kg of CO2-e per person per day, primarily due to hotels, meals and emissions from luggage transfers. The act of walking / cycling itself is a form of sustainable travel, so the carbon footprint calculated here is a measure of the ancillary activities surrounding the ride, not the riding itself. The figures are estimates, not precise measurements for each route/trip, as it’s difficult to provide an exact number without detailed data on specific hotels, menus, and transfer routes which vary from person to person. This figure represents the operational footprint of the ride and its included services only. It does not include the flights and other transport needed to get to the start and finish of the walk.

An individual can significantly influence their footprint with the varied choices they make around food and drink at each meal. For instance, a diet rich in meat, imported goods and alcohol, will have a much higher impact than one focused on local, seasonal, and plant-based options. This daily stated figure is an average across all days of the trip, derived from the key consumption components listed below.

Carbon Footprint Breakdown

• 4-nights twin-share accommodation 
• Daily meals (as listed in the itinerary)
• 3-days e-bike hire
• RAW Travel’s exclusive interactive navigation app
• Local and Australian emergency contacts
• Carbon offset for your trip and a native tree planted

• Single supplement – please ask for a quote
• Local train and ferry tickets
• Luggage transfers (details will be provided)
• Meals not indicated in the itinerary
• Entrance fees to local sites
• Expenses and items of a personal nature
• Flights
• Travel insurance

The Shimanami Kaido is a 70km route linking Honshu and Shikoku across six islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Completed in 1999, it’s the only Honshu–Shikoku connection designed for cyclists and pedestrians as well as cars. Once a vital ferry corridor, it’s now Japan’s most iconic cycling route, celebrated for its world-class bridges, citrus orchards, and fishing villages. Blending modern engineering with centuries of maritime history, the Shimanami Kaido offers an unforgettable ride through sea, sky, and island life.

The Shimanami Kaido is located in the Seto Inland Sea region of Japan, connecting the city of Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture on Honshu Island to Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku Island. It spans a series of six islands linked by scenic bridges, making it a popular cycling route between the two main islands of Japan.

Imabari is the gateway to Shimanami Kaido. 

Cycling the Shimanami Kaido is a safe, enjoyable and well-organised experience, suitable for a wide range of abilities. The route is fully signposted in English and Japanese, with blue cycling lines painted on the road to guide you the entire way. Most sections are on quiet coastal roads or dedicated cycle paths, with gentle gradients making it accessible even for less experienced riders, especially with the use of e-bikes. Bridge approaches can involve some hill climbs, but they are steady and manageable, rewarded with sweeping sea views. Regular rest stops, cafés and convenience stores make refuelling easy along the way.

This itinerary is 5 days long, with flexible route options each day ranging from 30km to 80km. You can tailor your ride to suit your pace and interests, whether that means covering more distance or taking time to explore the islands, viewpoints, and local attractions along the way.

The best time to cycle the Shimanami Kaido is spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November), when temperatures are mild, humidity is low, and scenery is at its most beautiful. Spring offers blooming flowers, while autumn showcases vibrant foliage. Summer can be hot, humid, and prone to typhoons, making cycling more tiring, though mornings are cooler. Winter brings cold, wind, and unpredictable weather, but fewer crowds. Overall, spring and autumn provide the most comfortable, scenic, and enjoyable riding conditions for cyclists. 

Helmets are not legally required but are highly recommended for safety and are a requirement when joining RAW Travel’s Shimanami Kaido trips. Helmet hire is included on RAW’s Shimanami Kaido trips.

Riding an e-bike is similar to a regular bicycle, but with some differences. The electric motor provides pedal assistance, making it easier to tackle hills, headwinds or longer distances without getting as tired. You still control your speed and braking like a normal bike, so it feels familiar, but you’ll notice the boost when you need it.

We highly recommend training to prepare your body for several consecutive days of cycling before your trip. Aim to build up your fitness and endurance gradually by taking regular rides that match the distances and terrain you’ll cover, and include both flat and hilly routes. If you’re new to e-bikes, practice beforehand to get comfortable with balance and battery use. Strengthening your legs, core, and upper body, and stretching regularly will also help reduce soreness and prevent injury.