Shimanami Cycling

Your tour begins in Hiroshima. After checking into your hotel, you are free to explore the city or visit the scenic temple island of Miyajima on your own or with our excursion.

Hiroshima itself is best known for its peace monuments and atomic bomb memorial sites. You can also visit Hiroshima Castle, walk through the beautiful parks or enjoy the local speciality: Okonomiyaki (a Japanese-style pancake). We recommend an easy evening and plenty of rest before tomorrow's journey.

Today you travel by train from Hiroshima to Onomichi, located about one hour East of Hiroshima. You can pack a small bag for a few days and leave your large luggage at the hotel in Hiroshima.

Upon arrival in Onomichi, you'll rent a bicycle from one of our recommended partners and head off!

Your cycle tour will take you along the beautiful scenic route, which starts in Onomichi through Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima (where you will spend the evening), Omishima, Hakatajima and Oshima, before you arrive in Shikoku, where the route ends.

On your first day of cycling, you will pass the beautiful Kousanji Temple on Ikuchi (Ikuchijima) island. You can also visit the Hirayama Ikuo-museum, dedicated to Hirayama Ikuo, one of Japan's most famous painters who worked in the traditional Nihonga style.

The journey from Onomichi to Ikuchi island should take around three hours for the average person, although this mainly depends on your preferred cycling speed and the number of stops you wish to make. The route is around 30 kilometres, and the terrain mostly flat with no particularly challenging stretches.

Your evening will be spent at a traditional Japanese hotel on the island, known as a ryokan, where you will get to experience genuine island hospitality and a wonderful Japanese dinner with local specialities.

Today you continue cycling along the beautiful route, finishing in the town of Imabari on the island of Shikoku. This part of your cycling journey is approximately 35km and should take you around four hours, depending on speed and number of stops along the way.

After arriving in Imabari, you can return your cycles to the local branch of the bike rental shop and make your way to the station. From there, you'll board the train for a 40-minute journey to Matsuyama.

The city of Matsuyama is known for one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, Dogo Onsen. The bathhouse served as the inspiration for the famous Ghibli movie 'Spirited Away.' After checking into your hotel, we recommend spending the rest of the day relaxing and looking back to the impressive cycling route you just completed.

After checking out of your hotel, you will make your way to the port of Matsuyama, where you will board a high-speed ferry that takes you back to Hiroshima in about three hours. Once you have arrived in Hiroshima, you can collect your luggage from the hotel you stayed at on the first evening.