Cyclists are being encouraged to ride Japan’s famed Shimanami Kaido, a
60km route that moves from island to island and connects Hiroshima’s
Onomichi on Honshu with Shikoku via the city of Imabari.
Recently, Setouchi Vélo, an organisation determined to establish a
lasting brand image for Setouchi as a cycling destination, trialled a
potential route in Kagawa Prefecture’s capital city of Takamatsu. The
trial followed a refresher of Setouchi Vélo’s website and app, which
helps cyclists to discover and follow new routes.
Setouchi Vélo says the total number of registered cycling routes in
the region is 82 - with a total length of 7,612 km. The newly registered
routes include the Yumeshima Kaido Cycling Course in Ehime and a 1,000
km route that encircles the island of Shikoku.
Bikes, including e-bikes, can be rented at many places across the region’s nine prefectures.
“Cycling allows international visitors to savour what life is like
around Japan’s Seto Inland Sea, connecting the Pacific Ocean with the
Sea of Japan, in a way that no other means of transportation is able,”
says Setouchi Vélo.
While spots like Kosan-ji and the Hill of Hope are icons of the
Shimanami Kaido, hidden gems in the Setouchi region are also best
visited via bicycle. For example, the Townscape of Mitarai - an
important preservation district for groups of historic buildings - on
Osaki-Shimojima is one of the highlights along the Tobishima Kaido.
And thanks to the country’s existing infrastructure for shipping
luggage around from hotel to hotel, travellers can bike around without
having to carry their suitcases.