Shimanami Kaido Setouchi Tour

Your BTJ guides will be ready to meet you at the front of Onomichi Station. After introductions and bike fits, we are off on our scenic ride across the first island of the Shimanami Kaido. Trace the shoreline and explore hidden roads off the beaten path. We’ll enjoy a delicious lunch by the harbor before we take to the hills and climb up to our ryokan perched atop the hills behind town. When you’re ready, meet up with our guides for a beautiful traditional dinner and our first toast to a great week ahead!

Today is the first day of our journey across the Setouchi Sea, the brilliant blue body of water peppered with islands that stretches between Shikoku and Honshu. Welcome to the Shimanami Kaido! You’ll feel like you’re flying across the sea on these roads that are designed specifically for cyclists traversing these gorgeous islands and bridges. We’ll spend the day dipping in and out of seaside towns and coastal roads. Be sure to stop for the best views each island has to offer along the way. Just before our ryokan, we will take time to explore the magical Kousanji Temple. Our home this evening is a very traditional ryokan situated right on the seaside.

The road continues on through the increasingly wild islands of Omishima, Hakata, and finally Oshima. Complete the Kaido by tracing the remaining islands and bridges that take us to the final island of Shikoku. Along the way, we will stop at the Oyamazumi Shrine, home to one of Japan’s oldest trees at over 2,600 years old. Our ryokan this evening is just past the final suspension bridge, the largest in the world! Take a break to enjoy the hillside with magnificent views of the bridge and inland sea. On a lucky day, you can see the incredible whirlpools in the waters below. Finally, roll into Daichouso, for a soak in the hot-spring and a beautiful kaiseki spread for dinner.

After three days of ocean scenes, we will take to the mountains! Get a taste of rindo (forest paths) that inspired our love for road cycling in Japan. Then, experience the rejuvenating feeling of rolling on tiny roads lined by trees and bamboo. We’ll stop at one of the 88 temples of the mystical Shikoku Pilgrimage. Small back roads take us up to the highest point of our trip at the Suigatouge Tunnel. After cutting through the mountain, a long downhill rewards us all the way into Matsuyama City, where we will stay across the street from the famous Dogo Onsen Building.

Hop back on the bikes for a short ride over to the Matsuyama Scenic Ferry Terminal to catch our ferry to the port town of Kure (2h). Relax aboard and soak in the sights as we weave between the scattered islands of the inland sea. Once docked in Kure, our route takes us on the most remote part of our trip across the Tobishima Kaido. This rarely-traveled string of islands and bridges will lead us to the orange capital of Japan, a truly refreshing and wild island!

After a morning soak and breakfast, we will hit the island for a victory lap. Today’s ride is full of hillsides covered in orange groves, coastal views, and fresh sea breeze. Savor these locals-only routes before we’ll hop on our last ferry (20m) back to the mainland town of Takehara. While this region has less of the typical convenience of Japan, it also means we get to experience the purest sense of rural island life. Reflect upon the paths we’ve traveled and listen closely to the soothing waves nearby.

We will enjoy lunch in Takehara and help you arrange any travel for tomorrow at the train station before rolling up the Kamo River to our ryokan this evening nestled in the nearby valley.

On our final day, we will head out one last time by bike to retrace the Kamo River back to Takehara Town. Known as the Kyoto of the West, this is one of Japan’s most scenic places. First we will head up the Kamo River through scenic satoyama rice fields before headed back towards town. Take in the zen forests of bamboo that overshadow the quiet streets in early morning. Once in town, we will explore the historic old town before stopping to enjoy lunch and coffee and recount the highlights of the week before we say farewell until the next time!