ITINERARIES Cycling the Shimanami Kaido Onomichi
Cycle from Honshu to Shikoku on this scenic 70 km-long bike route.
Highlights
- Ride through quaint seaside towns and citrus groves
- Pass by Kosanji Temple
- View the Seto Inland Sea from one of the many majestic bridges along the route
How to Get There
Because of its prime location between Hiroshima 
and Imabari Onomichi is filled with guesthousesbakeriesgift shopsand restaurants. There are also many shops that offer bicycle maintenance and rentals.
Onomichi is famous for its many temples. A temple walk connects 25 of themwinding up and down the many cobbled streets that criss-cross along the city's high hills.
The most important temple is Senkojibuilt in 806. It is perched high above the town and is accessible by a small ropeway. On the temple's groundsyou can find the Tama no Iwaa large rock said to contain a legendary gem with the power to light up the night.
The temple's Senkoji Park has an observatory which offers stunning views of the townseaand the Shimanami Kaido.
After exploring the townhead to the port or one of the other rental points in town and get yourself a bike.
The Shimanami Kaido is famous among biking enthusiasts around the world. Experienced cyclists can complete the 70-kilometer journey along it in about four hours. A leisurely cycle while taking in the scenery and stopping at local tourist spots along the way will take about 10 hours. Alternativelyyou can choose a course and cycle just a section of it.
After Onomichicyclists will cross Mukojimaand then pass on to Innoshima. This island is known for Suigun Castle. Built in 1983this structure houses a museum on the Murakami Suigunan armed naval clan active in the area from the mid-14th to the 16th centuries. As they demanded tolls from passing merchantsthey are often referred to as pirates. Here you can see weaponsarmorand artifacts that once belonged to the clan.
The next islandIkuchijimais known for Kosanji Temple . The temple was founded in 1935 by businessman-turned-priest Kanemoto Kozo to secure his mother's place in Buddhist paradise. It took him more than 30 years to complete the complexwhich contains replicas of many of Japan's most famous temples and shrinesincluding Nikko's Toshogu Shrine and Kyoto's Byodoin Temple .
Ikuchijima is a great place for cycling for families and couples.
Beyond Ikuchijima is Omishimathe largest island along the Shimanami Kaido. The island's Oyamazumi-jinja is one of the most popular tourist spots on the route. As the shrine is dedicated to the gods of sailors and soldiersmany military leaders have left their swords and armor here as offerings over the centuries. Thus the shrine now has the largest museum of samurai-era military equipment in the country.
The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge from Oshima to Imabari marks the end of the route. Completed in 1999it is the world's first triple suspension bridge with a total length of about 4,100 meters.
If you have some time to spare before crossing over to Imabariyou may want to visit the Yoshiumi Rose Park on Oshima Island. The park contains 3,500 roses from 400 different species. Stop by between mid-May and December to see them in bloom.
Imabari Ehime Prefecture's second largest cityis home to a thriving maritime industry. Other industriessuch as the manufacturing of tiles and towelsas well as fishingthrive in the area. Additionallysix sacred sites on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage are located here.
The local favorite in Imabari is a dish of fried pork and eggs over rice. Seafood caught in the Kurushima Straits is especially delicious. Ramen made from local sea bream is also popular.
