Shimanami Kaido Sea Route (World-Class Island-Hopping Cycling Trail across Seto Inland Sea)

Category: World-Renowned Island-Hopping Cycling Trail & Suspension Bridges | Location: Hiroshima

Spanning approximately 70 scenic kilometers across the calm, azure waters of the Seto Inland Sea between Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Imabari City on Shikoku Island (Ehime Prefecture), the **Shimanami Kaido** is universally celebrated by global cycling publications as a premier bucket-list "Cyclist's Sanctuary." Designated as a National Cycle Route of Japan, this breathtaking marine expressway links six enchanting islands—Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima—via a chain of seven magnificent suspension bridges featuring dedicated, traffic-separated paths engineered exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. Pedaling across architectural marvels like the colossal Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge—the world’s first triple-suspension bridge structure spanning over 4.1 kilometers—delivers the exhilarating sensation of gliding effortlessly above the shimmering ocean. The entirety of the route is clearly demarcated by a painted highway "Blue Line" on the asphalt, with bridge access ramps designed with a gentle gradient of 3% or less, making the journey accessible even for leisure cyclists. On Ikuchijima Island, renowned as Japan's lemon-growing capital, cyclists can pause to explore **Kosan-ji Temple** with its dazzling 5,000-square-meter Italian white marble acropolis *Miraishin no Oka* (Hill of Hope), and refresh with tart, freshly spun Setoda lemon gelato. The cycling infrastructure along the Shimanami corridor is remarkably comprehensive, featuring convenient drop-off rental stations allowing one-way cross-strait rentals for high-end road bikes, hybrids, and electric-assist e-bikes. At the Onomichi trailhead, a renovated seaside cargo warehouse known as **ONOMICHI U2** serves as Japan’s flagship cycling hub, complete with the stylish HOTEL CYCLE—where riders can wheel bicycles directly into their guest rooms—making this route the ultimate coastal cycling journey in East Asia.