Private Tailored Cycling Journey along the Shimanami Kaido, Island-Hopping through the Seto Inland Sea

A Journey Across the Glittering Waters of the Island-Dotted Seto Inland Sea

Running between Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture and Imabari in Ehime Prefecture, the Shimanami Kaido crosses a chain of islands scattered across the Seto Inland Sea. To its coastal communities, the Seto has long been regarded as an idyllic and tranquil seascape rich in beautiful scenery, comfortable weather, and delicious seafood.

But for mariners navigating the narrow channels between its islands, it has just as long been known as a network of strong and complicated tidal currents. This geography shaped its history: dominated by maritime clans who used their intimate knowledge of the sea to provide ships safe passage through the region, for a fee. These clans were known as the Murakami Kaizoku.

Today, the island chain once dominated by the Murakami Kaizoku is one of Japan’s most beloved scenic roads – equally traversable by car and bicycle. It offers breathtaking vistas on the waterways, coastal communities, and island sites that remain so tightly interconnected to this day. Stretching on for approximately 70 kilometers, the full route can be quite a commitment by bicycle, but this private tour focuses on cycling the most scenic portion by e-bike – with the rest of the route covered by private car and public ferry. This frees you to get the best of all worlds, experiencing the highlights of the route while enjoying far more of the surrounding island country and its stops than would ordinarily be possible during a single-day bicycle tour.

The tour is operated by Mizusaki, a Shimanami-based destination management firm that develops travel experiences rooted in the region’s natural environment, industries, food culture, and communities. Accompaniment by a driver and an English-speaking regional guide allow guests to concentrate on the experience while the team handles the logistics – and enriches it all with knowledgeable commentary.

Crossing Tatara Bridge: Glorious Seascape Vistas Adorned with Gorgeous Coastline and Islets Craggy and Lush Alike

After meeting at JR Onomichi Station – or pickup at accommodations in the Onomichi area – travel by private vehicle to Ikuchijima. Here, guests pick up their bicycles and begin the principal cycling section of the tour. The guide leads the way at a pace that suits the group and maximizes enjoyment of the route while the driver travels ahead on standby with the support vehicle.

The default course follows the coast of Ikuchijima before climbing toward the famed Tatara Bridge, a picturesque cable-stayed bridge connecting Hiroshima Prefecture’s Ikuchijima with Ehime’s Omishima. The bridge’s dedicated bicycle route soars high above the water, offering breathtaking views across the glorious coastline, the sunkissed sea, and the chain of islets that unfurls across it. This stretch of cycling road between Setoda and Tatara Bridge is legendary among cyclists and road enthusiasts in Japan. Crossing it yourself will quickly reveal why.

Rather than spending the full day cycling the full Shimanami Kaido and missing out on other options along the way, this experience concentrates on an approximately one-hour section chosen for its scenic views and sweeping sensation of soaring across the seas. Car and guide support – plus electric-assist bicycles – ensure that almost anyone can enjoy the highlights of the route without worrying or struggling, regardless of physical condition or cycling experience. Bicycles are returned on Omishima, after which your tour continues by private car.

The Sacred Maritime Heritage of Omishima

On Omishima, guests can pay a visit to Oyamazumi Shrine. This ancient spiritual center – dedicated to the deity of mountains, sea, and safe passage – is regarded as the head shrine of the various Oyamazumi shrines throughout Japan. Its wooded grounds offer a shaded sanctuary in contrast with the wide open seascapes of the morning’s cycling route.

The shrine’s Treasure Hall is particularly renowned for its collection of arms and armor, touted as the finest in the country. Approximately 80% of the weapons or armor designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties in Japan are housed here, including masterpieces from the Heian, Kamakura, and Sengoku periods – and one of Japan’s oldest surviving suit of armor. Omishima is thus sometimes referred to as the "Island of National Treasures."

The base itinerary gives you approximately one hour to pay respects at the shrine and explore its environs, though this can be adjusted according to your needs and interests. Extend to enjoy a light hike in the surrounding area – or shorten your time here or skip it altogether to spend more time at another stop. Those interested in art may prefer places such as the Hirayama Ikuo Museum of Art, while those fascinated by the local history of sea power and maritime trade may favor the Murakami Kaizoku Museum.*

*Itinerary is subject to location availability on the day. For specific requests, please enquire at the time of reservation.

Lunch Plans for Every Palate, and a Ferry Jaunt

After working up an appetite with the morning route, make a stop for lunch. The local guide can introduce you to an island restaurant selected according to their preferences as specified during the reservation, or make bento boxed lunch arrangements to enjoy outdoors at a scenic spot. Options range from teishoku casual meal sets and cafes to burgers to more refined upscale dining.

*Dining costs are not included in the plan, and must be paid on-site.

After lunch, the base route offers travel by private vehicle from Omishima to Hakatajima, where you board a local ferry for a short crossing to Oshima. Your guide accompanies you aboard to answer any questions that arise as you enjoy a close look at the smaller ports and waterways beyond the main bridges and sightseeing routes, connections undergirding day-to-day life on the island communities.

The default route continues on Oshima to Kirosan Observatory Park for a coffee or matcha break overlooking a splendid seascape. Located on the southern side of the island, this mountaintop vista point park overlooks the Kurushima Strait, the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, and the broader Seto Inland Sea stretching off into the distance both east and west.

Experience the Shimanami Kaido at a Personalized Pace

The Shimanami Kaido is best known as a long-distance cycling route from Hiroshima Prefecture’s Onomichi in Honshu to Ehime’s Imabari in Shikoku, but the islands it spans themselves are home to much that is not to be missed. This private experience combines an accessible selection of the route’s most memorable cycling scenery with plenty of stop-offs at sacred spots, island tourism sites, local power spots, and panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea.

With each group serviced by a dedicated driver and guide, the route can be adjusted as needed to suit guest paces and priorities. More time may be devoted to cycling, history, art, hiking, food, or the exploration of a particular island. For optimum enjoyment, please specify your preferences, interests, and needs as early as possible when booking, to ensure that the timing of availability for museums, meals, outdoor activities, and seasonal experiences can be confirmed.

Encounter the Shimanami Kaido regions in all their scenic glory and historic richness, as both a sightseeing route and a seascape tapestry of communities, economies, histories, and nature. Traveling by bicycle, car, foot, and ferry knits its bridges and shrines, its maritime history and island communities, and its culinary culture together into the coherent experience of a single day – and enjoy a fuller introduction to the rural communities of the Seto Inland Sea beyond the more visited streets of Onomichi alone.