Cycling the Shimanami Kaido and Other Signature Routes

Shimanami Kaido cycling means riding the roughly 70 km cycling road that links Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture across six islands of the Seto Inland Sea.¹²³ Rental terminal closing times, ferry timetables, and wind on the bridge decks set the day's limits.⁴⁵⁶

Confirm current details with official sources

Fees, rules, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at Shimanami Japan's official cycling site (shimanami-cycle.or.jp) and, for the bridge toll waiver, at JB Honshi (Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Co.).

Overview

The route follows the bicycle and pedestrian paths of the Nishiseto Expressway, the formal name of the road known as the しまなみ海道 (Shimanami Kaidō, "Shimanami sea road").⁷ MLIT (the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) describes it as Japan's first cycling route to cross a strait.²

It was one of the first three National Cycle Routes, MLIT's national designation for cycling routes, alongside Biwaichi around Lake Biwa and the Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road.⁸ The route is open year-round.¹

JNTO gives a typical riding time of about 4 hours for experienced cyclists and 10 hours for beginners, varying by course (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current figures with JNTO).¹ The public rental fleet includes electric-assist bikes, tandems, and children's sizes, so the ride is not limited to road cyclists (as of 2026-10-10).⁹

The route suits a wide range of riders, but not everyone. Strait sections can be windy, and each bridge is reached by an approach ramp from island level.⁵³ Riders uncomfortable with repeated ramps or crosswinds on a high bridge should plan for an electric-assist bike or a shorter partial ride.

The Route: Onomichi to Imabari

Distance, islands, and bridges

The cycling route runs about 70 km from JR Onomichi Station to Sunrise Itoyama in Imabari.¹² The underlying expressway is a different measurement: 59.4 km.¹⁰

Riders cross six islands: Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima.⁴³ JNTO describes the route as crossing nine bridges.¹ Counting methods differ between sources (Sagawa Express's page, for example, says seven), partly because the Hakata-Oshima Bridge has two sections and the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge has three spans.¹⁰¹¹

Six named bridges carry a bicycle and pedestrian path: Innoshima, Ikuchi, Tatara, Omishima, Hakata-Oshima, and Kurushima-Kaikyo.⁵ The table below lists the structures JB Honshi gives for the expressway.¹⁰

Structure	Length	Opened	Cycle path
Shin-Onomichi	546 m	1999-05	No5
Innoshima	1,270 m	1983-12	Yes
Ikuchi	790 m	1991-12	Yes
Tatara	1,480 m	1999-05	Yes
Omishima	328 m	1979-05	Yes
Hakata-Oshima (Hakata section)	325 m	1988-01	Yes
Hakata-Oshima (Oshima section)	840 m	1988-01	Yes
Kurushima-Kaikyo First	960 m	1999-05	Yes
Kurushima-Kaikyo Second	1,515 m	1999-05	Yes
Kurushima-Kaikyo Third	1,570 m	1999-05	Yes

No cycle path on the Shin-Onomichi Bridge

The first crossing, from Onomichi to Mukaishima, has no bicycle path on the Shin-Onomichi Bridge. JB Honshi describes the older Onomichi Bridge as narrow with heavy traffic and recommends taking the short ferry across instead.⁵

The blue line and route markings

A blue line is painted along the recommended route between Onomichi and Imabari, with distances written on it at regular intervals.¹² For most of the ride, following the line is enough to stay on course.

On the Hiroshima side, the prefecture installed a continuous 20 cm-wide blue line and distance markers every 1 km in 2011, covering 28 km of the 38 km recommended route in the prefecture, bridge sections excluded.¹³ The stated purposes were wayfinding, reminding cyclists to keep left, and alerting drivers to cyclists.¹³ That release covers Hiroshima only; it says nothing about how the Ehime side is marked.

Island by island

Each island has a different character, and the main rest stops cluster on Ikuchijima and Omishima.¹⁴¹⁵ Terminal numbers in the table follow the public rental system's current list (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current terminals with Shimanami Japan).⁴

Leg or island	What to expect	Planning note
Onomichi	Start point at JR Onomichi Station, public rental terminal No. 14	Take the ferry to Mukaishima rather than riding the Onomichi Bridge5
Mukaishima	First island after the ferry crossing	Public rental terminal No. 2 at the Civic Center4
Innoshima	Former shipbuilding center; Innoshima Suigun Castle, a museum on the area's pirate clans; hassaku citrus was developed here16	Terminal No. 3 at Habu Port4
Ikuchijima (Setoda)	Kosanji Temple and the Hill of Hope; lemon groves; lodging, cafes, and the Shiomachi shopping street within 1 km of Setoda Port14	Two terminals, Setoda Tourist Information and Setoda Sunset Beach4; ferry link to Onomichi6
Omishima	Tatara Shimanami Park, the largest rest area on the route; Oyamazumi Shrine about 6 km from the park; a 45 km island loop15	Terminal No. 6 at Tatara Park4
Hakatajima and Oshima	Linked by the two-section Hakata-Oshima Bridge10	Terminals at Hakata Beach and Oshima4
Oshima to Imabari	The three-span Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge, the longest crossing of the ride10	Strait sections can be windy5
Imabari	End point at Sunrise Itoyama2	Terminals at Imabari Itoyama and Imabari Station4

Bridge approach ramps and elevation

Bridge decks sit above the islands, so each crossing begins with a ramp up from island level. japan-guide.com notes that the ramps leading up to the bridges were built at small inclines with cyclists in mind.³ Between bridges, some sections are easier still; Shimanami Japan describes the Setoda-to-Tatara stretch as a dedicated bike path and one of the easiest sections of the route.¹⁷

Those repeated ramps add up over a full day, which is where an electric-assist bike helps. Shimanami Japan gives the sports E-bike's assist range as 200 km in Eco mode, 110 km in Auto mode, and 80 km in Power mode (as of 2026-10-10).⁴

Rentals and Drop-Off

The public Shimanami rental system

The public rental system is run by しまなみジャパン (Shimanami Japan, "the route's regional tourism organization"). It has 10 terminals where you can rent or return a bike, and you can return at a terminal other than the one you rented from (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current figures with Shimanami Japan).¹⁸

The fleet is about 2,000 bikes (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁹ Shimanami Japan's English page says reservations are not mandatory but highly recommended, and booking runs through an online portal linked from the official rental page.¹⁸⁴ Some bikes are held back for same-day, first-come rental, and the number varies by terminal depending on the previous day's returns.¹⁹

If you get a puncture or similar trouble, staff come out and swap the bike; the rental FAQ gives the support hours as 9:00–17:00 (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁸¹⁹ The service area covers the Onomichi urban area, Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, Oshima, and the Imabari urban area.⁴

Helmets are lent free with each rental and cannot be rented on their own; the English page states they are mandatory to wear.⁹¹⁹⁴ The English page shows accepted payment as credit cards, IC transit cards such as Suica and PASMO, e-money such as iD and QUICPay, Japanese QR wallets such as au PAY and Rakuten Pay, WeChat Pay, Alipay, and UnionPay.⁴

Terminal hours fall into two groups (as of 2026-10-10).⁴ The three end terminals open from 8:00 on the English page; the Japanese page lists 8:30, and closing times agree on both.¹⁸⁴

Terminals	Hours	As of
Onomichi Station (No. 1), Imabari Itoyama at Sunrise Itoyama (No. 9), Imabari Station at i.i.imabari! Cycle Station (No. 10)	March–November 8:00–19:00; December–February 8:00–18:00	2026-10-104
Mukaishima (No. 2), Innoshima Habu Port (No. 3), Setoda Tourist Information (No. 4), Setoda Sunset Beach (No. 5), Omishima Tatara Park (No. 6), Hakata Beach S.C. Park (No. 7), Oshima Yoshiumi Ikiiki-kan (No. 8)	9:00–17:00 year-round	2026-10-104

Late returns cost extra

Returning a bike after the terminal's business hours incurs an additional fee.⁴ Seven of the ten terminals close at 17:00 all year, so a ride ending on an island has a much earlier deadline than one ending in Onomichi or Imabari.

Private operators and premium bikes

Giant, the bicycle maker, runs rental stores near both ends of the route: Giant Store Onomichi and Giant Store Imabari.²⁰²¹ They rent road bikes, cross bikes, and kids' bikes, and the one-way option between the two stores is limited to road bikes, in limited numbers, by advance reservation only.²⁰²² Cross bikes, e-bikes, and kids' bikes go back to the store that lent them.²²

Giant Store Imabari's Q&A lists the one-way fee as ¥3,000 plus tax, which is ¥3,300 at the current 10% rate (as of 2026-10-10).²¹ Giant Store Onomichi's posted price table is dated 2018-02-19 and may not reflect current prices; it lists one-day rates from ¥3,000 for a kids' bike and ¥4,000 for a cross bike up to ¥13,000 for a premium carbon road bike (as of 2018-02-19).²⁰ Ask the store for current rates before you budget around them.

Giant Store Imabari takes reservations from two months ahead, lends helmets free, starts rentals at 9:00, and wants bikes back one hour before closing (as of 2026-10-10).²¹ Neither store lends or takes returns on its regular closing day, and the Imabari store's one-way page gives Tuesday as that day (as of 2021-10-10).²²²¹

Giant's sources disagree on the Onomichi store's hours. Its 2018 page gives 9:00–18:00, closed Tuesdays, while the Imabari Q&A says the Onomichi store has no regular closing day but cannot send one-way rides to Imabari on Tuesdays.²⁰²¹ One Imabari guesthouse's page reports that Giant asks for photo ID such as a passport; bring one either way.²³

Some English guides list Sunrise Itoyama and Cyclo no Ie as separate rental operators. Sunrise Itoyama is the public system's terminal No. 9, and Cyclo no Ie is a guesthouse near JR Imabari Station whose rental page points guests to the public system and to private shops such as Giant.⁴²³

E-bikes and e-assist: availability and booking

The public system has two powered types: the 電動アシスト自転車 (dendō ashisuto jitensha, "battery-assisted bicycle"), an upright city-style bike, and a sports-style "E-bike" (as of 2026-10-10).⁹⁴ Both are adult-only, with no child rate.⁹¹

Type	Where you can rent it	Where you can return it	Other conditions
Electric-assist	Onomichi Station, Setoda Tourist Information, Setoda Sunset Beach, Omishima, Imabari Itoyama, Imabari Station9	Any terminal9	Version with child seat for children 5 and under, up to 22 kg4
E-bike	Onomichi Station, Imabari Itoyama, Imabari Station only9	Any terminal, same day only9	Rider height 145 cm or more4

Electric-assist bikes are popular, and the rental FAQ says they tend to run out early even on weekdays (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁹ If your plan depends on one, reserve it.

Costs

Rental fees and deposits

The public system charges per calendar day, tax included (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current figures with Shimanami Japan).⁹⁴ JNTO lists the same figures for the main bike types.¹

Item	Fee per day	As of	Notes
Cross bike or city cycle, adult	¥3,000	2026-10-1094	Return at any terminal
Cross bike or city cycle, child (elementary school and under)	¥1,000	2026-10-1094	Return at any terminal
Kids' bike (12 and under)	¥1,000	2026-10-104	Return at any terminal
Electric-assist, adult	¥4,000	2026-10-1094	Return at any terminal
Electric-assist with child seat, adult	¥4,000	2026-10-104	Return at any terminal
E-bike, adult	¥8,000	2026-10-1094	Any terminal, same day only
Tandem, adult	¥4,000	2026-10-1094	Same day, lending terminal only
Helmet	Free	2026-10-1094	Must be worn
Deposit	None listed	2026-10-1094
One-way surcharge (individual riders)	None listed	2026-10-1094

The current official tables list no deposit and no one-way surcharge for individual riders.⁹⁴ Older English guides quote lower daily rates with a deposit that was forfeited if you returned the bike elsewhere; that system does not appear on the current tariff, and one Imabari guesthouse's page dates its end to 2023-09-01 (as of 2026-09-28).²³

There is no refund for returning early, and a 50% reduction applies on presentation of a Japanese disability certificate (as of 2026-10-10).⁹ Shimanami Japan notes that fees may change.⁹

Bridge tolls for bicycles

Under the "Shimanami Cycling Free" program, bicycles ride the bridge paths of the Nishiseto Expressway free of toll until 2028-03-31, with no procedure needed (as of 2026-10-10).⁷ Hiroshima Prefecture announced the two-year extension in March 2026, and JAF Mate reported it in April 2026.²⁴²⁵ The waiver covers the Shimanami Kaido in Hiroshima and Ehime only; other toll bridges are outside it.⁷²⁴

Mopeds and the e-kick-scooter class still pay; JB Honshi notes that the scooter class uses the bicycle paths but is not covered.⁷⁵ Pedal-assist bikes are a different case: JB Honshi's waiver page does not name them, but the National Police Agency states that bicycle traffic rules apply to type-approved pedal-assist bikes.⁷²⁶ Pedestrians cross free.⁵

Term	Reading	Meaning
しまなみサイクリングフリー	Shimanami Saikuringu Furī	"Shimanami Cycling Free," the bicycle toll waiver7
自転車歩行者道	jitensha hokōsha-dō	Bicycle and pedestrian path on the bridges5
原動機付自転車	gendōki-tsuki jitensha	Motorized bicycle (moped); excluded from the waiver7
特定小型原動機付自転車	tokutei kogata gendōki-tsuki jitensha	Specified small motorized bicycle (e-kick-scooter class); excluded75
電動アシスト自転車	dendō ashisuto jitensha	Pedal-assist bicycle; bicycle traffic rules apply when type-approved26

The waiver end date moved to 2028

The program began on 2014-07-19, and the previous extension ran to 2026-03-31.²⁷ Many English pages still show that 2026 date; the current end date is 2028-03-31.⁷²⁴

For reference, JB Honshi still lists one per-bridge toll for light vehicles, a class that covers both bicycles and mopeds; for bicycles, the waiver currently covers it (as of 2026-10-10).⁵ The ¥500 total is the sum of the listed tolls, not a figure JB Honshi publishes.

Bridge	Bicycle toll (currently waived)	Moped toll (125 cc or less)	As of
Innoshima	¥50	¥50	2026-10-105
Ikuchi	¥50	¥50	2026-10-105
Tatara	¥100	¥100	2026-10-105
Omishima	¥50	¥50	2026-10-105
Hakata-Oshima	¥50	¥50	2026-10-105
Kurushima-Kaikyo	¥200	¥200	2026-10-105
Total	¥500	¥500	2026-10-10

Other trip costs

The ferry from Onomichi Station Pier to Setoda Port costs ¥1,500 for an adult, ¥750 for a child, and ¥500 for a bicycle, including electric-assist bikes (as of 2026-10-10).⁶ Same-day luggage delivery costs ¥2,200 per item with Sagawa Express and ¥1,500–¥4,500 per item with Onomichi Base, depending on route (as of 2026-10-10).¹¹²⁸

Lodging and highway bus fares vary by property, date, and route; check them directly with the property or bus operator.

Planning the Ride: One Day, Two Days, or Partial

One-way or round trip

Most public rental bikes can be returned at any terminal with no surcharge, so a one-way ride is the simplest shape (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current figures with Shimanami Japan).⁹⁴ Two exceptions apply: tandems must go back to the terminal that lent them on the same day, and e-bikes must be returned the same day.⁹

A one-way ride suits travelers continuing to Shikoku from Imabari, or heading back to Honshu from Onomichi. A round trip suits a base in Onomichi, but riding the full route both ways in a day doubles a distance JNTO already puts at 4 to 10 hours (as of 2026-10-10).¹

Intermediate terminals close at 17:00, so a ride that ends on an island has an earlier deadline than one ending at Onomichi Station or in Imabari (as of 2026-10-10).⁴ At Giant, one-way is road-bike-only and reservation-only.²²²¹

The choice usually comes down to where you want to finish and which bike you rent. This decision tree follows the rental rules above.

Partial rides with a ferry return

Setouchi Cruising (瀬戸内クルージング) runs a ferry between Onomichi Station Pier and Setoda Port on Ikuchijima that carries bicycles, so you can ride one way and sail the other (as of 2026-10-10).⁶ The crossing takes about 40 minutes.²⁹¹⁷

Direction	Departures	Fares	As of
Onomichi Station Pier to Setoda	7:10, 9:15, 10:45, 12:40, 14:10, 16:00	Adult ¥1,500, child ¥750, bicycle ¥500	2026-10-106
Setoda to Onomichi Station Pier	7:50, 10:00, 11:25, 13:25, 15:00, 17:00	Adult ¥1,500, child ¥750, bicycle ¥500	2026-10-106

The operator's page dates this schedule only with a 2022 pandemic service-change notice, and it also shows a fuller weekday schedule with a last Setoda departure of 18:30.⁶ Shimanami Japan's own pages give 7 sailings a day and a last departure from Setoda of either just before 18:00 or 18:30.³⁰¹⁷ Check Setouchi Cruising's timetable before you plan around the last boat.

For a Setoda-based day, Shimanami Japan suggests riding from Setoda Port to Tatara Shimanami Park, 8.5 km one way, or to Sunset Beach, 3.5 km from the port (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁷ Setoda Tourist Information is about 10 minutes' walk from the ferry terminal, lends electric-assist bikes, and closes at 17:00.⁹⁴¹⁷

On a limited schedule, the Cycle Ship sails from Onomichi Station Pier to Imabari Port via Setoda, Inokuchi on Omishima, Edagoe, and Shitadami. For autumn 2026 it runs on 16 Saturdays and Sundays from 2026-10-03 to 2026-11-29, excluding 24–25 October, and on several of its routes bikes rented from affiliated shops load free with a receipt, rental certificate, or rental sticker (as of 2026-10-10).³¹ A one-day "Shimanami Cruising Pass" covers all routes.³¹

Bail-out options: buses and ferries

If a bike breaks down, the public system's breakdown service swaps it within its service area, and you can end the ride early at the nearest terminal.¹⁸⁴ Check that terminal's closing time first, since most close at 17:00 (as of 2026-10-10).⁴

Shimanami Japan's access page describes an Imabari-Onomichi Shimanami Cycle Express bus that carries bicycles by reservation, up to 10 per departure, with departures at 08:47, 13:50, and 16:43 (as of 2026-10-10).³⁰ The same page says bicycles cannot be loaded at Imabari Station and not every type of bicycle can be carried.³⁰ Confirm the details with the bus operator before relying on it.

The Shimanami Liner highway bus leaves Imabari Port for Hiroshima Bus Center as late as 18:02 on weekdays and 19:02 on weekends and holidays, and for Fukuyama as late as 19:23 (as of 2026-10-10).³⁰ Its bicycle policy is not stated on an operator page; ask the operator before you count on carrying a bike. Returning your rental in Imabari and taking the bus without a bike avoids the question.

Public rental bikes cannot go in a bike bag

Where a transport service requires bicycles to travel in a bike bag, a public rental bike will not qualify, because rental bikes cannot be disassembled.³⁰ Return the bike at a terminal before switching to a service with that rule.

Inter-island ferries also run from Imabari Port to the Kamijima islands and Innoshima's Habu Port, from Habu Port to Iwagi and Ikina, from Sunoe Port on Ikuchijima to Okogi Port on Iwagi, and from Sakari Port on Omishima to Okunoshima in about 15 minutes (as of 2026-10-10).²⁹ These are detours off the main route rather than shortcuts back to either end.

Island Lodging, Luggage, and Resupply

Cyclist-friendly lodging

Shimanami Japan's site carries a lodging index covering Onomichi, Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, the Kamijima islands, Omishima, Hakatajima, Oshima, and Imabari, from glamping and guesthouses to inns and rentals (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current listings with Shimanami Japan).³² The index states no cycling-specific criteria, and the site carries no cyclist-friendly certification.³²

Bike storage is set by each property, not by any route-wide rule. Ask before booking whether bikes can be stored indoors overnight. Setoda on Ikuchijima has a good range of accommodation.¹⁴

Luggage services

Shimanami Japan's rental FAQ lists two same-day luggage services for riding without bags: Sagawa Express and Onomichi Base (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁹ Both move bags between lodgings and other partner points while you ride.¹¹²⁸ For how courier forwarding works in general, see Luggage Forwarding in Japan: How Takkyubin Courier Services Work.

Service	Price	Booking and cutoffs	As of
Sagawa Express hands-free cycling	¥2,200 per item, up to 160 cm and 30 kg	Groups must reserve in advance; drop-off by 9:00 at most Onomichi facilities or 10:00 on the islands and in Imabari; pickup from 18:00, from 16:00 at some Imabari facilities	2026-10-1011
Onomichi Base (しまなみ手ぶら便)	¥1,500–¥4,500 per item by route; 20% surcharge over 160 cm	Book by 16:00 the previous day; same-day drop-off by 12:00; no delivery-time selection	2026-10-1028

Prices and cutoffs in the table come from each operator's page (as of 2026-10-10).¹¹²⁸ Sagawa's partner facilities include hotels, inns, guesthouses, and cycling terminals, including the Onomichi Station rental terminal.¹¹

Older guides mention a same-day service by Yamato Transport and Onomichi City. That ran as a trial in 2019 and is not listed in the current official FAQ.¹⁹³³

Water, food, and repairs

Tatara Shimanami Park on Omishima is the largest rest area on the route, with bike rental and places to eat.¹⁵ Setoda's port area has cafes, restaurants, and the Shiomachi shopping street within 1 km.¹⁴

Between those hubs, carry water and a snack rather than counting on a specific shop being open. For mechanical trouble on a public rental, call for the breakdown service described in the rentals section above.¹⁸

Route-Specific Rules and Safety

The bridge paths are shared by pedestrians, bicycles, and mopeds of 125 cc or less, and e-kick scooters in the specified small motorized bicycle class must use them too.⁵ Expect slower and faster traffic on the same path, and pass with care.

JB Honshi warns that strait sections can be windy.⁵ On a windy day, slow down on the bridge decks and keep both hands on the bars.

Public rental helmets are lent free and must be worn (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current rules with Shimanami Japan).⁴ The blue line on the Hiroshima side is meant in part to remind cyclists to keep left.¹³

Do not ride the Onomichi Bridge between Onomichi and Mukaishima; JB Honshi recommends the ferry there.⁵²⁵ If a puncture, wind, or a late start could put you on island roads after dark, plan an earlier finish at the nearest terminal instead.

National cycling rules, including where to ride on the road, sidewalk limits, helmets, and the traffic-fine system, are covered in Bike Share, Rental Bikes, and E-Scooters for Visitors.

Timing and Weather

The route is open year-round, but rental demand peaks around holidays.¹¹⁹ At Golden Week and Obon all of the roughly 2,000 public bikes can be rented out (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current figures with Shimanami Japan).¹⁹

From December to February the three end terminals close at 18:00 instead of 19:00, which shortens the riding day further on top of earlier sunsets (as of 2026-10-10).⁴ In summer, plan around the heat; see Summer Heat and Heatstroke for Visitors.

Wind matters in every season because strait sections can be windy.⁵ Check the wind and weather forecast the evening before, and pick the direction or a partial ride accordingly.

Getting There and Onward

From the San'yo Shinkansen, Shimanami Japan's suggested way in is Fukuyama Station, about 1 hour 5 minutes from Shin-Osaka or 23 minutes from Hiroshima, then a local train of about 20 minutes to Onomichi (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current times with Shimanami Japan or JR West).²⁹ If you arrive at Shin-Onomichi Station instead, it sits about 3.5 km from JR Onomichi Station, around 10 minutes by taxi or 15 minutes by bus.³⁰²⁹

A highway bus from Hiroshima to Onomichi takes about 90 minutes (as of 2026-10-10).²⁹ From Hiroshima Airport, a bus reaches Fukuyama Station in about 1 hour 5 minutes, and a shared taxi to Onomichi Station runs four times a day with advance reservation, taking about 50 minutes (as of 2026-10-10).²⁹ For how the ride fits a wider trip, see Chugoku Orientation: A Region of Two Coasts and Hiroshima and Miyajima: An Established Secondary Circuit.

From Imabari, Matsuyama is 1–2 hours by train or about 80 minutes by highway bus, and a direct highway bus to Hiroshima takes about 3 hours (as of 2026-10-10).²⁹ For continuing into Shikoku, including Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, see Shikoku Orientation: Getting to and Around Japan's Smallest Main Island and Shikoku Nature and Onsen: Iya Valley and Dogo Onsen.

Other Signature Routes

Biwaichi around Lake Biwa

ビワイチ (Biwaichi, "one lap of Biwa") is a 193 km loop around Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, ridden counterclockwise, and one of the first three National Cycle Routes.³⁴³⁵ MLIT suggests one day for experienced riders and two to three days for sightseeing.³⁵

The full loop is not the only option. MLIT's page also describes riding the northern part (about 150 km) or the southern part (about 50 km), or combining sections with ferries.³⁵ JNTO notes cycle stations along the route that offer air, tool lending, and rental.³⁶

Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road

The Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road is a 176 km National Cycle Route in Ibaraki Prefecture.³⁴ It combines the bed of the former Tsukuba Railway line with a circuit of Lake Kasumigaura.³⁶

Awaji Island

アワイチ (Awaichi, "one lap of Awaji") is a 150 km round-island course on Awaji Island in Hyogo Prefecture.³⁷ It is not a National Cycle Route.³⁴

Hyogo Prefecture reported work to widen narrow shoulders, add signage and road markings, and set up cycle stations at roadside stations with free pumps and tools (as of 2024-10-17; confirm current status with Hyogo Prefecture).³⁷ A bicycle path on the Onaruto Bridge linking Awaji to Shikoku was under construction, targeted for completion in fiscal 2027 (as of 2024-10-17).³⁷

How the National Cycle Routes fit together

MLIT designated the first three National Cycle Routes, added three more on 2021-05-31, and six more at a ceremony on 2026-07-23.⁸³⁸³⁴ Counting those designations gives 12 routes (as of 2026-10-10); MLIT's pages do not state a total. JNTO's "Enjoy Japan by Bicycle" covers only the first three.³⁶

Route	Prefecture	Distance	Designated
Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road	Ibaraki	176 km	First group348
Biwaichi	Shiga	193 km	First group3435
Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road	Hiroshima, Ehime	70 km	First group342
Tokapuchi 400	Hokkaido	403 km	2021-05-318
Pacific Cycling Road	Chiba to Wakayama	1,487 km	2021-05-318
Toyama Bay Cycling Course	Toyama	102 km	2021-05-318
Fukushima Hamadori Cycle Route	Fukushima	179 km	2026-07-233438
Fujiichi	Shizuoka	163 km	2026-07-2334
Yukiguni Uonuma Golden Cycle Route	Niigata	193 km	2026-07-2334
Ishikawa Satoyama-Satoumi Cycling Route	Ishikawa	517 km	2026-07-2334
Tottori Uminami Road	Tottori	152 km	2026-07-2334
Amaichi	Kumamoto	152 km	2026-07-2334

Among these, the Shimanami Kaido is the shortest, and its one-way rentals and ferry links make it the simplest to fit into a short trip. On longer routes such as Biwaichi, MLIT suggests riding a section rather than the whole loop.³⁵

Good to know

Terminal closing times set your finish

Seven of the ten public terminals close at 17:00 year-round; only Onomichi Station, Imabari Itoyama, and Imabari Station stay open to 19:00 from March to November and 18:00 from December to February (as of 2026-10-10; confirm current hours with Shimanami Japan).⁴ Returning after hours costs an additional fee, and e-bikes must be back the same day.⁹⁴ Build in time for wind and punctures.

The toll waiver has an end date

Bicycles cross free until 2028-03-31, and many English pages still show the earlier 2026-03-31 end date (as of 2026-10-10).⁷²⁷ Mopeds and e-kick scooters are not covered.⁷ Check the waiver's status if you travel close to the end date.

Fees and deposits differ by operator

The public system lists no deposit and no one-way charge for individual riders, while Giant's one-way option covers road bikes only, at ¥3,000 plus tax, in limited numbers (as of 2026-10-10).⁹²¹ Older English guides still describe a deposit system that does not appear on the current official tariff.⁹²³ Compare the operator's own current page, not a guide's summary.

Weekend e-bike scarcity

All of the roughly 2,000 public bikes can be rented out at Golden Week and Obon, and electric-assist bikes run short even on weekdays (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁹ E-bikes are lent only at Onomichi Station, Imabari Itoyama, and Imabari Station.⁹ Reserve early in busy periods and treat a standard bike as the fallback.

Note each terminal's closing time before you ride

The blue line makes the recommended route easy to follow without a map.¹² Terminal hours differ, though, so note the number and closing time of each terminal on your route, along with the rental office line, 0848-22-3911 (as of 2026-10-10).¹⁸⁴

See also

• Planning a Shikoku Trip: What It Takes and What It's Not
• Hiking in Japan: Trail Grades, Seasons, and Mountain Huts
• Naoshima and the Setouchi Art Islands
• Chugoku's Connecting Logistics: Threading San'yo and San'in
• A Nature and Outdoors-Focused Japan Itinerary Framework

References

Footnotes

1. JNTO. "Cycle the Shimanami Kaido." Japan's National Parks, Setonaikai. https://www.japan.travel/national-parks/parks/setonaikai/see-and-do/cycle-the-shimanami-kaido/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹

2. 国土交通省 (MLIT). 「しまなみ海道サイクリングロード」 (National Cycle Route page). https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/shimanami.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

3. japan-guide.com. "Shimanami Kaido" (updated 2025-07-08). https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3478.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. Shimanami Japan. "Bike Rental" (English rental page with per-terminal hours). Visit Shimanami. https://visitshimanami.com/bike-rental/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷ ↩³⁸ ↩³⁹ ↩⁴⁰ ↩⁴¹ ↩⁴² ↩⁴³ ↩⁴⁴ ↩⁴⁵ ↩⁴⁶

5. 本州四国連絡高速道路株式会社 (JB Honshi). 「原付道・自転車歩行者道」. https://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/customer_index/guide/zihodo/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²²

6. 瀬戸内クルージング (Setouchi Cruising Co., Ltd.). "Timetable" (Onomichi to Setoda route, English). https://s-cruise.jp/timetable-eng ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

7. 本州四国連絡高速道路株式会社 (Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Co., JB Honshi). 「しまなみサイクリングフリー」. https://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/customer_index/guide/kikaku-waribiki/cycling_free.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹

8. 国土交通省 (MLIT). 「第２次ナショナルサイクルルートを指定しました」, press release, 2021-05-31. https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/road01_hh_001455.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

9. しまなみジャパン (Shimanami Japan). 「レンタサイクル情報」 (rental fee and lending/return table). https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/rental/rental/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷

10. 本州四国連絡高速道路株式会社 (JB Honshi). 「瀬戸内三海道｜しまなみ海道」 (bridge list). https://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/shimanami/about/sankaidou/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

11. 佐川急便 (Sagawa Express). 「しまなみ海道 手ぶらサイクリング」. https://www.sagawa-exp.co.jp/hands-freetravel/service/cycling/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

12. Shimanami Japan. "Shimanami Biking Tips." GO SHIMANAMI. https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/go-shimanami/experience/470/ ↩ ↩²

13. 広島県 (Hiroshima Prefecture). 「自転車愛好家の利便性を向上 しまなみ海道サイクリングロードに路面標示を整備」, press release, 2011-08-11 (distributed via digitalpr.jp). https://digitalpr.jp/r/269 ↩ ↩² ↩³

14. Shimanami Japan. "Ikuchijima" area guide. Visit Shimanami. https://visitshimanami.com/area-guides/ikuchijima/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

15. Shimanami Japan. "Omishima" area guide. Visit Shimanami. https://visitshimanami.com/area-guides/omishima/ ↩ ↩² ↩³

16. Shimanami Japan. "Innoshima" area guide. Visit Shimanami. https://visitshimanami.com/area-guides/innoshima/ ↩

17. Shimanami Japan. "Day cruise to Setoda." GO SHIMANAMI. https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/go-shimanami/experience/534/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

18. しまなみジャパン (Shimanami Japan). 「レンタサイクル」 (rental cycle top page). https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/rental/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

19. しまなみジャパン (Shimanami Japan). 「よくあるご質問」 (rental FAQ). https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/rental/question/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

20. ジャイアントストア尾道 (Giant Store Onomichi). 「レンタサイクル一覧表（尾道）」. https://giant-store.jp/onomichi/store_info/6/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

21. ジャイアントストア今治 (Giant Store Imabari). 「レンタサイクルQ&A」. https://giant-store.jp/imabari/store_info/2548/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

22. ジャイアントストア今治 (Giant Store Imabari). 「【レンタサイクル】尾道までワンウェイ利用をご希望の方へ」, 2021-10-10. https://giant-store.jp/imabari/campaign/20287/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

23. Cyclo no Ie. "Rental Bikes" (guesthouse page, last updated 2026-09-28). https://www.cyclonoie.com/en/rentalbikes-e/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

24. 広島県 (Hiroshima Prefecture). 「しまなみサイクリングフリー」 page, posted 2026-03-16. https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/soshiki/97/shimanamikaido-cyclingfree2024.html ↩ ↩² ↩³

25. JAF Mate. 「しまなみ海道がもっと身近に! サイクリング無料化が2028年まで延長」, 2026-04-08. https://jafmate.jp/car/traffic_topics_20260408_1198951.html ↩ ↩²

26. 警察庁 (National Police Agency). 「駆動補助機付自転車に係る型式認定品について」. https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/bicycle/katashiki.html ↩ ↩²

27. 本州四国連絡高速道路株式会社 (JB Honshi). 「『しまなみサイクリングフリー』の実施期間延長について」, press release, 2024-03-08. https://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/corp_index/corp_press/corp_press_2024/240308press-1-9562 ↩ ↩²

28. 尾道ベース (Onomichi Base). 「しまなみ手ぶら便」. https://teburabin.com/teburabin/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

29. Shimanami Japan. "Transport." Visit Shimanami. https://visitshimanami.com/transport/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

30. Shimanami Japan. "Access" (model access plans and transport notes). https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/access ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

31. Shimanami Japan. "Cycle Ship" (Onomichi to Imabari limited-period sailings). Visit Shimanami. https://visitshimanami.com/cycleship/ ↩ ↩²

32. しまなみジャパン (Shimanami Japan). 「宿泊施設情報」 (lodging index). https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/hotel_list/ ↩ ↩²

33. LNEWS. 「ヤマト運輸、尾道市 しまなみ海道で手ぶら当日便の実証実験」, 2019-03-07. https://www.lnews.jp/2019/03/l0307406.html ↩

34. 国土交通省 (MLIT). 「ナショナルサイクルルート」. https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/ ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³

35. 国土交通省 (MLIT). 「ビワイチ」 (National Cycle Route page). https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/bicycleuse/good-cycle-japan/national_cycle_route/biwaichi.html ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵

36. JNTO. "Enjoy Japan by Bicycle." https://www.japan.travel/en/story/enjoy-japan-by-bicycle/ ↩ ↩² ↩³

37. 兵庫県淡路県民局 (Hyogo Prefecture, Awaji Prefectural Office). 「令和6年10月県民局長メッセージ」, 2024-10-17. https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/awk01/r6kyokuchoumesse-ji10gatu.html ↩ ↩² ↩³

38. 国土交通省 (MLIT). 「指定式を開催し、新たなナショナルサイクルルートを指定します」, press release, 2026-07-21. https://www.mlit.go.jp/report/press/road01_hh_002119.html ↩ ↩²