#28 of 79 · coastal
Shimanami Kaidō
Onomichi, Hiroshima → Imabari, Ehime
70 km · Mar – May, Oct – Nov · Easy
Six bridges, a handful of islands, the Seto Inland Sea under them. Built for bicycles, still a proper drive — if you let the cyclists own the blue line.
Viewpoints
Tatara Bridge
The long one. The sea is the whole argument.
42 km
48 m
Setoda
Kōsan-ji and the hills of Ikuchijima. A stop, not a glance.
30 km
12 m
- Road
- Expressway-grade bridges, quiet island roads between. Tolls on the crossings. Wind on Tatara. The cycle track is separate; stay off it.
- Permits
- Bridge tolls. ETC or cash at the booths.
Tips
- 01
Onomichi to Imabari
Southbound puts the better islands in front of you. Reverse is fine; this is better.
- 02
Give the bikes the lane
This road is famous because of them. Do not make it worse.
From the road
2 notes
Field reports from people who have driven this route.
Driven this road? Join as a driver to leave a note from the road.
Hiroshi M.
Apr 2026
Onomichi at eight, Tatara in a crosswind, Imabari before lunch. Cyclists owned the blue line — I stayed in the car lane and let them. That is the deal here.
Aiko N.
Nov 2025
Stopped at Setoda. Kōsan-ji is a lot of building. The sea between the islands was the drive. November, almost no haze.
