ONOMICHI → IMABARI ｜ SETO INLAND SEA
Shimanami Kaido
A 70 km road over the sea, linking six islands.
A field guide for cyclists and travelers.
Six islands. Seven bridges.
One road across the Seto Inland Sea.
The Shimanami Kaido is a route of about 70 km that crosses from Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari in Ehime by bridge. On the way you pass Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima and Oshima, with viewpoints, temples, shrines and beaches to stop at.
How to use this site
- 1Pick a place from the featured spots
- 2Check photos, access and highlights on its page
- 3Find hotels and food nearby on the map
Featured spots
— Picked by the editor
OnomichiTemple & View
Senkoji Temple
A Shingon temple founded in 806. The vermilion main hall is built into the rock and looks straight down on the Onomichi Channel, with giant boulders and a chain-climbing trail around it.
Read more→
OnomichiWalk & Art
Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi)
A stone-paved lane with more than 100 hand-painted "lucky stone cats", wall murals, old houses and real cats dozing in the sun.
Read more→MukaishimaViewpoint
Mt. Takami Observatory
The highest point on Mukaishima (283 m), with a 360° view over the Onomichi Channel and the Shimanami islands. Sea of clouds on some early mornings.
Read more→
OmishimaShrine
Oyamazumi Shrine
Head shrine of all Mishima shrines in Japan. A 2,600-year-old camphor tree stands in the grounds, and the treasure hall holds about 80% of Japan's designated armor.
Read more→
ImabariCastle & History
Imabari Castle
One of Japan's three great sea castles, built by Todo Takatora. Its moat is filled with seawater, and the keep looks out toward the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
Read more→OnomichiTemple & View
Senkoji Temple
A Shingon temple founded in 806. The vermilion main hall is built into the rock and looks straight down on the Onomichi Channel, with giant boulders and a chain-climbing trail around it.
Read more→OnomichiWalk & Art
Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi)
A stone-paved lane with more than 100 hand-painted "lucky stone cats", wall murals, old houses and real cats dozing in the sun.
Read more→MukaishimaViewpoint
Mt. Takami Observatory
The highest point on Mukaishima (283 m), with a 360° view over the Onomichi Channel and the Shimanami islands. Sea of clouds on some early mornings.
Read more→OmishimaShrine
Oyamazumi Shrine
Head shrine of all Mishima shrines in Japan. A 2,600-year-old camphor tree stands in the grounds, and the treasure hall holds about 80% of Japan's designated armor.
Read more→ImabariCastle & History
Imabari Castle
One of Japan's three great sea castles, built by Todo Takatora. Its moat is filled with seawater, and the keep looks out toward the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
Read more→OnomichiTemple & View
Senkoji Temple
A Shingon temple founded in 806. The vermilion main hall is built into the rock and looks straight down on the Onomichi Channel, with giant boulders and a chain-climbing trail around it.
Read more→OnomichiWalk & Art
Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi)
A stone-paved lane with more than 100 hand-painted "lucky stone cats", wall murals, old houses and real cats dozing in the sun.
Read more→MukaishimaViewpoint
Mt. Takami Observatory
The highest point on Mukaishima (283 m), with a 360° view over the Onomichi Channel and the Shimanami islands. Sea of clouds on some early mornings.
Read more→OmishimaShrine
Oyamazumi Shrine
Head shrine of all Mishima shrines in Japan. A 2,600-year-old camphor tree stands in the grounds, and the treasure hall holds about 80% of Japan's designated armor.
Read more→ImabariCastle & History
Imabari Castle
One of Japan's three great sea castles, built by Todo Takatora. Its moat is filled with seawater, and the keep looks out toward the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
Read more→Browse by island
— 6 islands and both ends
Onomichi
尾道
Hillside town of temples and slopes. Start of the route
11 spots →
02Mukaishima
向島
The island closest to Onomichi. Quiet farmland and sea views
2 spots →
03Innoshima
因島
Home of the Murakami pirates and hassaku citrus
5 spots →
04Ikuchijima
生口島
Kosanji Temple and the marble Hill of Hope. Art and citrus
3 spots →
05Omishima
大三島
The "island of the gods", home to Oyamazumi Shrine
2 spots →
06Hakatajima
伯方島
A quiet island known for Hakata salt
2 spots →
07Oshima
大島
Mt. Kiro Observatory above the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge
3 spots →
08Imabari
今治
Imabari Castle, one of three great sea castles. End of the route
2 spots →
Shimanami Kaido
Cycling Guide
About 70 km from Onomichi to Imabari. Routes, bike rental and places to stop on one of the world’s best-known cycling roads.