Shimanami Kaido cycling

The goliath of Japan’s cycling routes, the Shimanami Kaido, is an absolute pleasure to ride. Linking Honshu main island with the slightly smaller Shikoku and bridging across the Seto Inland Sea, this one of our absolute favourite ways to get a little off the beaten track and discover Japan’s beautiful, rural islands.

Cycling enthusiasts must take the Shimanami Kaido, a long toll road that connects six small islands in stepping stones across the Seto Inland Sea linking Honshu and Shikoku. The route opened in 1999 and is a staggering feat of engineering.

As well as a road, a separate 70km cycle route was built diverting from the expressway so cyclists can enjoy the beauty of each island. The cycle way is relatively flat so even intermediate cyclists can manage the route in a day, although there are some lovely traditional ryokan on the islands should you wish to break the journey. Bikes can be rented from terminals on either end of the route and should you encounter a problem, staff from the nearest terminal will come and rescue you.