Cycling the Shimanami Kaido
Photo by Kimberly Matsuno
By Chloe Holm (Ehime, 2022-2023)
Japan’s 70 km (43 mi) world-famous, island-hopping bike route is a cyclist’s best dream and worst nightmare.
Stretching across the Seto Naikai Islands and spanning across two prefectures (Ehime and Hiroshima), it’s the perfect way to enjoy and explore the countryside while still completing a feat comparable to climbing Mount Fuji!
The Shimanami Kaido translates literally to “the road of islands and waves,” and this is a pretty accurate description of the cycling route: the path takes you parallel to the Nishi Seto Expressway that connects the small offshoot island Shikoku to its larger, neighboring mainland island Honshu. Built in 1999, the route’s bridges are some of the first and longest cable-stayed bridges in the world. The route is even used as a rite of passage for young teens that walk a stretch of the path to commemorate their 20th birthday! Despite its proximity to the expressway, the biking path follows a winding up-and-down countryside path and the route is very conveniently marked out with a blue line on the road, guiding cyclists the whole way!
About the Author
Chloe Holm is an Ehime JET alumni from Ohio who is now working as a professor in Tokyo. She’s an aspiring journalist and loves writing about the latest in movies, TV, travel, and all things Japan. When she’s not writing or teaching, she’s probably watching a blockbuster or baking something delicious.
This article was published in partnership with AJET’s CONNECT magazine.
