Shimanami Kaido is a famous cycling route between Onomichi City in the Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari City in the Ehime Prefecture. It is officially called the Nishi-Seto Expressway. This route is very interesting and you can cycle over 8 bridges spanning 6 islands in total.
The cycling route is enjoyed by many tourists both domestic and international. The weather in the Seto Island Sea makes a big difference to the ride and when it is good, you can enjoy a stunning sunset over the floating landscape.
This route consists of Mukaijima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima and Oshima islands. Each of them has its unique characteristics and interesting tourist attractions.
The island of Hakatajima is considered to be the place where salt originates from, and as a result, there are a lot of dishes with salt flavours, such as the salt ramen, which can be experienced there. Salt can also be bought as souvenir items. Other famous dishes include the okonomiyaki pancakes from the Hiroshima Prefecture and sweet oranges from the Ehime Prefecture.
The summer season is great for the abundance of stunning beaches on the islands. Another highlight is the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, the world's first triple suspension bridge, crossing from Imabari City to Oshima.
Completing the route in one day might be difficult depending on your ability. It is recommended that you stay in a hotel for at least one night along the route to fully enjoy the ride.
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