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Enjoy the slow island life on the Setouchi Inland Sea with cycling, kayaking and walking
Hiroshima & Shimanami Kaido self-guided 6 Days
(subject to change until the booking has been finalized)
Day 1 – Arrive in Hiroshima
Travel by bullet train to central Hiroshima. This well-known city was the first in history to bear the impact of the use of atomic weapons. The city never forgets its past, and there are memorials to the bombing of 6 August 1945 including the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
You stay overnight in Hiroshima at a western-style hotel or travel by ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage island of Miyajima and stay at a traditional Japanese inn here.
Accommodation: Overnight in Hiroshima or spend a night on Miyajima Island
Meals: Breakfast (Dinner is included for guests staying at a Japanese inn)
Typical Accommodation
As standard, we offer a comfortable, centrally-located hotel in Hiroshima city, enabling you to enjoy the vast range of meal options this evening.
We can also provide an historic Ryokan located on Miyajima island, offering excellent rooms, meals and the opportunity to take a relaxing evening stroll once day-visitors have left the island. Please let us know on booking if you would like us to arrange this traditional option and please note that availability with this option may be scarce during peak seasons, which can sometimes require a date change or supplemental fee.
Day 2 – Travel to Miyajima Island
Explore Miyajima island where wild deer roam free. Experience the amazing close-up view of the iconic red Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine which appears to float in the water at high tide. You might want to try the Miyajima oysters or the local dish of Anago Meshi grilled eel.
During the afternoon, you have time to climb Mount Misen, the highest peak of the island, offering spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea via the returning cablecar.
Walking distance: 4.7km / 3 miles of optional hiking
Elevation gain: 810m / 2,660 feet of ascent, negligible descent
Time required: About 2-3 hours
A longer 12.1km / 7.5 miles hiking option, with an ascent of 1,030m and descent of 1,015m, foregoing the descending cablecar ride, is available. A gentler, flat 2.4km / 1.5 miles sightseeing route covering the islands main attractions is also possible for a more leisurely day.
Accommodation: Overnight in Hiroshima or spend a night on Miyajima Island
Meals: Breakfast (Dinner is included for guests staying at a Japanese inn)
Typical Accommodation
As standard, we offer a comfortable, centrally-located hotel in Hiroshima city, enabling you to enjoy the vast range of meal options this evening.
We can also provide an historic Ryokan located on Miyajima island, offering excellent rooms, meals and the opportunity to take a relaxing evening stroll once day-visitors have left the island. Please let us know on booking if you would like us to arrange this traditional option and please note that availability with this option may be scarce during peak seasons, which can sometimes require a date change or supplemental fee.
Day 3 – Sea Kayaking around Sensui-jima and walking in Tomonoura
Travel to Tomonoura Bay, the lovely thousand year-old port town which inspired Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki when he created the animated film “Ponyo”. Tomonoura is recognized as Shiomachi-no-minato ”port awaiting a favourable tide” and this town preserves its old-fashioned fishing townscape. Enjoy a morning sea kayak tour around Sensui-jima Island.
Later in the afternoon continue to Sensui-jima island by ferry for your overnight stay at a traditional Japanese inn.
Kayaking time: About 2-3 hours
Please note that if kayaking is not possible due to poor weather, further exploration time on Sensuijima Island and in the quiet and relaxed village of Tomonoura with our two optional sightseeing walks are possible.
Walking distance: 2km / 1.2 miles of optional sightseeing
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: About 1-2 hours
Accommodation: Ryokan inn
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 4 – Walking in the hilltops of Onomichi
Depart this morning for the romantic seaside town of Onomichi – the entry point on the mainland side of the Shimanami Kaido cycling course. Spend the day exploring Onomichi’s wonderfully old-fashioned shopping arcades and quiet hilltop back streets with our gentle sightseeing course before spending a night at an historic Ryokan inn, or a modern, stylish cycling-themed hotel.
Walking distance: 4km / 2 miles
Elevation gain: 260m / 850 feet of both ascent and descent
Time required: about 3-4 hours
Accommodation: Ryokan inn (or cycling hotel)
Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
Typical Accommodation
Stay at a lovely Ryokan with over 100 years of history, which is registered a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. The inn offers exemplary meals with freshly caught local seafood.
Day 5 – Cycling along the Shimanami Kaido
Selecting your bikes, depart for the first day of cycling from Onomichi. Explore the wonderful nature and relaxing cafe culture of the inland sea, before spending the night on a remote island part-way along the cycling route.
Cycling distance: 35-65km / 20-40 miles (up to 80km / 50 miles)
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent (with some very brief ups and downs to reach each bridge)
Time required: 3-6 hours (up to 8 hours)
Cycling distances vary based on the inn you stay at and how many of our optional side-trips along the islands you wish to undertake. For less confident cyclists, don’t hesitate to enquire with us about alternative arrangements.
Accommodation: Ryokan inn
Meals: Dinner, Breakfast
Typical Accommodation
Stay at a lovely Ryokan located part-way along the Shimanami Kaido. Originally a wealthy merchant’s house, the inn has a long history dating back over 100 years, providing excellently fresh seafood as part of the Kaiseki meals, together with relaxing sea views from your room.
Day 6 – Complete the Shimanami Kaido and head onwards
Continue along the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, passing through small island settlements with some of the most scenic sections of the route before arriving into Imabari town on Shikoku Island. Drop off your bikes at Imabari Station and head onwards by train or head inland by bus to reach the trailhead of our 4-day Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage Self-guided walking tour.
Cycling distance: 20-45km / 13-28 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent (with some very brief ups and downs to reach each bridge)
Time required: 2-4 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Cycling distances vary based on the inn you have stayed at and how many of our optional side-trips along the islands you wish to undertake. Most guests will undertake the 45km, 4-hour cycle today.
