Intensive
Japan's Greatest Hits
Greatest hits, no padding, mostly trains.
- First visit
- Base cities: Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka
- culture
- food
- urban
- history
Itinerary
The Shimanami Kaido by Bike
- 10 nights
- Medium pace
- Interest-led
Medium pace
The Shimanami Kaido is a cycling road that hops six islands across the Inland Sea on a chain of soaring bridges, and it is the best ride in Japan. This route bases you at Onomichi for the crossing to Imabari, with Hiroshima and Miyajima either side and Fukuoka to finish. Bikes hire easily at both ends.
Ride the island bridges across the Inland Sea, with Hiroshima and Onomichi either end.
Trip facts
- Length10 nights
- PaceMedium
- Designed forInterest-led
- GatewaysIn via Osaka, out via Fukuoka
The route, city by city
Where you sleep and what each base is for. Load it into the planner to reshape the cities, dates, and day-by-day plan.
- Day 1Arrive
- Day 2Explore
Japan's food capital and most exuberant city - a working-class energy that takes eating very seriously.
- Day 3Travel in
- Day 4Day trip: Imabari
- Day 5Explore
A hillside port town of stairs, cats, and temples, beloved by filmmakers and at one end of the 70km Shimanami Kaido cycling route.
The western terminus of the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, famous for Imabari towels and a striking sea castle.
- Day 6Travel in
- Day 7Day trip: Miyajima
- Day 8Explore
A city of extraordinary resilience - the atomic bomb memorial, its own okonomiyaki style, and the finest oysters in Japan.
The island shrine with a great torii gate standing in the sea - consistently voted Japan's most beautiful scenery.
- Day 9Travel in
- Day 10Depart
Japan's fastest-growing city and food capital of the west - Hakata ramen, yatai street stalls, and a young international energy.
Your JP Adventure
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