Shimanami Kaido — The Bike Route Across the 70 km Seto Sea

The star of the show is the riding itself — the route is marked with a blue line the whole way, and every bridge has a looping access ramp and a bike lane separated from traffic. A regular rider finishes in 6–8 hours, and the terrain is fairly flat with climbs only on the bridge approaches. An e-bike makes those climbs much easier.

This is the highlight people save for the final stretch — three consecutive suspension spans totalling about 4 kilometres, often cited as the longest suspension bridge for cyclists and pedestrians in the world. You ride high above a channel with swirling tidal currents below, the view wide open on both sides — you'll want to stop and shoot.

A sleek, elegant cable-stayed bridge, its cables fanning out from tall towers like wings. It was once the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, at about 1,480 metres. The fun bit is at the base of the towers — a "whispering wall" where a clap or a shout echoes up the pillars. Kids love it.

A midway stop that surprises a lot of people — a vividly colourful temple a businessman built in memory of his mother, with buildings modelled on famous temples from across Japan. Above it sits "Miraishin no Oka," a hill of pure white marble sculpture that looks out over the Seto Sea — it feels like stepping into another world.

An ancient shrine revered by warriors of old, set beneath camphor trees hundreds of years old in the shrine grounds. The atmosphere is cool, shaded, and quiet — a restful midway stop that's a change from the open sea views all along the route. Omishima is also known for its citrus and its little roadside cafés.

Before or after the ride, allow half a day to wander Onomichi — a small port town on the hillsides above the channel, with a temple walk climbing the slopes, lanes where cats roam, and viewpoints looking across the strait to the route's first island. It has a relaxed, retro feel and makes a warm starting point.

An underrated joy here is the roadside food — all along the route there are rest stops (michi-no-eki) selling lemon and citrus gelato from the island orchards, fresh lemonade, and local snacks, the perfect reward for tired legs. Many have a terrace where you can sit and look out over the sea and catch your breath.