All courses include expressways traveling across the bridges from island to island. Participants are able to cycle on roads that are normally reserved for vehicles and enjoy a sense of freedom as they ride during this cycling event. Cycling Shimanami 2022 is the only cycling event in Japan where participants can ride on the main roads of an expressway.
Set in the “Setouchi Shimanami Kaido”, a world class cycling course that was designated by the national government as one of the “National Cycle Routes” in November 2019, the event welcomes 7,000 participants from Japan and overseas. The cycling road runs through the scenic Setonaikai, where many small islands float on a calm sea. It is often referred to across the world as a “Sacred Place for Cyclists”.
The diverse courses that allow participants to enjoy the wonderful scenery and beautiful natural features of the “Setouchi Shimanami Kaido” are a major attraction of Cycling Shimanami 2022. Eight courses in accordance with skill level and preference have been prepared.
These includes: a long course with a round trip over the “Setouchi Shimanami Kaido”; a middle course that travels refreshingly through Imabari and Onomichi; a cruising course that involves a ferry ride together with cycling; and a fun course that can be enjoyed by both beginners and families.
Participants will be able to enjoy the natural landscape, including the beauty of the tiny dotted islands, the history and culture of each island, and the delicious food produced from the rich nature of the Seto Inland Sea. Participants will also experience the warm hearts and hospitality of the islanders through the roadside aid stations and spectators on each island.
Course | Distance (Expressway) |
Capacity (Premium Entry) |
Entry Fee (Premium Entry) ※Elementary and junior high school students |
Bicycle Class |
Start & Finish Venue |
Number of Aid Stations |
Time limit & Course Difficulty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AOne-way course over Seto Inland Sea from Onomichi
—Ride through Shimanami to the south— IMABARI 70 Onomichi (Mukaishima)⇒Imabari (One Way) |
about 70km (about 23km) |
1,000 people (100 people) |
15,000 yen (35,000 yen) |
Sport | Mukaishima IC Hirokoji |
3 | Within 5 hours |
BA roundtrip departing from Onomichi to visit five islands on the Shimanami kaido and Yumeshima Kaido
—Enjoy the beauty of the many islands in Onomichi and Kamijima— INNOSHIMA 70 Onomichi (Mukaishima)⇔Ikuchijima(Round trip) |
about 70km (about 17km) |
300 people (30 people) |
14,000 yen (34,000 yen) |
Mukaishima IC Onomichi City Hall |
3 | Within 5 hours 45 minutes | |
CSatisfying middle course
—Ride around and past the island— OMISHIMA 100 Imabari⇔Omishima (Round trip) |
about 100km (about 30km) |
1,200 people (120 people) |
14,000 yen (34,000 yen) |
Imabari IC Hirokoji |
4 | Within 7 hours 45 minutes | |
DLongest course with a round trip over the Seto Inland Sea
—Fully enjoy the attractions of Shimanami Kaido— COMPLETE SHIMANAMI 140 Imabari⇔Onomichi (Round trip) |
about 140km (about 43km) |
500 people (50 people) |
18,000 yen (38,000 yen) |
Imabari IC Hirokoji |
6 | Within 8 hours 15 minutes | |
EOne-way course over the Seto Inland Sea from Imabari
—Ride past Shimanami to the north— ONOMICHI 70 Imabari⇒Onomichi (One Way) |
about 70km (about 43km) |
1,500 people (150 people) |
15,000 yen (35,000 yen) |
Imabari IC Onomichi City Hall |
3 | Within 4 hours 30 minutes | |
FMiddle course over four bridges to cross the prefectural border
—Crossing islands, dreaming of islands— IKUCHI 110 Imabari⇔Ikuchijima(Round trip) |
about 110km (about 35km) |
1,000 people (100 people) |
14,000 yen (34,000 yen) |
Imabari IC Hirokoji |
3 | Within 7 hours 30 minutes | |
GCourse devoted to islands, traveling over eight islands
—Traveling over two sea routes – Shimanami and Yumeshima— YUMESHIMA 80 Imabari⇒Kamijima(One Way) |
about 80km (about 35km) |
500 people (50 people) |
14,000 yen (34,000 yen) |
Imabari IC Yuge Port |
2 | Within 5 hours 45 minutes | |
HFun course that can also be enjoyed by beginners and families
—Gazing over scenery from the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge— OSHIMA 30 Imabari⇔Oshima(Round trip) |
about 30km (about 12km) |
[General Division] 970 people (N/A) |
[General Division] 6,000 yen (※3,000 yen) |
Sport City Tandem |
Kurushima Kaikyo SA Hirokoji |
1 | Within 4 hours |
about 45km (about 12km) |
[E-BIKE Guide Tour Division] 30 people (N/A) |
[E-BIKE Guide Tour Division] 8,000 yen (For rents 12,000 yen) |
E-BIKE (Sports type bicycle with electric assist) |
Course | Starting Time | Expressway Closing time (subject to change) (Location, Distance from Start) |
Closing time (subject to change) (Finish venue) |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
A | IMABARI 70 Onomichi (Mukaishima)⇒Imabari 〈One Way〉 |
7:22〜 | 9:00 (Management road leading to Ikuchijima minami IC / about 17 km) |
17:00 (Hirokoji) |
B | INNOSHIMA 70 Onomichi (Mukaishima)⇔Ikuchijima 〈Round trip〉 |
7:38〜 | 9:00 (Management road leading to Ikuchijima minami IC / about 17 km) |
15:30 (Onomichi City Hall) |
C | OOMISHIMA 100 Imabari⇔Omishima 〈Round trip〉 |
7:45〜 | 10:35 (Hakatajima IC / about 23 km) |
17:00 (Hirokoji) |
D | COMPLETE SHIMANAMI 140 Imabari⇔Onomichi 〈Round trip〉 |
8:09〜 | 11:00 (Setoda Bus Stop / about 38 km) |
17:00 (Hirokoji) |
E | ONOMICHI 70 Imabari⇒Onomichi 〈One Way〉 |
8:17〜 | 11:00 (Setoda Bus Stop / about 38 km) |
15:00 (Onomichi City Hall) |
F | IKUCHI 110 Imabari⇔Ikuchijima 〈Round trip〉 |
8:41〜 | 10:55 (Omishima IC / about 30 km) |
17:00 (Hirokoji) |
G | YUMESHIMA 80 Imabari⇒Kamijima 〈One Way〉 |
8:57〜 | 10:55 (Omishima IC / about 30 km) |
16:00 (Yuge Port) |
H | OSHIMA 30 Imabari⇔Oshima 〈Round trip〉 |
9:37〜 | 17:00 (Hirokoji) |