A 125cc Bike Challenge: Riding the Shimanami Kaido from Start to Finish

The Shimanami Kaido is a scenic cycling road that connects Shikoku and Honshu, the two main islands of Japan, by crossing the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. It starts from Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture and ends at Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture, spanning about 60km and linking six islands with seven bridges. It is known as an island-hopping route that offers stunning views of the sea and the islands.

It is also called the “holy land of cycling” and has been selected as one of the “seven best cycling routes in the world” by CNN, attracting attention from both domestic and foreign tourists. However, what is not widely known is that it is also the “holy land of moped touring”, as almost all of the bridges in the area have dedicated lanes or roads for mopeds with engines of 125cc or less. There are also bike rental services available along the route.

To cross from Honshu to Shikoku by moped, you would normally have to take a ferry, except for the Shimanami Kaido route. The Shimanami Kaido offers a unique experience of riding a moped over the Seto Inland Sea. It feels like flying in the sky, as you enjoy the exhilarating sensation of moped touring while gazing at the islands and the ships passing by.

00:28 Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge　来島海峡大橋
11:56 Hakata-Oshima Bridge　伯方・大島大橋
18:14 Omishima Bridge　大三島大橋
22:48 Tatara Bridge　多々羅大橋
29:45 Ikuchi Bridge　生口橋
36:03 Innoshima Bridge　因島大橋
41:10 Onomichi Bridge　尾道大橋