About This Website & the Author

2025/6/162025/11/27

Author profile

Traveling by bicycle is fun !

Ever since I was a child, I’ve loved being outdoors and exploring new places. But discovering that I could travel long distances by bicycle completely changed my perspective. Before that, I had only used a bike for getting to school or running errands. Realizing how far I could actually go on two wheels was a total game-changer!

I started with short local rides, then gradually expanded my adventures, eventually cycling all over Japan. Nowadays, I spend my weekends riding around the Shimanami Kaido, exploring its beauty and sharing the joy of bicycle travel with others.

A Personal Website Sharing Local Information

Purpose of Sharing Local Information

Share the charm of slow cycling

I hope to convey the appeal of slow cycling—traveling through the region at a relaxed pace unique to bicycles, without focusing on speed or distance. Unlike traveling by train, car, or bus, cycling allows you to move slowly and use all five senses. That is precisely why you can truly experience the scenery, atmosphere, and wonderful qualities of each place along the way.

Traveling the Shimanami Kaido by bicycle

If I had to describe the Shimanami Kaido in just one phrase, I would say it is the warmest cycling route in Japan. Of course, part of that warmth comes from the climate, but there is also a handmade, welcoming feeling—local island residents truly care about the cycling route and the people who travel it by bicycle. There is a pleasant sense of connection when travelers and local people casually greet each other as they pass. The scenery is beautiful, of course, but it is the warm, welcoming atmosphere that appears in many places along the way that makes me love the Shimanami Kaido so much.

Safe, comfortable, and enjoyable ride

“I’m interested in bicycle travel, but…”, “Can I really ride a long distance…?”, “Can I travel alone in a place I’ve never been…?” — those are exactly the kinds of beginners I hope will come to the Shimanami Kaido for cycling. The Shimanami Kaido is a place where even first-time cyclists can enjoy bicycle travel with peace of mind. This warm and welcoming cycling route offers one of the best cycling environments in Japan, and it continues to improve year by year. I created this website to share cycling information so that more people will say, “I traveled the Shimanami Kaido by bicycle and became hooked on cycling.”

For Sharing Reliable and Objective Information

Commitment to originality

Except for copyright-free photos and illustrations, the images used on this website are basically ones I photographed myself or illustrations I created using Illustrator. When I use copyright-free materials, I always follow the usage guidelines of the respective websites. In addition, when quoting screenshots from other websites or content from books or documents, I always indicate that they are quotations and clearly state the source.

Careful selection of information

The selection of shops and products featured in the text reflects my personal recommendations, and I do not accept sponsored placements from businesses. I believe that the value of sharing local travel information as an independent individual lies in having no conflicting interests. If it were public information, it would be necessary to introduce all shops equally. Many major publishers’ guidebooks also feature businesses more prominently if they pay listing fees. On this site, I value fair and unbiased information from the perspective of “just a fan” of the Shimanami Kaido.

Information based on the experiences

All the information I publish is based on my own on-site research and experiences. I believe that if I were to give special treatment—such as prioritizing shops or services run by people I personally know—the value of this kind of information sharing would diminish significantly. To ensure that the content of each article remains trustworthy and objective, I also consider it important to maintain my own anonymity.

Requests for listings and product offers

For these reasons, I do not accept any requests from businesses or individuals to feature their shops or products. I also do not accept free merchandise or complimentary services. If you find any incorrect information, notice an issue with a listing, or would like your information removed, please contact me through the contact form.

For the privacy policy and disclaimers, please see this page.

What I Keep in Mind When Writing Articles

To support a wide range of travel plans

Writing with first-time visitors in mind

The articles on this website are mainly intended for people visiting the Shimanami Kaido area for the first time and for beginner cyclists. I try to write with care for readers who may not be familiar with local place names or technical terms, focusing on accuracy rather than creating a light and casual tone. As a result, some sentences may feel repetitive or slightly long. Since many different people read this site, I also try to use colors that are considerate of various types of color vision, and I aim for illustrations that are as universally accessible as possible.

Continuous information updates

This is not unique to the Shimanami Kaido, but tourist areas frequently see new shops and services opening and closing. The details of services can also change after I conduct on-site research. I believe it is important not to “write and forget,” so I try to update published articles with the latest information whenever possible. (Recently, the number of articles has been growing, and this task is becoming quite large…)

Information provided by users

Compared to print media, websites make it easier to update information. However, there are still limits to what one person can do, and I recognize this as one of the weaknesses of this site. I regularly check and proofread articles with the help of AI, but I am truly grateful for the helpful messages I receive from readers and social media followers, such as “This part has changed” or “This information is incorrect.” If you notice anything, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

Keeping Annoying Ads to a Minimum

Local information doesn’t generate much profit

Articles that focus on a small local area generally don’t receive a high volume of searches. For example, the annual number of rental bicycles on the Shimanami Kaido is only in the hundreds of thousands. Even if half of those people read my articles, that would still be only a few tens of thousands. Compared to websites that cover more general topics, the number of potential search users is overwhelmingly small. If the goal were to earn significant profit, I think it would eventually reach its limit.

Minimizing running costs with minimal advertising

On the other hand, maintaining a website requires costs for servers, domains, and more. Research and writing are hobbies for me, but they still involve various expenses. Outsourcing article writing or illustrations would cost a considerable amount (which is one of the reasons I do everything myself). I once considered funding the site through reader donations, but that comes with several hurdles. In the end, I needed to rely on advertising and affiliate links. I personally dislike websites overloaded with annoying ads, though…

If it can be of help to someone’s travel experience

Cycling, writing, and creating illustrations are all hobbies for me, so I enjoy doing them without prioritizing financial gain. This website is simply something I create as one enthusiastic fan of Shimanami Kaido cycling—it’s not official, not government, and not backed by any major company. If my work can have even a small positive impact on someone’s travel experience, helping them enjoy the Shimanami Kaido or bicycle travel a little more, that alone makes me happy.