SHIMANAMI Letter Monument: A Famous Photo Spot on the Shimanami Kaido

The SHIMANAMI Letter Monument is a popular photo spot for cyclists and travelers visiting the Shimanami Kaido. It is located in the parking area of Sunrise Itoyama, a rental cycle terminal in Imabari City, Ehime. Here, you can take memorable photos of your bike with the impressive Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge in the background. Be sure to check the location in advance and enjoy this iconic photo opportunity.

The SHIMANAMI Letter Monument

That Famous Shot From Social Media

You may have seen it on Instagram or other social media — cyclists posting “We made it to Shimanami Kaido!” alongside a photo of large letter-shaped wooden sculptures spelling out “SHIMANAMI.” Taking a commemorative photo with your bike, using the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge as a backdrop, has become something of a tradition among cyclists and travelers visiting Shimanami Kaido.

That said, the monument is not directly on the main cycling route, which means first-time visitors can easily miss it. It is located at the foot of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, so it is easy enough to stop by — you just need to know where to look. Since you will be passing right by this area anyway, it would be a shame to ride past without grabbing that memorable photo. “I finally made it to Shimanami Kaido!” — let the monument help you celebrate the moment!

Located at Sunrise Itoyama

The SHIMANAMI Letter Monument is located in the parking area of Sunrise Itoyama (サンライズ糸山), a cycling terminal in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. The facility is located at the Shikoku-side base of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge — the massive suspension bridge connecting the Imabari mainland with Oshima Island. It is about 6 km from Imabari city center and JR Imabari Station, perched on a coastal hillside called Itoyama.

This photo of Sunrise Itoyama was taken from the moped lane of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. The SHIMANAMI Letter Monument is located at the far end of the building shown here, on the seaward side.

Sunrise Itoyama is a multi-purpose facility that also serves as a rental cycle terminal. It opened in 1999 alongside the launch of Shimanami Kaido, as one of the cycling terminals established along cycling routes across Japan. Please note that as of March 2026, the accommodation and restaurant have temporarily closed as the facility undergoes redevelopment into a new lodging complex that will serve as a key base for Shimanami Kaido. The rental cycle service continues to operate as normal.

Cycling Terminal	Sunrise Itoyama
Address	2-8-1 Sunaba-cho, Imabari City
Rental Cycle Reservations	0848-22-3911 (Shimanami Japan)
General Phone	0898-41-3196
Opening Hours	7:00–21:00
Rental Cycle Hours	8:00–19:00 (until 18:00 from December to February)
Parking	85 spaces (overflow parking available)
Facilities	Accommodation · Rental cycles · Restaurant · Shop · Lounge, etc.

AD (Google AdSense)

Location and Access

Getting to Sunrise Itoyama

If you have rented a bicycle at the cycling terminal in front of Imabari Station, simply follow the “Blue Line” — the blue painted guidance markings along the road that indicate the recommended cycling route — and you will reach Itoyama in about 30 minutes.

By public transport, you can take the local bus “Koura Line” from Imabari Station Bus Stop and get off at the “Tenbodai-Iriguchi” (Observatory Entrance) stop. Check the bus timetable in advance, as services are infrequent.

If you are cycling from the Onomichi direction, cross the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and descend the spiral loop bridge (dedicated to cyclists and pedestrians). Follow the Blue Line for a short distance, and you will reach an intersection signposted for Sunrise Itoyama — turn left and it is right there.

Pinpointing the Monument

Coming from the “Tenbodai-Iriguchi” intersection, you will quickly spot the main building and front parking area of Sunrise Itoyama. The main building is a multi-use complex that formerly housed the hotel, restaurant, and souvenir shop, and was open to drop-in visitors even without a reservation. Its glass-walled lobby offered a wonderful view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge.

The SHIMANAMI Letter Monument is located behind the rental cycle terminal building — a separate structure from the main building. Facing the front of the main building, the rental cycle terminal is off to the right.

Behind this building — which houses the bicycle parking area and rental cycle counter — there is another open parking space. The SHIMANAMI Letter Monument stands on the seaward side of this area.

The Imabari City Cycling Terminal was added in 2020. It is equipped with a bicycle assembly area, a bike washing station, and loaner tools — everything a cyclist could need as a base for exploring Shimanami Kaido.

Viewed from the road in front of Sunrise Itoyama, the rental cycle building is this concrete-constructed structure.

When Shimanami Kaido’s cycling route was designated as one of Japan’s first National Cycling Routes in 2019, a new rental cycle terminal building was constructed at Sunrise Itoyama. When the expanded facility reopened in 2020, the wooden deck and this SHIMANAMI Letter Monument were created to mark the occasion.

A Perfect Spot for a Cycling Souvenir Photo

Since the SHIMANAMI Letter Monument is located in the parking area of Sunrise Itoyama, it is accessible not only by bicycle but also by moped, motorcycle, or car.

People often pose here with their road bikes or rental cycles, and moped riders frequently stop for a shot too. Unless you visit during peak season, there is usually no queue, so you should be able to take your photo without much of a wait.

The “SHIMANAMI” letters are a wooden monument mounted on a concrete base. When first installed, the letters were painted a bright yellow, but over time the paint has gradually faded, giving them a natural, weathered wood look. The monument also doubles as a bench, so you can sit on it for your photo too.

The monument originally featured a logo for CROWN BRIDGE, a nickname given to the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. The name was inspired by the bridge’s resemblance to a crown (CROWN), and was coined after Shimanami Kaido’s cycling route was designated as a National Cycling Route, with the aim of giving the bridge a name that international visitors could easily remember. That said, the “Crown Bridge” nickname has rarely appeared anywhere else, so it has not really caught on widely. The logo has since been updated and now reads “EHIME” — the name of the prefecture in which Shimanami Kaido is located.

AD (Google AdSense)

The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge in the Background

Crossing the Strait on a 4 km Suspension Bridge

Stretching out behind the SHIMANAMI Letter Monument is the Kurushima Kaikyo (Kurushima Strait) — one of the most strategically important waterways in the Seto Inland Sea. The strait is known for having some of the fastest tidal currents in Japan, and in medieval times it was controlled by the Murakami Pirates (Murakami Suigun), a powerful seafaring clan. The island of Kurushima, where the Murakami Pirates had their castle, is visible from Sunrise Itoyama.

Spanning this strait with a series of three connected suspension bridges totaling 4 km in length, the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge is the largest of the seven bridges on Shimanami Kaido. Counting from the Oshima Island side, the three sections are known as the First, Second, and Third Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges. Construction began in 1988, and after more than a decade of work, the bridge opened in 1999.

The bridge has become the iconic symbol of Shimanami Kaido, and crossing it by bicycle is undoubtedly the highlight of any cycling trip here. Running alongside the expressway are a dedicated cycling and pedestrian path, as well as a separate lane for small motorbikes and mopeds. It is said to be exceptionally rare worldwide to be able to cycle across a suspension bridge of this scale.

Shimanami Kaido Bridges	Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge
Opened	May 1999
Total Length	4,015 m
Individual Bridge Names	Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge No.1, No.2, No.3
Dedicated Lanes	Cycling & pedestrian path / Moped lane
Toll (Moped / Bicycle)	¥200 (currently free for bicycles)

AD (Google AdSense)

Other Nearby Photo Spots

The Shimanami Pin Monument

Another photo spot you may have come across on social media is the “Shimanami Pin Monument” — a monument with the word “しまなみ” (Shimanami) written in hiragana (Japanese script), shaped like a location pin. Like the SHIMANAMI Letter Monument, it is located near the foot of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge — but at a completely different venue: the Kurushima Kaikyo Service Area.

The Kurushima Kaikyo Service Area is a highway rest stop along the Nishiseto Expressway (the formal name for Shimanami Kaido’s toll road), accessible from the Onomichi direction. However, it can also be reached on foot or by bicycle via a general road that loops around the back. For those arriving by car, the service area cannot be entered directly from the Imabari-side interchange — but it too can be accessed via the same general road.

The entrance from the general road can be a little tricky to find, and cyclists will need to climb a short hill to get there. That said, the service area has a well-stocked souvenir shop and great views, so it is worth the detour. If you would like a photo with the Shimanami Pin, head to the Kurushima Kaikyo Service Area.

Michi-no-Eki Hakata SC Park

There is also a SHIMANAMI letter monument at Hakata Beach, inside Michi-no-Eki Hakata SC Park on Hakata Island. Michi-no-Eki (literally “road station”) are government-designated roadside rest facilities found across Japan. They typically offer local souvenirs, refreshments, and travel information—perfect for a quick break. This spot allows you to take photos with the Hakata Oshima Bridge in the background. Installed in December 2024, this newer monument stands out from the one at Sunrise Itoyama thanks to its colorful design, and has quickly become one of Shimanami Kaido’s most popular photo spots.

Roadside Station (Michi-no-Eki)	Hakata SC Park
Address	1668-1 Kanouura, Hakata-cho, Imabari City
Phone	0897-72-3300
Opening Hours	9:00–17:00
Features	Popular for Hakata Salt soft-serve ice cream

Itoyama Observatory & Kurushima Kaikyo Viewpoint Hall

Close to Sunrise Itoyama, there are several viewpoints offering spectacular views of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. The Kurushima Kaikyo Viewpoint Hall is easy to reach even for beginner cyclists, and includes a shop selling local souvenirs and drinks.

Higher up is the Itoyama Observatory, which offers an even more breathtaking panorama. If you are a more experienced cyclist or plan to rent an electric-assist bicycle, I also highly recommend the Kirosan Observatory on Oshima Island. The climb is quite steep, but the view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge from above is everything you would hope for from Shimanami Kaido.

AD (Google AdSense)

Short Cycling Course

A Short Cycling Experience on the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge

Sunrise Itoyama has a free parking area and an easy-to-use rental cycle service, making it a great starting point even for a brief taste of Shimanami Kaido cycling. Riding the full length of the route from end to end covers more than 70 km and takes at least a full day.

For those who would like to enjoy a cycling experience in just about an hour, I recommend a simple out-and-back ride from Sunrise Itoyama across the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge — the very highlight of Shimanami Kaido. It is the best of Shimanami Kaido in a compact format. If time allows, a leisurely explore of Oshima Island makes a wonderful addition.

---

On this page, I have introduced the SHIMANAMI Letter Monument — a must-visit photo spot with a stunning view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, the longest bridge on Shimanami Kaido — along with other nearby highlights. For more information on cycling Shimanami Kaido, from beginner tips to route planning, please take a look at the pages below.