Yumeshima Kaido, Tobishima Kaido & Hamakaze Kaido Cycling Compared

After the Shimanami Kaido, why not try the neighboring routes too? This page explains the characteristics, distances, transportation, and rental bike differences of the Yumeshima Kaido, Tobishima Kaido, and Hamakaze Kaido for first-timers. I also introduce how to get there and how to cut a ride short comfortably if you need to.

Beyond the Shimanami Kaido

When it comes to cycling in the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido is probably the first name that comes to mind. But in fact, there are several other recommended cycling routes with “something Kaido” names right around it. (“Kaido” is written 海道 in Japanese and literally means “sea road.” I’ll explain the name a little more below.) In this article, I would like to compare three routes that are easy to combine with a Shimanami Kaido trip: the Yumeshima Kaido, the Tobishima Kaido, and the Hamakaze Kaido.

All of these kaido run along the Seto Inland Sea, but they differ quite a lot in scenery, distance, island atmosphere, transportation, and how easy the rental bikes are to use. A trip like “I rode the Shimanami Kaido, so next time I’ll try a different one” is a lovely way to travel, too.

Here, I did not make a ranking of which one is the best. Instead, I put the information together with the idea that each route has its own charm. For beginners, it is not only the distance that matters. How to get there, where to stock up on food and drinks, rental bikes, and how easy it is to stop partway are also important points. I hope this helps you find the cycling route that suits your own travel style.

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The Shimanami Kaido and the Kaido Around It

What Does “Kaido” Mean?

In Japanese, “kaido” is written 海道, using the characters for “sea” (海) and “road” (道). The word can be understood as a “sea route.” In this area, it is used in the names of cycling routes that cross the islands of the Seto Inland Sea via bridges or follow the coastline.

The other route names carry a little meaning as well. “Yumeshima” includes “yume,” which means “dream.” The name “Tobishima” brings to mind tobi-ishi, or stepping stones in a Japanese garden, as the islands appear to form a chain across the sea. And “Hamakaze” means a sea breeze, or literally a “beach wind.”

Cycling Routes Across the Seto Inland Sea

If you think of the Shimanami Kaido as the center, the positions of the other routes are easy to picture. The Shimanami Kaido connects Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture (on the Shikoku side) and Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture (on the Honshu side) by crossing islands over bridges. Just to the east is the Yumeshima Kaido, which takes you around the small islands of Kamijima Town in Ehime Prefecture.

To the west, the Tobishima Kaido runs from Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture, and a chain of islands continues all the way to Okamura Island in Imabari City. And the Hamakaze Kaido runs along the coast from Imabari toward Matsuyama and Dogo Onsen. If you open a map, you will see the kaido spreading out in different directions from the Shimanami Kaido. That is the picture I have in mind.

Four Routes, Four Different Characters

There is the classic Shimanami Kaido, crossing bridges and islands. There is the Yumeshima Kaido, for slowly exploring small islands. There is the Tobishima Kaido, with its coastal scenery and historic townscapes. And there is the Hamakaze Kaido, which links Imabari and Matsuyama along the sea. All of them have the “Blue Line” (a blue guide line painted on the road to mark the recommended cycling route).

Unlike on the Shimanami Kaido, the Blue Line is painted in broken stretches in many places on these other routes. Still, the junctions are clearly marked, so I don’t think it causes any particular problems. Even though they share the name “kaido,” each one feels quite different when you actually ride it. Let’s look at their characteristics one by one.

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For Your First Time, the Shimanami Kaido

Island Hopping Across Bridges

From Imabari to Onomichi, it is about 70 to 80 km (43 to 50 miles) even by the shortest route. You can cross big bridges such as the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge and the Tatara Bridge by bike, and each island has its own scenery, industry, and town atmosphere. Along with the sea, quiet farming and fishing villages keep appearing one after another, so even a long distance never gets boring.

There are no super-famous sights on the Shimanami Kaido, such as a World Heritage site. Rather than touring tourist spots, the road itself and the act of moving become the journey. I think this is a route where you can enjoy exactly that kind of cycling-trip feeling.

A Cycling Environment Designed for Beginners

The Blue Line along the edge of the road guides you to your destination, and public rental bikes can be returned at any of 10 terminals (a one-way rental). There are also more than 100 “Cycle Oasis” rest stops, where local people volunteer places to rest, and support in case of trouble such as flat tires is well developed.

It is also reassuring that you can stop partway by bus or boat. According to my survey, about half of visitors were either first-time cyclists or had less than a year of cycling experience. So, even if you are new to long-distance cycling, the Shimanami Kaido can be a good place to start, as long as you plan a ride that suits your fitness level. That said, 70 to 80 km (43 to 50 miles) is still a long way, so if you want to ride the whole route as a beginner, I recommend allowing two days or more to enjoy it at a comfortable pace.

Maps You Should Get in Advance

“CycloTourisme Shimanami,” which has been active in cycle tourism and regional promotion for nearly 20 years along the Shimanami Kaido, publishes guidebooks and maps. The map is also available in English and is extremely popular because it is the most detailed cycling-specific map in this region.

This product comes with a set of seven maps, each with a fairly detailed map for each island. I believe that getting your hands on this map will change your experience here. It can be purchased on Amazon.co.jp, and you can also buy it locally at Guesthouse CYCLONOIE in front of Imabari Station.

The Yumeshima Kaido Is a Beginner-Friendly Island Tour

Reach It by Boat from the Shimanami Kaido

The Yumeshima Kaido links four islands of Kamijima Town in Ehime Prefecture by bridge: Iwagijima, Ikinajima, Sashima, and Yugeshima. It is not connected to the Shimanami Kaido by bridge, so you need to take a boat to get there.

For example, the ferry from Sunoe Port on Ikuchijima to Okogi Port on Iwagijima takes about 6 minutes. That is close enough to plan as a side trip from the Shimanami Kaido. There is also a passenger boat that goes directly from Imabari Port. It’s a good idea to check the boat schedule, and whether the boat can carry bicycles, in advance.

The Joy of Slowly Exploring Small Islands

The Yumeshima Kaido has no traffic lights, and the islands feel even more remote and laid-back than the Shimanami Kaido. As you ride through village backstreets and along the coast, you can get a feel for everyday island life.

Iwagijima, Ikinajima, and Yugeshima are each about 9 to 17 km (6 to 11 miles) around, with fewer ups and downs than the Shimanami Kaido. I think that is a manageable size even for beginners. However, the southern side of Sashima and the eastern side of Yugeshima have many hills, so they take more time than the distance suggests.

Kamijima Town has its own rental bikes, but they are not linked with the Shimanami Kaido rental bikes. If you want to combine the two routes, rent a bike for the Shimanami Kaido and take it over by boat. If you only want to ride the Yumeshima Kaido, rent a bike from Kamijima Town. That is the way to think about it. Please note that neither system lets you drop a bike off at the other’s terminals.

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The Tobishima Kaido Is a Route for the Sea and History

Classic Seto Inland Sea Scenery

Starting from Kure City in Hiroshima Prefecture, the Tobishima Kaido runs through Shimokamagari Island, Kamikamagari Island, Toyoshima, and Osakishimojima, and on to Okamura Island in Ehime Prefecture. Seven bridges connect the islands, and the charm of this route is riding along sea roads with mountains close behind. The bridges are smaller than those on the Shimanami Kaido, but they are more of a climb than you might expect.

Traffic is much lighter than on the Shimanami Kaido, and some repeat cyclists even say they like the Tobishima Kaido better. I think it is a good match for anyone who wants to enjoy the road itself.

Historic Townscapes Like Mitarai Add to the Charm

On Osakishimojima, there is the Mitarai Townscape Preservation District, where many buildings from the Edo period (1603 to 1868) have been preserved.

Because it is a little away from the recommended course, I hope you will get off your bike and stroll around slowly. There are other places that feel historical too, such as the Sannose area on Kamikamagari Island. Besides the scenery, you can also experience the old-fashioned atmosphere of the Seto Inland Sea.

Beginners: Plan Your Supplies and Route a Little More Carefully

The Tobishima Kaido doesn’t have as many convenience stores and restaurants as the Shimanami Kaido. There are no convenience stores or bicycle shops along the route, and only a few restaurants, so it’s reassuring to check in advance where you will eat and get drinks. I think it’s a good idea to check opening hours and regular days off, and if possible, to call and confirm the day before.

The Tobishima Kaido also has its own rental bike service. Cottage Kajigahama on Shimokamagari Island offers bikes by reservation. Depending on the arrangement, bikes can be delivered to locations such as Okamura Port and returned there. The service works differently from the Shimanami Kaido rental system, so be sure to check the details in advance.

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The Hamakaze Kaido Connects Matsuyama and Imabari

A Coastal Road Unlike the Shimanami Kaido

The Hamakaze Kaido is a route of about 40 to 50 km (25 to 31 miles) that runs along the coast of mainland Shikoku, mainly on National Route 196, from Imabari to Matsuyama and Dogo Onsen. Unlike the Shimanami Kaido, which crosses from island to island, urban areas and seaside stretches appear alternately.

The stretch from Kikuma to the roadside station (Michi-no-Eki) Kazahaya-no-Sato Fuwari, where the sea is very close, lets you feel the “hamakaze” (sea breeze), just as the name says. It is mostly flat with few traffic lights, so it is a route that many local cyclists ride.

Be Mindful of Traffic and Road Conditions

Unlike the Shimanami Kaido, which has dedicated cycling paths on many of its bridge sections, the Hamakaze Kaido mainly follows existing public roads. Some sections have relatively heavy traffic, and some have narrow shoulders, so it is important to pay attention to road conditions. The area around Onishi in Imabari, in particular, has narrow shoulders and fairly heavy traffic.

You don’t need to ride the whole route. You can enjoy just the scenic stretches, or take a train partway from Iyo-Hojo Station. I hope you’ll choose whatever way feels comfortable for you.

Use the Cycle Train for a One-Way Ride

There are no rental bikes dedicated to the Hamakaze Kaido, and the Shimanami Kaido rental bikes cannot be returned in Matsuyama. That means that with a rental bike alone, you would need to come back to the terminal where you borrowed it.

That is where the cycle train “Ehime Shimanami Rinrin Train” (えひめ・しまなみリンリントレイン) comes in. On certain local trains, you can bring your bicycle on board without taking it apart and putting it in a special bag. This service is available only on designated trains and on certain days, so be sure to check the latest official information before your trip. In Japan, bicycles normally need to be disassembled or folded and placed in a special bag, often called a “rinko bag,” when carried on trains.

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Comparing the Four Kaido

Comparing Cycling Characteristics

I have put what we have seen so far into a table.

Route	Main Features	Approx. Distance	Scenery	For Beginners	Rental Bikes
Shimanami Kaido	Bridges and island hopping	Imabari to Onomichi, about 70 to 80 km (43 to 50 miles)	Sea, bridges, and island views	Excellent	Shimanami Kaido rental bikes (one-way rental OK)
Yumeshima Kaido	Small island tour	Across the 4 islands, about 14 km (9 miles)	Sea, villages, and bridges	Good	Kamijima Town’s own rental bikes
Tobishima Kaido	Coastline and history	Shortest route, about 30 km (19 miles)	Sea and historic townscapes	Plan ahead	Own system (reservation required)
Hamakaze Kaido	Mainland Shikoku coastline	About 40 to 50 km (25 to 31 miles)	Coastline	Plan ahead	None dedicated

The “For Beginners” column reflects my own general impression rather than a strict rating. “Plan ahead” doesn’t necessarily mean the route is difficult. It simply means that a little preparation can make your ride more comfortable.

Differences in Rental Bikes and Access

The big differences are the rental bikes and how you get there.

• Shimanami Kaido: Public rental bikes that you can drop off at another terminal. Easy to reach from Imabari Station or Onomichi Station
• Yumeshima Kaido: Kamijima Town’s own rental bikes, plus a boat. You can also bring a Shimanami Kaido rental bike over by boat
• Tobishima Kaido: Its own reservation-based rental bikes. Reach it by boat from Imabari Port, or by bridge from the Kure City side
• Hamakaze Kaido: No dedicated rental bikes. For a one-way ride, you can use trains, including the cycle train

Since you will be combining boats and trains, it’s reassuring to check timetables and operating days in advance.

Choose by the Kind of Ride You Want

Instead of ranking them, I have organized the routes by the kind of trip you would like to take.

• If you want to experience cycling in the Seto Inland Sea for the first time → Shimanami Kaido
• If you want to wander slowly around small islands → Yumeshima Kaido
• If you want to enjoy coastal roads and historic townscapes → Tobishima Kaido
• If you want to connect Imabari and Matsuyama by bike → Hamakaze Kaido

Thinking about the scenery you want to enjoy and the pace at which you want to travel may make it easier to choose.

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Enjoying Them Together with the Shimanami Kaido

Shimanami Kaido + Yumeshima Kaido

The easiest one to combine is the Yumeshima Kaido. If you are riding from Imabari to Onomichi, there is a route where you take a boat from Sunoe Port on Ikuchijima to Okogi Port on Iwagijima, ride through the four islands of the Yumeshima Kaido, and then cross to Innoshima from Kamiyuge Port.

From Okogi Port to Kamiyuge Port, it is about 14 km (9 miles) by the shortest route. It gives you another route that bypasses the Ikuchi Bridge of the Shimanami Kaido. You can also avoid packing too much into one day by enjoying the Yumeshima Kaido on a separate day.

Shimanami Kaido + Tobishima Kaido

Ride the Shimanami Kaido, and then the Tobishima Kaido the next day. A common pattern is to stay one night in Imabari and take a boat from Imabari Port to Okamura Port. You can enjoy a different side of the Seto Inland Sea from the Shimanami Kaido. If you are bringing your own bike, the two are easy to combine, but if you are using rental bikes, you need to check how each system works.

Using Imabari as Your Base for the Surrounding Kaido

Instead of thinking of Imabari only as the starting point of the Shimanami Kaido, I think it is fun to treat it as a base for cycling around the whole area. Stay in Imabari and ride the Shimanami Kaido, Yumeshima Kaido, Tobishima Kaido, and Hamakaze Kaido on separate days. That idea of traveling widely around the Seto Inland Sea sounds lovely, too. Around Imabari Station, the number of cyclist-friendly accommodations is also increasing.

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Summary: Cycling Routes Full of Personality

Even though they all have “kaido” in their names, each one turned out to have quite a different personality. There is the classic Shimanami Kaido, crossing bridges and islands. There is the Yumeshima Kaido, wandering slowly among small islands. There is the Tobishima Kaido, with its sea views and sense of history. And there is the Hamakaze Kaido, linking Imabari and Matsuyama along the coast.

Rather than asking which one is the best, I think the right choice changes depending on the purpose of your trip, your experience, the type of bike, and your schedule. If the Shimanami Kaido sparks your interest, extending your trip to the surrounding islands and coastlines will widen the fun of cycling in the Seto Inland Sea even more. If there is a kaido you haven’t ridden yet, why not try it on your next trip?

Google Map for Exploring the Islands

I put together a Google My Map with my recommended cycling routes and spots along the Shimanami Kaido.

ー Main route
ー Optionally Route
● Scenic Spots
● Restaurants
● Cafe & Shops
● Accommodations
● Rental Bike Terminal

Besides the shortest route with the least climbs, I also included some optional detours that are easy for beginners to try. You can view this map on your smartphone or tablet using the Google Maps app.

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In this article, I compared the characteristics of the main cycling routes around the Shimanami Kaido. On my website, “Shimanami Bike Touring Tips,” I have gathered information about Shimanami Kaido cycling that even beginners can enjoy with peace of mind.