Best bicycle return spots to stop cycling along the Shimanami Kaido

2025/7/252025/7/27

A must-know for beginner cyclists! This article introduces recommended bike return points along the Shimanami Kaido where you can easily end your cycling trip. This is especially helpful for travelers using rental bikes, as some terminals may be far from bus stops or ferry ports.

Cycling the Shimanami Kaido

Beginner-Friendly Experience

The Shimanami Kaido, a route connecting islands between Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture and Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture, is one of Japan’s most popular cycling routes. With well-developed bike rental systems and dedicated cycling paths, it attracts many first-time cyclists and travelers.

Riding the full Shimanami Kaido route from Imabari Station to Onomichi Station covers at least 70 to 80 kilometers. If you take scenic detours or coastal routes, the distance can exceed 100 km — even 200 km in some cases. This freedom to explore different routes across the islands is one of the major attractions of cycling the Shimanami Kaido.

Know Where to Exit If Needed

That said, if it’s your first time attempting a long-distance ride, you may not be sure how far you can realistically go.

“It turned out to be farther than I expected, and I got too tired.”

“I made too many stops along the way and couldn’t make it as far as planned.”

These things happen — or you might simply face unexpected issues that require you to change your itinerary.

That’s why it’s helpful to know “easy exit points” ahead of time. It gives you peace of mind and allows for a more relaxed, flexible cycling experience. In this article, we’ll introduce bike rental terminals that are convenient places to end your ride, especially for beginner cyclists.

Rental Cycle Options

Along the Shimanami Kaido, there are both public and private bicycle rental options. There are about 10 public rental bike terminals along the route from Imabari to Onomichi, and one of the biggest advantages of the public rental service is that you can pick up and return the bike at different terminals. This makes it especially convenient for first-time riders who plan to do a one-way or long-distance ride.

On the other hand, with private rental shops, you generally need to return the bike to the same shop where you rented it. That said, private rentals may offer advantages such as a wider variety of bicycles and more personalized support. It’s worth comparing your options to find the service that best suits your cycling plan.

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If You Use a Public Rental Cycle

Let’s look at the easiest points to stop and return your bike if you’re using the “Public Rental Bike” service operated by Shimanami Japan. The best terminal will depend on which direction you plan to head after cycling.

Heading Toward Imabari

If you start your ride from the Onomichi side—such as from Onomichi Port—and head south toward Imabari (Shikoku), the following three Rental Bike Terminals (RBTs) are conveniently located near bus stops to Imabari Station or ferry ports bound for Imabari Port.

Terminal	Facility	Hours	Address	Access
Habu Port RBT	Central Parking Lot	8:30–19:00	1899-31 Habu-cho, Innoshima, Onomichi	Habu Port BS, Habu Port
Kamiura RBT	Tatara Shimanami Park	9:00–17:00	9180-2 Inokuchi, Kamiura-cho, Imabari	Omishima BS
Hakata RBT	Hakata SC Park	9:00–17:00	1668-1 Kanoura, Hakata-cho, Imabari	Hakatajima BS

* Please note that some terminals operate on shorter hours during the winter season (December to February).

One of the recommended terminal is the Habu Port RBT on Innoshima Island. Passenger ferries operated by Geiyo Kisen depart from Habu Port to Imabari Port. These boats also stop at several islands on the Yumeshima Kaido, such as Iwagijima Island and Yugeshima Island. However, since rental bikes cannot be returned on these smaller islands, if you are traveling on this region too, you will need to load your bike onto the boat and return it later in Imabari.

The Kamiura RBT located inside the Tatara Shimanami Park on Omishima—the fourth island from Onomichi—and the Hakata RBT inside Hakata SC Park on the fifth island, Hakatajima, are both conveniently close to bus stops with service to Imabari Station. Omishima is located just beyond the halfway point from Onomichi.

Unlike ferries, buses do not allow bicycles onboard. So be sure to return your rental bike before boarding a bus. On Omishima, use the Omishima BS (bus stop), and on Hakatajima, use the Hakatajima BS. “BS” stands for “bus stop.”

Heading Toward Onomichi

Now, let’s look at the reverse route—starting from Imabari Station or Sunrise Itoyama and heading north toward Onomichi (Honshu). If you want to stop partway and return to Onomichi, the following two terminals are the most convenient:

First is the Setoda Tourist Information Center RBT on Ikuchijima Island, which is just beyond the halfway point from Imabari. After returning your rental bike here, walk through the Shiomachi Shopping Street to Setoda Port, where boats depart for Onomichi Port. These boats allow bicycles onboard, so if you prefer, you can bring your rental bike on the boat and return it at Onomichi Port instead.

Another good stopping point is the Habu Port RBT on Innoshima. This is about two-thirds of the way from Imabari along the Shimanami Kaido. From the bus stop in front of Habu Port, you can catch a local bus heading toward Onomichi Station. Since rental bikes cannot be loaded onto the bus, make sure to return your bike before boarding.

Additionally, after returning your rental bike on Hakatajima or Omishima, you can also take a bus bound for Fukuyama Station (Honshu side). If your trip doesn’t require going to Onomichi, heading straight to Fukuyama is a good alternative. Since this bus does not stop in Onomichi, you’ll need to either transfer at the Innoshima-ohashi BS or get off at Mukaihigashi BS, which is the closest stop to Onomichi.

Important Notes About Quitting Midway

If you’re considering quitting the Shimanami Kaido ride halfway through, it’s best to make that decision as early as possible. Be sure to check the closing times of rental bike terminals and the departure times of the last buses or ferries. You’ll need to plan your ride so that you arrive in time for these services.

If your rental bike breaks down while cycling with Shimanami Rental Bike, consider contacting the terminal before giving up. They may be able to bring a replacement bike to your location, allowing you to continue your journey without needing to quit.

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For Private Rental Bikes

Bike Return Proxy Service

If you’re using a private rental bike service such as GIANT Store, Red Bicycles Onomichi, or Better Bicycles—or riding your own bike—you’ll generally need to use boats if you decide to stop cycling partway. However, for those renting bikes from a private company that partners with WAKKA on Omishima, there’s a paid bike return proxy service available.

Bike Return Proxy Service	WAKKA
Address	6691-1 Igeuchi, Kamiura-cho, Imabari
Phone	0897-72-8705
Hours	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Closed	Tuesdays
Details	Multi-purpose cycling support facility on Omishima

Using Buses or Ferries

If you have a special bike bag (called a “rinko bag”) and can fold or disassemble your bike, you can take it on the Imabari–Fukuyama express bus known as the Shimanami Liner.

Ferries to Imabari and Onomichi

This is an overview of the main ferry routes in the Shimanami Kaido area. Most ferries and passenger boats allow you to take your bicycle onboard, although there may be limits to the number of bikes allowed. Be sure to check the schedule for the last departure of the day and confirm whether the ferry is operating—especially in case of bad weather.

This page introduced easy places to stop your cycling trip along the Shimanami Kaido, especially for beginners. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an experienced cyclist, we’ve gathered helpful cycling information to make the most of your trip on the page below. We hope you find it useful!