Shimanami Kaido Cycling Questions

Hi All,

My wife & I plan to visit Chugoku Region at the end of March and will try cycling along the Shimanami Kaido on April 1. The direction will be Onomichi (Ikuchijima)-- Imabari

On Mar. 31 night, we・ll stay at a hotel near JR Fukuyama and will probably catch the JR Sanyo train at around 7.14 am next morning to Onomichi (20 minutes). Since we are not real cyclists (cycling as a hobby), and 70-km ride in a day would definitely be impossible for us and we don・t have 2 days spare for it, so we plan to start from Ikuchijima Island at Setoda, in which the distant from there to Imabari should be more suitable for our strength :-) �E

We・ll take a ferry from Onomichi to Ikuchijima Island, get off at Setoda, find some bike-a-rental terminal around there, and start our cycling here.

We hope to make it to Imabari, return bicycles and then take a train to Matsuyama, where we will do onsen at Dogo Onsen.

My questions are
1. Which bicycle rental terminal has more variety of bicycles to choose from, Onomichi Port or Setoda? We・d be happy to have city bike or mountain bike. But Mamachari is not bad if necessary!
2. Do we have to make bike reservation in advance for April 1 ride? I found the reservation form at Onomichi City Office http://www.city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp/english/kanko/shimanami/shimanam... but not sure if it・s necessary or not.
3. Is it possible to return bicycle at Imabiri after 5.00 pm? I heard that some bike return terminal in Imabiri is open 24 hrs, but don・t know exactly where it is.

I surely appreciate your advice and suggestion for our trip. It will be our first ride overseas :-)

My questions are
1. Which bicycle rental terminal has more variety of bicycles to choose from, Onomichi Port or Setoda? We・d be happy to have city bike or mountain bike. But Mamachari is not bad if necessary!

--- I would like to recommend rental in Setoda island, This is link (http://www.travelarrangejapan.com/travel-arrange-japan-photos/) with our oroginal photos once is load please click on Ikuchijima
2. Do we have to make bike reservation in advance for April 1 ride? I found the reservation form at Onomichi City Office http://www.city.onomichi.hiroshima.jp/english/kanko/shimanami/shimanam... but not sure if it・s necessary or not.

--- I think not necessary.
3. Is it possible to return bicycle at Imabiri after 5.00 pm? I heard that some bike return terminal in Imabiri is open 24 hrs, but don・t know exactly where it is.

----Please check this link http://www.go-shimanami.jp/global/english/bicycle/
Electric assist bicycles and tandem bicycle must be returned to the station they are borrowed from.

Thank you very much, Travel Arrange Japan. So I may not make a bike reservation and go straight to Setoda :-)

Hi I'm also interested in cycling the Shimanami Kaido in Summer. Is the Onomichi to Imabari direction the more scenic route?

Also is the route typically crowded?

Spring wind conditions is not flat if baddest like this.
http://youtu.be/MF6WLYZzVm0
Watch weather forecast carefully.

@Migeru Cervandesu

In Summer(after mid July) cyclist and mini-bike(under 125cc mortorcycle) riders coming a lot usual.
And hot temp(over 30≧/86�H) with evening hard rains days,too.(not everyday)