Ride a bicycle and become the wind
of Shimanami Kaido.

Shimanami Cycling Information is available
around Imabari Station.

Setouchi-Shimanami Kaido connects Imabari in Ehime Prefecture and Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture. The 70-km-long cycling course is Japan's first bicycle path that crosses the straits. It is gaining momentum as a sacred place for cyclists.

The appeal of Shimanami Kaido cycling is that it can be enjoyed in various ways by everyone from beginners to professional riders.
So this time, we would like to know about the “slightly looser” Shimanami Kaido! So, we decided to take a leisurely tour around the Shimanami Kaido with local cyclist girls.



The two cyclists who will accompany us are these two.

The first is Taiko Sakudo, a freelance announcer (photo left).
Originally from Matsuyama City, Ms. Sakudo is a well-known announcer in Ehime. She is also a cyclist who started riding a bicycle because of the TV program and has been riding for more than four and a half years. She is also the leader of a cycling girls’ unit called “Notteru!Girls EHIME” and she is engaged in daily PR activities to promote the bicycle life in Ehime.
In fact, we have a connection that Ms. Sakudo was the host of the talk show of FC Imabari's owner Okada, Mr. Kashiwa Sato, and former board chairman Kondo at this IMABARI LIFE.

The other is Aira Watanabe, a member of “Notteru! Girls Ehime” (pictured right).
She smiles cutely and says, “My boyfriend loves bicycles, so I was influenced by him to start biking.
I was a beginner at first, but I got so hooked on biking that I have now started doing triathlons. These days, I run every weekend for training.
Well, we have gathered a powerful group of people, but I thought this shooting was supposed to be a loose cycling project.... Let's decide on a course for now, shall we?

The day before the cycling, our group went to “Guest House CYCLONOIE” in front of Imabari Station.



This place should be called an information center for cyclists. It is operated by Cyclotourism Shimanami, a non-profit organization that is involved in bicycle town development. In addition to accommodations, there are T-shirts and bicycle goods available for purchase, a café where you can enjoy drinks made from locally produced ingredients, and a variety of travel materials and information. There is also a “maintenance room” where visitors can perform self-maintenance on their bicycles. If you are interested in cycling along the Shimanami Kaido but do not know where to start, this is a great place to start.



The store also sells goods for cyclists, such as T-shirts and Sacoches, and there were also bicycle towels made in collaboration with Imabari Towel.
Now, let us consult with you about our course here.



The guide was Kazunari Utsunomiya, who was involved in the launch of Cyclotourism Shimanami and is a cyclist himself, having completed a round-the-world trip on a tandem bicycle. “The Blue Line is a recommended route on the Shimanami Kaido that is very convenient and easy to start for cycling beginners. However, the Blue Line is certainly the shortest course, it is not necessarily the best course to enjoy Shimanami to the fullest. The recommended course will vary depending on each person's individual objectives and tastes,” says Utsunomiya.

The café opens at 3:00 p.m., so it is recommended to stop by and get information in advance, such as the day before you go cycling. They are also available for consultation by phone or e-mail.

At the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge,
Cycling mood is lifted.

Now, the day of cycling. The starting point is “Sunrise Itoyama. You can enjoy a magnificent view of the world's first triple suspension bridge, the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, which spans the 4-km Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge connecting Imabari and Oshima Island.



It is a clear day but a bit chilly early in the morning. Are you two comfortable in your clothes? “We always wear light clothes, so we are totally fine!”, said Watanabe. As expected of “Notteru Girls”.

Now it's time to get started. First, we will go through the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge to Oshima Island.



“My friend did the course just to cross the Kurushima Kaikyo and return home, but she said it still felt like cycling,” said Sakudo.

Indeed, there are some curves here, but the uphill is gentle, and the course is just right for beginners, not too hard, but not too loose either. Moreover, the view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge is quite uplifting, so this short course alone should be enjoyable enough for those who just want to enjoy a little bit of cycling while sightseeing in Imabari.

Of course, the two girls in high spirits will not stop at just that.
They will spend the next day touring from Oshima to Hakatajima and Omishima. (Continue to “Part 2: Oshima - Hakatajima”)