- Day 13 – Imabari to Innoshima Island in the Seto Inland Sea
- Distance: 67.6km
- Ascent / descent: 501m / 490m
- Weather: hot and sunny
- Accommodation: camped on Innoshima island
I was really sad to say goodbye to Mr & Mrs Tokunaga again. We had a delicious breakfast and I left at 9:30am to cycle the famous Shimanami Kaido cycling path. They had told me about a campsite called Sunset Beach which was a little closer than I was hoping to ride today but it was good to know and I would decide when I arrived there.
Breakfast of champions at the Tokunaga residence
Tsuneto and Akiko Tokunaga, two of the kindest people I’ve ever met.
It felt like a summers day and was perfect for cycling the Shimanami Kaido cycling route across a succession of bridges and islands across the Seto Inland Sea between Shikoku and Honshu.
Kurushima-kaikyo bridge (4,105m), the first of many bridges I’ll be crossing on the Shimanami Kaido cycle path between Shikoku and Honshu
It was easy to see why this was such a famous and popular cycling route; the signs and way marking is brilliant. All you needed to do was follow these blue signs on the ground and it took you via the recommended route, past frequent Michi-no-eki’s, stunning sea vistas and across numerous bridges. I loved today!
Just follow these blue arrows on the Shimanami Kaido cycle path
Momiji on the Kurushima-kaikyo bridge along the Shimanami Kaido cycle path
Island views from the Shimanami Kaido cycle path
Lunch time at the first michi-no-eki I passed (called Yoshiumi iki-iki kan on Oshima island), fried octopus and octopus rice
A boat in Shitadami port
Great signs along the Shimanami Kaido cycle path
It’s a gorgeous day to cycle the Shimanami Kaido cycle path
Snack time at the next Michi-no-eki on Hakata-jima island (called Hakata SC). A yuzu flavoured Swiss-roll type cake and Iyokan flavoured coffee (a type of citrus). The coffee was actually really nice!
Omishima arch bridge (328m) on the Shimanami Kaido cycling path
Why not?
Tulips along the Shimanami Kaido cycling path
Momiji on the Shimanami Kaido cycling path
GoPro selfie on the Shimanami Kaido cycling path
There’s something like 70 different types of citrus in Shikoku, here’s just a few
Sakura cherry blossom and Tatara cable bridge (1,480m) along the Shimanami Kaido cycling path
Watch out for wild boar (inoshishi) along the Shimanami Kaido cycling path
Setoda sunset beach on Ikuchijima island
Signs to Innoshima Amenity Park
I met another cyclist, a man called Michael from Ireland, who was camped at the same place and we had a good chat before I put up my tent, unknowingly on prickly grass! (I realised as soon as I sat in the tent and the prickles got me everywhere! I scouted the entire field to see if there was anywhere less prickly but there wasn’t, so plan B was to lay all my unused clothes and gear down underneath my air mattress just to make sure nothing went pop in the night!)
Camping on Innoshima island
I then went and ate a takeaway sushi dinner while watching the sunset… this is the life!
Sunset view from Innoshima Amenity Park on Innoshima island
followingthearrows 
Such a beautiful landscape, I thought the Shimanami Kaido path was longer and covered all Shikoku but it’s quite small…my mistake 😀
Just a brief question out of curiosity, what’s your japanese proficiency level? From what I read it seems you’re pretty good at it! 🙂
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The Shimanami Kaido is about 70km, so it’s a nice day trip 🙂
Regarding Japanese, I’ve passed Level 2 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) so I’m fine with conversational Japanese 🙂
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Uh nice, well jplt2 is quite the achievement, I’m not surprised u’re not having problems eheh 😀
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Hi Kat,
Just done a bit of catch-up of your blog of Japan. Yes, I agree with Glorfind3l re your command of the language. You would have missed many of the beautiful places you have diverted to see were it not for local knowledge! The landscapes and wild flowers are phenomenal. The higher you climb the later the cherry blossoms. So good to call on old friends. Tsuneto and Akiko Tokunaga looked simply delighted to see you. It was good to hear they had done some of the Camino! You have been blessed with the kindness of strangers on this trip. Enjoy today and those ahead of you. The furthest I shall be venturing is down to the village hall for art this afternoon then over to The Who’d have Thought it this evening to sample their extensive menu – not the extensive asian choice that you seem to be enjoying!
Take care
Jean xx
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Hi Jean,
It’s incredible to be following spring as I head north – I’ve been seeing rice planting up the whole country and wisteria that was blooming in the south over a month ago is just blooming here now, I feel very lucky 🙂
I also feel very lucky to be meeting the people I am everyday. Cycling solo is quite lonely but at least I’m having some wonderful conversations with people along the way.
Thanks for following along 🙂
Xxx
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