Bikes and Bunnies

Traversing the Shimanami Kaido by bicycle either from Onomichi to Imabari or Imabari to Onomichi is a bucket-list item for a great many Japanese people as well as for tourists from abroad. Although going all the way provides the most enriching experience, it is more than possible to rent a bicycle from select points on Honshu, Shikoku, or any of the six islands in between. Those who wish to show up empty-handed can do so, as these Rent-A-Cycle stations have plenty of bicycles and helmets to lend, and customers simply pay by the day. Given how popular the Shimanami Kaido is year-round, tourists are advised to made reservations in advance during high seasons of travel.

Innoshima is an island located about 20 km from Onomichi City. It is the second island on the Shimanami Kaido, which connects Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture with Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, and can be reached by the Innoshima Bridge and Ikuchi Bridge, which are part of the Shimanami Kaido route, and by ferry. Innoshima was once the headquarters of the Murakami Suigun, who were active in the Onomichi area, and is dotted with various sightseeing spots such as Daisen Shrine, where you can pray for the safety of your bicycle journey.

Bicycle Café & Bar Shiomachitei is located in the Shiomachi shopping district on Ikuchijima. The interior of the café, marked by a beautiful lemon colored curtain, is a Japanese style space renovated from an old Japanese house. As soon as you enter the café, there is a bike rack where you can park your bicycle, so you can relax in the cafe without worrying about bike theft. In addition to curry and coffee, the store also offers original lemonade for take-out.

Ichibankan is a ramen restaurant located about a 10-minute walk from Onomichi Station. The ramen served in Onomichi is called “Onomichi Ramen,” and is characterized by a light chicken-based soup with a rich flavor and a lot of back oil. Ichibankan is one of the most popular Onomichi ramen restaurants, offering ramen with plenty of green onions and a clear, special broth.

HOTEL CYCLE is a hotel along the Shimanami Kaido where guests can check in while still mounted on their bicycles; this cycle-friendly accommodation is a rarity worldwide. Located inside the ONOMICHI U2 complex, which was formed out of a renovated naval warehouse, the hotel is bordered by establishments that would bring joy to any cycling traveler, such as a restaurant and a GIANT bicycle store.

Okonomiyaki Tetchan is a popular okonomiyaki restaurant in Mihara City. There are 7 other restaurants all thoughout Japan including Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo, boasting nationwide popularity. Okonomiyaki Tetchan offers a wide variety of okonomiyaki, including modern-yaki (Osaka-style but with noodles) and Mihara-yaki topped with chicken offal. Mihara-yaki is a very rare dish that can only be found in the Mihara okonomiyaki restaurants in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Okunojima is an uninhabited island located about 15 minutes by ferry from Omishima Island, one of the islands on the Shimanami Kaido, and from Tadanoumi Port, a short distance from JR Tadanoumi Station. Okunojima has long been famous as the “Rabbit Island,” with about 900 wild rabbits living on the island. Okunojima is also known as the island where the former Japanese Army secretly conducted poison gas experiments during World War II, and the island is dotted with facilities such as the Poison Gas Museum.

ekie (stylized with lowercase letters only) is a relatively new shopping center attached to the northern and eastern ends of Hiroshima Station. It’s actually broken down into several sections, but on the whole, it’s a bookstore, a convenience store, a food court, a nightlife destination, a souvenir store, and a supermarket at the same time! Grab a bite to eat here right after stepping off the Shinkansen, or buy a last-minute present for someone special right before catching your train!