Itinerary Overview

Day 1 – Arrival in Onomichi

Arrival and check-in at a cyclist-friendly hotel located near the ferry port. After an afternoon briefing and bike setup, guests can take an optional walk through Onomichi’s temple-lined laneways before regrouping for a welcome dinner.  Ride: 0 km Meals: D Stay: Onomichi

Day 2 – Shimanami Kaido (Onomichi to Setoda)

Start the day with a short ferry ride before cycling the iconic Shimanami Kaidō. Visit a local shrine en route before finishing in Setoda, where guests can unwind in the hotel’s spa and enjoy a group dinner.  Ride: Up to 50 km / 400 m Meals: B, D Stay: Setoda

Day 3 – Setoda to Imabari

Continue across the final islands of the Shimanami route, including a visit to Oyamazumi Shrine. Ride over the impressive Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge and check into the Imabari hotel before dinner.  Ride: Up to 63 km / 450 m Meals: B, D Stay: Imabari

Day 4 – Imabari to Matsuyama

Optional morning ride around Imabari Port. After lunch, transfer to Matsuyama with time to visit Dōgo Onsen or Matsuyama Castle. Dinner at leisure.

Ride: Up to 40 km / 350 m Meals: B, L Stay: Matsuyama

Day 5 – Matsuyama to Uchiko

Morning transfer into the hills. Visit a temple, then cycle through scenic countryside and along a river to the charming town of Uchiko. Stay in a renovated townhouse in the historic district.  Ride: Up to 63 km / 400 m Meals: B, D Stay: Uchiko

Day 6 – Uchiko Cultural Day

Light ride around Uchiko and cultural visit to the Ikazaki Washi Paper Mill. Guests can try hands-on paper making. Afternoon free. Final group dinner in town.

Ride: ~25 km (loop) Meals: B, D Stay: Uchiko 

Day 7 – Departure

After breakfast, transfer to Matsuyama for onward connections by train, ferry, or flight.

Meals: B

Onomichi – Harborside Hotel Designed for Cyclists Modern seafront hotel tailored for cyclists. Room Style: Western Twin/Double. Facilities: Private ensuite bathroom. Located near the station and ferry port; bike-friendly design and storage.

Setoda – Modern Japanese Hotel with Bathhouse  Contemporary hotel with traditional touches and communal bath. Room Style: Western Twin/Double. Facilities: Private ensuite bathroom, public bathhouse. Located in Setoda town; ideal for post-ride relaxation.

Imabari – City Hotel in Town Centre  Modern hotel centrally located in Imabari. Room Style: Western Twin/Double. Facilities: Private ensuite bathroom, public bath. Walking distance to restaurants and amenities.

Matsuyama – Japanese Hotel Near Historic Onsen  High-quality Japanese-style hotel near Dōgo Onsen. Room Style: Mix of Japanese Tatami rooms and Western Twin/Double. Facilities: Private ensuite bathroom, access to public hot spring. Excellent location for cultural exploration (castle, shopping street, onsen).

Uchiko – Luxury Townhouse Stay in Historic District  Renovated traditional townhouses in Uchiko's preserved quarter. Room Style: Mix of Japanese Tatami and Western Twin/Double. Facilities: Some shared facilities (1 bath/shower per house; toilets upstairs and downstairs). Unique stay experience with high-end fit-out; grouped by house (~2–4 guests per property).

**Uchiko Accommodation

In Uchiko, we stay in a beautifully restored collection of traditional machiya townhouses located within the town's historic preservation district. These houses combine classic Japanese architecture with modern comfort, offering a unique and authentic experience and they are often one of the highlights of the trip. The houses are made up of 4 properties designed for couples and 5 properties designed for groups of 4 – 5.  It’s helpful for us to know in advance if there are any groups of friends travelling together, as we often assign them to one of the larger shared townhouses. Couples and guests with a single supplement who are travelling independently will be placed in a private-use townhouse. If the group is made up entirely of guests travelling privately, we may assign some guests to share one or two of the larger houses and in this case bathroom facilities are shared.