Name the two endpoints
The route operator describes approximately seventy kilometres between Onomichi Port and Imabari Port. That endpoint choice matters: a ride finishing near Sunrise Itoyama before central Imabari is a different distance. For a sightseeing journey, JNTO suggests one or two days rather than treating the whole route as a continuous speed test. Route source Route source
The island sequence is Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima and Oshima. Naming them gives the ride stages beyond “the next bridge” and helps accommodation, ferry alternatives or a shortened itinerary relate to an actual place. Route source
Let the islands interrupt the bridge ride
Innoshima Suigun Castle is a modern museum, built in 1983 around the history of the Murakami naval clan. On Ikuchijima, Kosanji Temple offers another substantial stop. Oyamazumi Shrine on Omishima and Kitaura Hachiman on Hakatajima add further reasons to leave the simplest through line. Route source
Those detours are where a one-day crossing can become a two-day journey. Decide which are part of the ride before using a bare seventy-kilometre estimate for food stops and arrival times. Each island also includes ordinary town streets, so the whole journey should not be described as car-free.
The final bridge is a large stage of its own
From Oshima toward Imabari, the Kurushima Kaikyo crossing is approximately 4.1 kilometres and comprises a triple suspension bridge. It is a substantial final crossing in its own right, rather than a brief connection after the island riding. No complete ascent total is claimed here. Route source
Yoshiumi Rose Park on Oshima is another possible stop, while the Cyclists’ Sanctuary monument connects the route with its 2014 sister-road relationship with Taiwan’s Sun Moon Lake course. These are particular destinations, not compulsory checkpoints on every crossing. Route source Route source
Rental choices affect the finish
The public rental network has terminals that can support a one-way ride, but the conditions depend on bicycle type. Confirm the selected bike’s return rules, especially for electric models, before choosing an endpoint or booking onward transport. Route source
A successful Shimanami day can be a complete crossing or a carefully chosen group of islands. The difference should be visible in the plan rather than hidden behind the name of the whole route.
Sources & further reading
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