Hiroshima, Shimanami & Shikoku

Travel by bullet train to central Hiroshima. This well-known city was the first in history to bear the impact of the use of atomic weapons. The city never forgets its past, and there are memorials to the bombing of 6 August 1945 including the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Peace Memorial and Museum.

You stay overnight in Hiroshima at a western-style hotel or travel by ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage island of Miyajima and stay at a traditional Japanese inn here.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hiroshima or spend a night on Miyajima Island
Meals: Breakfast (Dinner is included for guests staying at a Japanese inn)

Typical Accommodation
As standard, we offer a comfortable, centrally-located hotel in Hiroshima city, enabling you to enjoy the vast range of meal options this evening.

We can also provide a historic Ryokan located on Miyajima island, offering excellent rooms, meals and the opportunity to take a relaxing evening stroll once day-visitors have left the island. Please let us know on booking if you would like us to arrange this traditional option and please note that the availability of this option may be scarce during peak seasons, which can sometimes require a date change or supplemental fee.

Explore Miyajima island where wild deer roam free. Experience the amazing close-up view of the iconic red Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine which appears to float in the water at high tide. You might want to try the Miyajima oysters or the local dish of Anago Meshi grilled eel.

During the afternoon, you have time to climb Mount Misen, the highest peak of the island, offering spectacular views of the Seto Inland Sea via the returning cablecar. Please let us know if you would like to include a sea kayak experience around the Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine to complement the kayaking you will undertake later on the trip.

Walking distance: 4.7km / 3 miles of optional hiking
Elevation gain: 810m / 2,660 feet of ascent, negligible descent
Time required: About 2-3 hours

A longer 12.1km / 7.5 miles hiking option, with an ascent of 1,030m and descent of 1,015m, foregoing the descending cablecar ride, is available. A gentler, flat 2.4km / 1.5 miles sightseeing route covering the islands main attractions is also possible for a more leisurely day.

Accommodation: Overnight in Hiroshima or spend a night on Miyajima Island
Meals: Breakfast (Dinner is included for guests staying at a Japanese inn)

Typical Accommodation
As standard, we offer a comfortable, centrally-located hotel in Hiroshima, enabling you to enjoy the vast range of meal options this evening.
We can also provide a historic Ryokan located on Miyajima island, offering excellent rooms, meals and the opportunity to take a relaxing evening stroll once day-visitors have left the island. Please let us know on booking if you would like us to arrange this traditional option and please note that the availability of this option may be scarce during peak seasons, which can sometimes require a date change or supplemental fee.

Travel to Tomonoura Bay, the lovely thousand-year-old port town which inspired Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki when he created the animated film “Ponyo”. Tomonoura is recognized as Shiomachi-no-minato ”port awaiting a favorable tide” and this town preserves its old-fashioned fishing townscape. Enjoy a morning sea kayak tour around Sensui-jima Island.

Later in the afternoon continue to Sensui-jima island by ferry for your overnight stay at a traditional Japanese inn.

Kayaking time: About 2-3 hours
Walking distance: 2km / 1.2 miles of optional sightseeing
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent
Time required: About 1-2 hours

Please note that if kayaking is not possible due to poor weather, further exploration time on Sensuijima Island and in the quiet and relaxed village of Tomonoura with our two optional sightseeing walks are possible.
Accommodation: Ryokan inn
Meals: Dinner

Stay at a wonderful traditional Japanese inn, experiencing unique detox baths. Here you can enjoy a gourmet dinner featuring the fresh catch of the day. Lovely traditional Japanese artwork adorns the rooms and public spaces and it is possible to take a relaxing beach-side stroll in the evening.

Depart this morning for the romantic seaside town of Onomichi – the entry point on the mainland side of the Shimanami Kaido cycling course. Spend the day exploring Onomichi’s wonderfully old-fashioned shopping arcades and quiet hilltop back streets with our gentle sightseeing course before spending a night at a historic Ryokan inn, or a modern, stylish cycling-themed hotel.

Walking distance: 4km / 2 miles
Elevation gain: 260m / 850 feet of both ascent and descent
Time required: about 3-4 hours

Accommodation: Ryokan inn (or cycling hotel)
Meals: Dinner, Breakfast

Typical Accommodation
Stay at a lovely Ryokan with over 100 years of history, which is a registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. The inn offers exemplary meals with freshly caught local seafood.

Selecting your bikes, depart for the first day of cycling from Onomichi. Explore the wonderful nature and relaxing cafe culture of the inland sea, before spending the night on a remote island part-way along the cycling route.

Cycling distance: 35-65km / 20-40 miles (up to 80km / 50 miles)
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent (with some very brief ups and downs to reach each bridge)
Time required: 3-6 hours (up to 8 hours)

Cycling distances vary based on the inn you stay at and how many of our optional side-trips along the islands you wish to undertake. For less confident cyclists, don’t hesitate to inquire with us about alternative arrangements.

Accommodation: Ryokan inn
Meals: Dinner, Breakfast Typical Accommodation
Stay at a lovely ryokan inn located part-way along the Shimanami Kaido. Originally a wealthy merchant’s house, the inn has a long history dating back over 100 years, providing excellent fresh seafood as part of the Kaiseki meals, together with relaxing sea views from your room.

Continue along the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, passing through small island settlements with some of the most scenic sections of the route before arriving into Imabari town on Shikoku Island. Drop off your bikes at Imabari Station head inland by bus to reach the trailhead of our 4-day Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage Self-guided walking tour to begin your hike to Temple 57 Eifuku-ji. The walk gradually passes from urban townscape to rural farming communities before entering a forest with a steady climb to Temple 58 Seny?-ji. Visit Eifuku-ji and Seny?-ji and there is also an optional detour to Temple 56 Taisan-ji. Overnight at Seny?-ji, which offers pilgrim lodgings, or alternatively stay in a western-style hotel in Imabar.

Cycling distance: 20-45km / 13-28 miles
Elevation gain: negligible ascent and descent (with some very brief ups and downs to reach each bridge)
Time required: 2-4 hours

Cycling distances vary based on the inn you have stayed at and how many of our optional side-trips along the islands you wish to undertake. Most guests will undertake the 45km, 4-hour cycle today.
Walking distance: 4.4km / 2.7 miles
Elevation gain: 250m / 820 feet ascent and negligible descent
Time required: About 1.5 hours

Accommodation: Shukubo (Pilgrims Lodging) or Hotel
Meals: Dinner

Typical Accommodation
Your inn for this evening provides spacious, comfortable tatami rooms in an authentic, modern, hilltop pilgrims lodging with wonderful views.

The hike continues with a gentle walk down the mountain from Seny?-ji, with the opportunity to explore small village settlements on the way. Return to the town of Imabari, with an optional paved hike on to Temple 59 Iyo Kokubun-ji and continue onwards to Matsuyama by train and overnight in Dogo Onsen.

Walking distance: 4.4km / 2.7 miles
Elevation gain: Negligible ascent and 250m / 820 feet descent
Time required: About 1 hour
An optional paved walk of 4.1km (2.5 miles) can extend the hike by a further 1.5 hours.

Accommodation: Hot-spring Ryokan (Travellers Inn)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Typical Accommodation
This charming inn in the heart of Dogo Onsen is run by a friendly family with exceptional service, beautiful Japanese rooms, exquisite cuisine, and lovely thermal baths.

Head south by bus and pre-paid taxi from Matsuyama to Temple 45 Iwaya-ji, a temple closely linked to Kobo Daishi – the priest who founded Shingon Buddhism and Mount Koya. Climb the iconic ladder to his meditation spot, with its spectacular views over the surrounding region. From Iwaya-ji, enjoy a lovely forest hike to Temple 44 Daiho-ji before returning by bus to Matsuyama in the evening. Overnight in Dogo Onsen.

Walking distance: 11.7km / 7.3 miles
Elevation gain: 650m / 2,130 feet ascent and 580m / 1,900 feet descent
Time required: About 4 hours

Accommodation: Hot-spring Ryokan (Travellers Inn)
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Typical Accommodation
This charming inn in the heart of Dogo Onsen is run by a friendly family with exceptional service, beautiful Japanese rooms, exquisite cuisine, and lovely thermal baths.

The tour ends with a rewarding hike in the east of Ehime Prefecture. Travel by bus and pre-paid taxi from Matsuyama to reach the trail and walk to Temple 60 Yokomine-ji, Temple 61 Koon-ji and onwards to Temple 62 Hoju-ji. The walk passes through a rural area of Shikoku and the temples are in lovely natural settings. After the hike, travel onwards by train to the Kansai area, arriving mid-evening.

Walking distance: 13.7km / 8.5 miles
Elevation gain: 620m / 2,050 feet ascent and 870m / 3,850 feet descent
Time required: About 4-5 hours

You can reduce the hike by about one hour to 11.3km / 7 miles, avoiding the first uphill section. Simply pay locally to extend the taxi ride to Temple 60 Yokomine-ji. Choose on the day – no need to decide in advance.