「しまなみ海道」の車道は高速道路なので、歩行者、自転車、原付は通れない。しかし、橋の部分だけ、区画して通れるようにしている(これまでのところ、原付のみ有料。)。大型船も下を通れるように橋が海面上の高い位置にあるのでそこへの上り下りがあり、また、島内には峠越えもある。しかし、橋への登り下りの道は、鉄道が様々な工夫で勾配を緩和しているのと同じく、遠くから少しずつ登ることで勾配を緩和している。尾道から今治駅前までの80キロ(多くの情報源にある距離は四国側に渡った地点(糸山)までのものであり、これより短い。)は、距離も適当であり、勾配も変化をもたらし、何よりも、瀬戸内海の箱庭的な風景が楽しめる。寄り道をしなければ、今回のように丸1日で走れる。寄り道をして1泊2日で走るのもよいだろう。
Because the Shinamami Kaido is an expressway, pedestrians, bikes and small motor bikes are not allowed. But by separating lanes for pedestrians, bikes and motor bikes, these are allowed on bthe ridges (with a small toll for motor bikes. Pedestrians and bikes are free so far.). To allow big ships to go under the bridges, the bridges are very high above the sea. Therefore bikes must climb to the bridges on special trails. But the trails are not extremely steep because their lengths are extended. Take note that there are also passes in islands which we must go through. The total length from Onomichi to JR Imabari station is 80 kilometers. Note that the length that most information sources mention is shorter than this because they show the length up to the Itoyama Park wich is the end of the last bridge but is far from downtown Imabari.
Shimanami Kaodo Bike Trail is superb with the beautiful sea and islands and with the appropriate lenth. We can make a one-day ride but you may make it two days to stop at many places on the way.
普通列車を乗り継ぎ続ければその日のうちに尾道に到着できるので、「青春18きっぷ」2枚で往復し、「乗り鉄」も楽しんだ。
I enjoyed train ride, too, by useing local trains with two pieces of Seishun Ju-hachi Kippu.
27日(月)
小宮駅発5:49 「青春18きっぷ」(日付スタンプは八王子駅の乗り換え時に)
21:04 尾道駅着。フェリー(22時まで運行)で対岸の向島へ。
向島の「Bed & Breakfast 潮風」泊(直接電話予約。朝食付き5,000円)
28日(火)
「潮風」発8:35 総走行距離80km、走行時間3時間50分、平均走行速度21.0 km/h
14:00 今治駅前泊
29日(水)
今治駅発6:00 瀬戸大橋線経由
22:47 小宮駅着
広域地図 The Shimanami Kaido and its vicinities
The whole Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari through islands and bridges
The trip there from Tokyo on the first day
It is mportant to identify the space where I can keep my bike. Such a space is usually in car no. 1 (west side).
Arrival at Onomichi and then take a ferry boat to go to Mukai Shima where I stayed a night.
The pier is in front of the train station.
The second day - the day of the bike ridefrom the left to the right in the illustration.
https://www.jb-honshi.co.jp/shimanamicycling/bridge/index.html
Climb to In no Shima Bridge from Mukai Shima
Descent to In no Shima from In no Shima Bridge
Climb to Ikuchi Bridge from In no Shima
Descent to Ikuchi Island from Ikuchi Bridge
Tatara Bridge between Hiroshima Prefecture (Ikuchi Shima) and Ehime Prefecture (Omi-shima)
From Omi Shima to Hakata-jima via Omishima Bridge and then to Michi no
Eki rest area in Hakata Island
Climb to Hakata Bridge from Hakata Island
Descent to O-shima from Oshima Bridge
Hakata Bridge and Oshima Bridge which are connected
Ride in O-shima
Climb to Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge (actually a series of bridges) from O-shima
Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges
Descent from Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge to Itoyama Park in Imabari City in
Shikoku
Kurushima Bridges from Itoyama Park
Last day to come back to Tokyo
From Sakaide in Shikoku Island to Okayama in Honshu Island, the train goes trhough another series of bridges.
The brides are two-story. Trains go on the lower deck.
Return trip from Imabari to Tokyo
(地図は国土地理院地図を使用。Maps are based on the Geographical Survey Institute map.)