The , often called the is an expressway in

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

that connects

Onomichi, Hiroshima is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea. The city was founded on April 1, 1898. As of April 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 141,811 and a population density of 497.8 persons per km2. The total ar ...

and

Imabari, Ehime 270px, Imabari City Hall 270px, Aerial view of Imabari city center is a city in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in Ehime Prefecture. , the city had an estimated population of 152,111 in 75947 households and a population ...

, going through nine of the Geiyo Islands, including Ōshima, Ōmishima, and

Innoshima is an island and former city in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The island is located within the Geiyo Islands of the Seto Inland Sea. The city was founded on May 1, 1953. , the city had an estimated population of 27,465 and a population density o ...

. The road and multiple bridges crossing across the Seto Inland Sea is one of the three main transportation links of the Honshū–Shikoku Bridge Project, constructed between the islands of

Honshu , historically called , is the largest and most populous island of Japan. It is located south of Hokkaidō across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyūshū across the Kanmon Straits. The island separ ...

and

Shikoku is the smallest of the four main islands of Japan. It is long and between wide. It has a population of 3.8 million (, 3.1%). It is south of Honshu and northeast of Kyushu. Shikoku's ancient names include ''Iyo-no-futana-shima'' (), '' ...

. The expressway contains fifty-five bridges, including the Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge, the world's longest series of suspension bridges, and the

Tatara Bridge The is a cable-stayed bridge that is part of the Nishiseto Expressway, commonly known as the Shimanami Kaidō しまなみ海道. The bridge has a center span of . As of 2010 it has the fourth longest main span of any cable-stayed bridge after ...

, the world's fourth longest

cable-stayed bridge A cable-stayed bridge has one or more ''towers'' (or ''pylons''), from which cables support the bridge deck. A distinctive feature are the cables or stays, which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally forming a fan-like pattern ...

. The route is famed for its scenic views and can be crossed by bicycles, mopeds and pedestrians as well as cars. It was opened on May 1, 1999, and is long, sporting four lanes with a separated path for pedestrians and cyclists.

Cycle tourism

The road and bridge route was designed with an integrated cycle lane linking

Onomichi is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea. The city was founded on April 1, 1898. As of April 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 141,811 and a population density of 497.8 persons per km2. The total a ...

Hiroshima Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Hiroshima Prefecture has a population of 2,811,410 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 8,479 km² (3,274 sq mi). Hiroshima Prefecture borders Okayama ...

with

Imabari 270px, Imabari City Hall 270px, Aerial view of Imabari city center is a city in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in Ehime Prefecture. , the city had an estimated population of 152,111 in 75947 households and a population ...

Ehime Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,342,011 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of 5,676 km2 (2,191 sq mi). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, Tok ...

. The cycle route is approximately in length, including bridge access ramps, and since opening has become one of Japan's most popular long-distance cycle routes. As accessing the Shin-Onomichi bridge involves a steep climb, cyclists are encouraged to use a short ferry between Onomichi and Mukaishima, but all other bridges on the route feature a designated cycle path. Bicycle rental and drop off locations are available along the route. The route is a toll road, but tolls were waived for cyclists until March 31, 2022, in an effort to promote tourism.

Gallery

File:Kurushima-kaikyo Ohashi Bridge (14061858406).jpg, Cycle access ramp to the Kurushima-kaikyo Ohashi Bridge File:Shimanami Kaido Bikeway (14105053043).jpg, Shimanami Kaido cycle access ramp at

File:Tatara Bridge2.jpg, Designated cycle lane on the

File:Onomichi Fukumoto Ferry 03.JPG,

ferry. Northern starting point of Shimanami Kaido cycle route.

References

External links

Nishiseto Expressway at the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge AuthorityShimanami Kaido Cycle Route Information in English
Expressways in Japan Cycleways in Japan Roads in Ehime Prefecture Roads in Hiroshima Prefecture {{japan-company-stub

Cycle tourism

Gallery

See also

References

External links