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Setonaikai NP, Hiroshima / Ehime
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Japan’s first cross-strait cycling route runs 70 km over 9 bridges. It is also the only one of the 3 Honshu–Shikoku bridge routes with a dedicated path for cyclists and walkers; the route opened in 1999.
The Kurushima Kaikyo crossing is not one giant bridge but 3 suspension bridges joined in a row—the world’s first such design. Together they stretch 4.1 km across a strait where currents can reach 10 knots.
Innoshima Bridge helped inspire a famous island sweet: when it was completed in 1983, local confectioner Shinichi Kashihara created citrus-filled daifuku, including the original hassaku version.
The citrus hassaku began as 2 seedlings from discarded seeds near Jodoji Temple on Innoshima around 1860. Its name refers to the old lunar calendar’s 8th month, day 1, though the fruit is best after New Year.
Three Murakami Kaizoku families based on Innoshima, Noshima and Kurushima controlled local sea lanes. They charged passage fees in exchange for escorts and pilots; even a missionary who called them Japan’s greatest pirates sought their safe-conduct flag.
“Hakata no Shio” began with a grassroots campaign to preserve saltpan-style salt after Japan ended salt-pan production. Its name honors Hakata Island’s salt pans; the 1973 product used imported solar salt and Seto Inland Sea water.
Where Tatara Bridge meets Ikuchijima, Lemon Valley leads into Setoda’s citrus orchards. Organized lemon planting expanded from 1927, and in May–June the blossoms perfume the islands.
Tatara Bridge was switched from a planned suspension bridge to a cable-stayed design, avoiding major reshaping of Mt. Kannon on Ikuchijima. Its 890-m central span was the world’s longest of its kind when completed.
Innoshima’s Suigun Festival keeps local sea-raider history alive with races in recreated wooden messenger boats. Each 1-km raceboat carries 16 people: 14 rowers, a steersperson and a drummer.
On Ōmishima, Oyamazumi Shrine preserves armor and weapons offered by generations of warriors. Its treasures include armor traditionally attributed to Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Yoritomo; Murakami leaders also prayed there for safe voyages.
The blue line along the recommended route is functional, not just decoration: it marks the way and pairs with distance markers every 1 km. The color was chosen as “Shimanami Blue,” the route’s signature shade.
