ENDO
Shikoku & the Inland Sea

Hyogo · Tokushima · Kagawa · Okayama

Shikoku & the Inland Sea

A private six-day ride over the Inland Sea: the Naruto whirlpools, the vine bridges of the Iya Valley, Konpira-san, a night on the art island of Naoshima and Himeji Castle.

  • 6 days
  • 750 km
  • Intermediate
  • ¥480,000 per person

Six days across the bridges and islands of the Seto Inland Sea. We ride from Kyoto over the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Awaji Island into Shikoku, stand above the Naruto whirlpools, and climb into the Iya Valley, a remote world of gorges and vine bridges. Then over the mountains to Konpira-san and Kagawa's famous udon, by ferry to the art island of Naoshima, and back to Honshu along the Bizen coast to finish at Himeji Castle.

This is a private tour: just your group of up to four riders and your guide. Only the Iya Valley roads are technical, narrow and steep but quiet; the rest is easy riding. Two ferry crossings carry you and your bikes across the Inland Sea, and you spend a night on Naoshima itself, staying at a local guesthouse once the day visitors have gone.

Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Kyoto to Awaji Island and the Naruto whirlpools

    Meet at the rental shop in Kyoto or Kameoka for a bike briefing, then ride west to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, for decades the longest suspension bridge span in the world. Cross onto Awaji Island and follow the Sunset Line down its quiet west coast, then cross the Onaruto Bridge into Shikoku. Walk out on Uzu-no-michi, a glass-floored walkway inside the bridge, to look straight down at the Naruto whirlpools, which can reach 20 m across at spring tides. Night in Naruto. About 200 km.

    • The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
      The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
    • The Naruto whirlpools below the Onaruto Bridge
      The Naruto whirlpools below the Onaruto Bridge

  2. Day 2

    Up the Yoshino River to the Iya Valley

    Ride west along the Yoshino River to Wakimachi, an old indigo-merchant street lined with fire-break 'udatsu' walls. Turn south into the mountains to Oboke gorge for a boat ride between its marble cliffs, then climb into the Iya Valley, one of the most remote corners of Japan. Cross the swaying Iya Kazurabashi, a bridge woven from mountain vines. Night at an onsen inn by the river. About 150 km.

    • Wakimachi's old merchant street
      Wakimachi's old merchant street
    • The marble cliffs of Oboke gorge
      The marble cliffs of Oboke gorge
    • The Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge over the river
      The Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge over the river
    • The deep V of the Iya Valley
      The deep V of the Iya Valley

  3. Day 3

    Oku-Iya, Konpira-san and Sanuki udon

    Morning ride deeper into the mountains to Oku-Iya and its pair of vine bridges, hidden in the forest below Mount Tsurugi. These are the most technical roads of the tour: narrow, steep and quiet. Then north over the hills into Kagawa to Kotohira-gu, the shrine of seafarers, reached by 785 stone steps. Lunch is Sanuki udon, Kagawa's famous noodles, before an easy ride to Takamatsu. Night in Takamatsu. About 170 km.

    • One of the Oku-Iya double vine bridges
      One of the Oku-Iya double vine bridges
    • The view from Kotohira-gu over the Sanuki plain
      The view from Kotohira-gu over the Sanuki plain
    • Sanuki udon, Kagawa's famous noodles
      Sanuki udon, Kagawa's famous noodles

  4. Day 4

    Ritsurin Garden and the art island of Naoshima

    A slow morning at Ritsurin Garden, one of Japan's finest strolling gardens, at its quietest before the tour groups arrive. Then ride the bikes onto the car ferry for the 50-minute crossing to Naoshima. Spend the afternoon among the island's art: Yayoi Kusama's pumpkins on the shore, the Art House Project in the old village of Honmura, and the I Love Yu public bathhouse. Once the day-trippers leave, enjoy sunset over the Inland Sea with the island almost to yourselves. Night at a local guesthouse. About 15 km.

    • The arched bridge in Ritsurin Garden
      The arched bridge in Ritsurin Garden
    • Naoshima's harbour and the car ferry
      Naoshima's harbour and the car ferry
    • Sunset over the Seto Inland Sea
      Sunset over the Seto Inland Sea

  5. Day 5

    Chichu Art Museum and the Bizen coast to Himeji

    Start with the first timed entry at the Chichu Art Museum, Tadao Ando's museum built into the hillside around works by Claude Monet, James Turrell and Walter De Maria. Take the short ferry to Uno on Honshu and ride east along the Inland Sea coast past the olive groves of Ushimado to Imbe, the village of Bizen pottery. On to Himeji for the night. About 110 km.

    • Chichu Art Museum, built into the hillside
      Chichu Art Museum, built into the hillside
    • The Ushimado coast
      The Ushimado coast
    • A Bizen pottery kiln in Imbe
      A Bizen pottery kiln in Imbe

  6. Day 6

    Himeji Castle and back to Kyoto

    Be at Himeji Castle for opening time to see Japan's finest original castle, the 'White Heron', a UNESCO World Heritage site and National Treasure, before the crowds. Stroll through the Kokoen gardens next door, then ride back to Kyoto and return the bikes by mid-afternoon. About 130 km.

    • Himeji Castle at dawn
      Himeji Castle at dawn
    • Kokoen garden beside Himeji Castle
      Kokoen garden beside Himeji Castle

Included

  • ✓Motorcycle rental from our partner shop in Kyoto or Kameoka
  • ✓5 nights in hotels, onsen inns and a local guesthouse on Naoshima (twin share)
  • ✓Breakfast and dinner daily
  • ✓Bridge tolls from Kobe to Naruto and all ferry fares for you and your bike
  • ✓Chichu Art Museum ticket, reserved for your group
  • ✓English-speaking local ride leader

Not included

  • –Fuel and other expressway tolls
  • –Lunches and drinks
  • –Other entry fees (Himeji Castle, Ritsurin Garden, Oboke boat)
  • –Travel and personal accident insurance
  • –Riding gear (available to rent)
  • –International Driving Permit (required)

Per person

¥480,000

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