How long does it take to cycle the Shimanami Kaido?

While accomplished cyclists on road bikes will make quick work of the Shimanami Kaido, completing the entire route in 3 to 4 hours, a general rule of thumb for recreational cyclists tackling the route on our standard rental bikes is to plan on covering 10km per hour.

Adding an hour for a decent lunch break, moving at this pace will take around 8 hours. However, time flies by quickly when stopping to take in the amazing views, snapping photos and dropping in at cafes –– not to mention checking out some of the region's tourist attractions.

Opting for one of our E-bike rentals gives you an extra boost, but, when doing the whole of the Shimanami Kaido in one day, we always recommend setting out as early as possible to ensure that you can fully enjoy the experience.

Do you have to do the whole route in one day?

Not at all!

In fact, with so much to experience along the way, we encourage all our visitors to consider spreading the trip over two or three days. Accommodation options along the route have increased over the past few years, making it easier than ever to make your Shimanami trip a multi-day adventure.

The two most popular overnight stops are Setoda on Ikuchijima Island and Omishima Island, due to the variety of accommodation and dining options and their location at just about halfway along the route.

Please note that our E-bike are only available for one-day rental. We advise using our cross-bikes for multi-day trips.