Shikoku

With the weather finally beginning to cool down, it is time to look back at outdoor activities. Before the long winter sets back in, it’s best to take advantage of the natural beauty that the Seto Inland Sea offers, and the popular way to do this is cycling. Over the last two decades, the region has engaged in heavy promotion of cycling, with various areas offering cyclist support and rentals. Ehime Prefecture, across the water from Hiroshima, even bills itself as a cyclist’s paradise. So why not take some time to see what all the fuss is about and hit the road?. One of the most famous, accessible, and interesting rides is the Shiminami Kaido. The world’s second-longest chain of suspension bridges spans the Seto Inland Sea between Imabari in Shikoku and Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, connecting six picturesque islands along the way. The best thing about this bridge system is the cycling and pedestrian paths it has built to provide tourists complete access, except the crossing between Onomichi and Mukaishima Island. This crossing is still serviced by regular ferries, which keep the inconvenience to a minimum. The islands along the 70km trail are beautiful, and intermediate cyclists can cover…