Recommended Bicycle Rentals on the Shimanami Kaido for Beginners
Why not rent a bicycle and go cycling on Japan’s Shimanami Kaido?
But it’s my first time to visit the Shimanami Kaido and I don’t know which service to use… What should I wear on the day of the tour and what is the minimum I need?
If this is your first time, you may have these concerns.
In this issue, we will introduce some recommended rental bicycles that even first-time visitors to the Shimanami Kaido can use with ease.
Content of this article
- Brief introduction to the Shimanami Kaido
- Points to check before cycling
- Recommended bicycle rental service
Those who wish to cycle along the nature-rich Shimanami Kaido in Japan. And, if you are interested in bicycle sightseeing in Onomichi or Imabari area, please take a look.
Table of contents
Brief introduction to the Shimanami Kaido
First, let us check the exact location where the “Shimanami Kaido” is located.
Shimanami Kaido is an automobile-only road connecting Ehime Prefecture (Imabari City) and Hiroshima Prefecture (Onomichi City) in Japan.
It connects islands in the Seto Inland Sea and is approximately 70 km long.
In addition, the area is ideal for bicycling, as it is equipped with bicycle and pedestrian paths. Because of these circumstances, it is positioned as one of the “Seven Greatest Cycling Routes in the World”.
The Shimanami Kaido, with its unique scenery in Japan, attracts many tourists every year.
Points to check before cycling on the Shimanami Kaido
If you are using a bicycle rental service on the Shimanami Kaido for the first time, there are a few points you should check.
The main points to check are as follows.
- Check if there is more than one store
- Which type of car to rent
- Optimal clothing and luggage
Check if there is more than one office
If you are using a rental bicycle for the first time on the Shimanami Kaido, check to see if there are multiple stores available for one service.
And, check if it is possible to return it to a different affiliated store than the lending office.
Depending on the scale of the bike rental service on the Shimanami Kaido, some services have multiple return locations.
If it is too physically demanding to return to the rental store, you can return the bike to the nearest terminal, allowing those who are not accustomed to riding long distances to do so.
Electric bicycles are also recommended for beginners
If this is your first time cycling on the Shimanami Kaido or if you do not ride a bicycle frequently on a regular basis, we recommend renting an electrically power assisted bicycle.
Although the Shimanami Kaido gives the impression of not much difference in gradient from an overhead view, it is actually famous as a cycling road with many hills.
Therefore, if you are not confident in your physical strength, you may want to rent an electrically power assisted bicycle such as an “E-BIKE”, which can comfortably ride up hills.
Baggage, clothing, etc. on the day
You will also want to be mindful of your luggage and clothing on the day of cycling.
You must have drinking water, sunglasses, and a towel. And a raincoat for bicycles in case of rain.
Other luggage should be kept to the extent that it can be stored in a backpack or similar.
We also recommend that you wear casual, lightweight clothing that does not interfere with cycling.
For bottoms, half pants or leggings pants are safe, as they do not interfere with the drive parts of the bicycle, such as getting caught in the pedaling motion.
Recommended Bicycle Rentals on the Shimanami Kaido
Here are some recommended bicycle rentals available on the Shimanami Kaido!
The following are the main bicycle rental services that beginners can feel comfortable with.
- Shimanami Rental Bicycle(SIMANAI JAPAN)
- GIANT STORE
- Onochari100
- THE RED BICYCLES ONOMICHI
- BETTER BICYCLES
Great for beginners! Shimanami Rental Bicycle
Shimanami Rent-a-Cycle is operated by SHIMANAMI JAPAN and has more than 10 rental and return locations.
Bicycles such as cross bikes, regular bicycles and electric assist bicycles can be rented.
In the event of a flat tire or other malfunction while cycling, support is provided for bicycle replacement, so beginners can use the service with peace of mind.
The terminals(office) are located on the Onomichi side and the Imabari side, making it easy to access from both Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures.
This is a recommended bike rental service that is busy with individual and group tourists.
The terminals(office)
Shimanami Rent-A-Cycle has five terminals on the Onomichi side and five on the Imabari side of the city where you can rent and return bicycles.
Please note that depending on the type of bicycle you rent, you may not be able to return the bicycle to a office that is different from the rental store.
Usage fee and bicycle type
| rental fee | 2,200yen〜/ a day (※Varies depending on bicycle model) |
|---|---|
| Bicycle Model | Small cross bikes, cross bikes, general bicycles, electric bicycles, E-BIKE |
| business hours | Depends on the office. |
For other details about Shimanami Rental Bicycle, please visit the official website below.
SHIMANAMI JAPAN official website
GIANT STORE Imabari・Onomichi
Giant Store, which specializes in road bikes and other sports bicycles, also offers a bike rental service at its stores in Imabari and Onomichi.
The models available for rent range from high-end carbon road models to sports models such as E-BIKE for long-distance riding.
As a result, bicycle rental rates are, on average, slightly higher than other bike rentals.
This service is ideal for cyclists who wish to ride serious mid- to long-distance rides.
In addition, if you are a beginner, we recommend renting a cross bike, which is one of the easiest sports bicycles to ride.
Fees and store information
| Rental fee | 2,970-3,960 yen for 5 hours ※Above are cross bike rental rates |
|---|---|
| Bicycle Model | Premium carbon road, carbon road, aluminum road, cross bike, kids bike, E-BIKE |
| business hours | 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| business holiday | Tuesday |
| office | Giant Store Onomichi : 5-11 Nishi-Gosho-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan Giant Store Imabari: 1-729-8 Kitahorai-cho, Imabari-shi, Ehime |
For other details about Giant Store Imabari and Onomichi, please visit the official website below.
Onochari 100
Onochari 100 is a bicycle rental that has a store in the Onomichi shopping district and specializes in electric assiste bicycles.
This new service opened in February 2022, and this service is provided by COCOSTAY, an agency that manages private accommodations and hotels.
All bicycles available for rent are electric models and come in three types: mini-velo, cross bike, and child-carrying type (with child seat).
In addition, the service is suitable for short-distance rides from the Onomichi side, as it does not have multiple stores.
This bike rental service is recommended for beginners to cycling along the Shimanami Kaido, as well as for families.
Fees and store information
| Rental fee | 5 hours 3,000 yen 〜 ※Varies depending on bicycle model |
|---|---|
| Bicycle Model | Electric assist bicycle : mini-velo, cross bike, and child-carrying type (with child seat) |
| business hours | 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| business holiday | Thursday |
| office | 1-10-5 Tsuchido, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
For other details about Onochari 100, please visit the official website below.
THE RED BICYCLES ONOMICHI
THE RED BICYCLES ONOMICHI is a bicycle shop in Onomichi that also operates a bike rental service.
Two types of bicycles are available for rent: road bikes and cross bikes.
These rental bikes are ideal for sightseeing along the Shimanami Kaido and in Onomichi City.
Fees and store information
| Rental fee | 3,850yen / a day ※Fees by road bike |
|---|---|
| Bicycle Model | Road bike・E-BIKE（Cross Bike Model） |
| business hours | 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
| business holiday | Wednesdays and Thursdays / Year-end and New Year holidays |
| office | 1-10-1 Tsuchido, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture |
For more information, please visit the official website below.
BETTER BICYCLES
BETTER BICYCLES is a bicycle specialty store located along the Setouchi coast in Onomichi City.
Stylish and higher grade bicycles such as Mixto and Horizontal frames, which cannot be found at other bike rental agencies, are available for rent.
In addition, rental prices are available from 2,200 yen per day, which is more reasonable than other bicycle rentals.
This service is also a recommended rental bicycle for sightseeing in Onomichi City and the Shimanami Kaido.
Fees and store information
| Rental fee | 2,200yen / a day ※Fees by Mixt, Horizontal, Cargo Bike |
|---|---|
| Bicycle Model | Road bikes, Mikisto, Horizontal, Cargo bikes, E-BIKE(cross bikes / small tire models), Kids bikes |
| business hours | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| business holiday | Wednesday |
| office | 2F, 2-10-24, Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan |
For more information, please visit the official website below.
Summary of this article
In this issue, we introduced recommended bicycle rental service available on the “Shimanami Kaido”.
As you can see, the Shimanami Kaido has a wide variety of rental bicycles service, making it a fun cycling path even for beginners.
If you are currently considering a visit to the Shimanami Kaido, please give it a try!
Author of this article
