{"id":20589,"date":"2018-11-13T11:09:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-13T11:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/?p=20589"},"modified":"2019-04-09T13:24:35","modified_gmt":"2019-04-09T13:24:35","slug":"japan-shimanami-kaido-the-cyclist-paradise-interview-with-an-experienced-cyclist-in-shimanami-kaido-lynn-who-is-also-my-school-mate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkerten.com\/wordpress\/2018\/11\/japan-shimanami-kaido-the-cyclist-paradise-interview-with-an-experienced-cyclist-in-shimanami-kaido-lynn-who-is-also-my-school-mate\/","title":{"rendered":"Shimanami Kaido – The Cyclist Paradise"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

Understand what is Shimanami Kaido\u5cf6\u6ce2\u6d77\u9053<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Shimanami Kaido is a spectacular 60-70 kilometer road-and-bridge network connecting Japan\u2019s main island of Honshu with Shikoku, passing over 6 small islands in the Seto Inland Sea \u702c\u6238\u5185\u6d77. The starting point of Shimanami Kaido is in Honshu \u672c\u5dde Island in Onomichi \u5c3e\u9053<\/a> city and end at Imabari \u4eca\u6cbb City in Shikoku \u56db\u56fd Island.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Shimanami Kaido will link the 6 islands of Mukaishima \u5411\u5cf6, Innoshima \u56e0\u5cf6, Ikuchijima \u751f\u53e3\u5cf6, Omishima \u5927\u4e09\u5cf6, Hakatajima \u4f2f\u65b9\u5cf6 and Oshima \u5927\u5cf6 together with the modern and attractive bridges.<\/p>\n

Actually each bridge that links the islands has its own name, but all together they are called Shimanami Kaido.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

Connecting with Lynn who is an experience cyclist (Above picture is Lynn on the road)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My high school classmate Lynn (we used to call her Xian Chin in school) happened to do her cycling trip at Shimanami Kaido in Shikoku when I was there. We connected through phone and chat a little while in Japan. Since Shimanami Kaido is a very popular route for the cyclists around the world, I had conducted a little interview with her from an experience cyclist to learn more about this fascinating route in Japan from a perspective of a cyclist.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

Driving vs Cycling in Shimanami Kaido<\/strong><\/h3>\n

My experience of Shimanami Kaido is only by car, self driving which is very much different from the cyclists as this route is not only made for car but also specially made for cyclists.\u00a0 When they build the route, the purposely have a cyclist path made solely for the cyclists.\u00a0 I think anyone who wanted to get the most out from Shimanami Kaido, cycling through the 70km through different type of bridges is the way to enjoy the remarkable scenery.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

Below Cyclists ready to rock<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

Interview with Lynn :<\/strong><\/h3>\n

1. Are you flying in from Melbourne Australia?
\nAns : Sort of, I was on my business trip in HK\/Taiwan then flew from there to Hiroshima Japan.<\/p>\n

2. What cycling group do you join?
\nAns : Giant Adventure Taiwan \u6377\u5b89\u7279\u65c5\u884c\u793e\u5ba2\u5236\u56e2<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

3. How long is the whole duration?
\nAns : Total is 5 days.<\/p>\n

4. Where is your starting point for Shimanami Kaido? I know some start from Onomichi<\/a> or Imabari<\/a>.
\nAns : We started from Onomichi and took a short ferry over to the park starting point and end at Imabari. There are in total 8,000 participants in this cycling event and 7,000 start from Imabari.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

5. What kind of bikes are you using?
\nAns :The new electric bike model to be launched their Giant Escape RXE.<\/p>\n

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6. Do you have to assemble your own bike if you prefer to use your own bike?
\nAns : Yes, we have Giant technician with us to help us to assemble with our personal bike.<\/p>\n

7. Where do you stay during the cycling tour?
\nAns : Onomichi U2 Hotel Cycle &\u00a0Imabari Kokusai Hotel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. Was this your first cycling tour in Japan?
\nAns : No, not my first but my 4th time as I have done other part of Japan, such as Lake Biwa, Mount Fuji and Hokkaido.<\/p>\n

9. Where are the other countries you have done the cycling tour beside Japan?
\nAns :\u00a0Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland.<\/p>\n

10. Is this yearly event?
\nAns : No, this cycling event is 4 years once, in a day.<\/p>\n

11. Roughly how much is the cyclist tour cost?
\nAns : NTD70000 (USD 2265) (Since she is joining the tour from Taiwan)<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

12. Who are the other cyclist members?
\nAns : Giant Taiwan ex-CEO, Giant Adventure regular customers<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

13.What is one thing you like about this Shimanami Kaido experience as compared to other destination.
\nAns : The scenery along the Seto Inland Sea is breathtaking connecting bridges to bridges in different size and length and each has it own unique style.\u00a0 Another thing I like most is the road users\/drivers in Japan are very polite and considerate to give ways.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

14.What is the best thing you get out from the cyclist experience in Shimanami Kaido
\nAns : The yummy Japanese food & traditional snacks along the way in Shimanami Kaido \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

15. Any other advice or tips you like to share with other cyclists who wish to do Shimanami Kaido?
\nAns : Break out the journey into 2-3\u00a0days instead of one ride all the way through in a day, stop more often along the way to enjoy the scenery\u00a0and Japanese traditional snacks.<\/p>\n

End of Interview<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

Yoshiumi\u00a0\u5409\u6d77 Rose Garden\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I passed by the\u00a0Rose Garden when I did Shimanami Kaido with a car on my way up to Kirosan Observatory Park<\/a>. (Kirosan has the most spectacular view of Shimanami Kaido for the longest bridge view)<\/p>\n

I noticed there are plenty of temporary white tenth set up in the Rose Garden for the cyclists rest area.\u00a0 Everything seems to be very well organised and I see plenty of helpers, volunteers or staffs working very hard on the roadside to direct the cyclists along Shimanami Kaido route.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

As you can see lemon is one of the “meibutsu” famous thing in Seto Inland Sea area so the drinks were served to the tired cyclists.<\/p>\n

\"Japan<\/a><\/p>\n

There are two places to rent a bike to do Shimanami Kaido, you can rent a bike from Onomichi too but the bridge that connects Onomichi to Mukaishima is for cars only, so cyclists have to take the ferry. Once you reached Mukashima by ferry you can start your cycling. I notice the first long suspension bridge called Inonoshima Bridge don’t share with cyclists as I didn’t spot any passing through the bridge when we drove pass the bridges. The cyclists are crossing under the bridge at a level below the road that the car use. However, most of the other bridges crossings are sharing with cyclists and cars on the same level.<\/p>\n

Few Interesting bridges along Shimanami Kaido that I have spotted\u00a0and all bridges look different\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n