Tobishima Kaido: The Next 7 Bridges

"There is a good chance you have heard of the Shimanami Kaido. It is the most famous cycling route in Japan, and rightly so. There is a much smaller chance you have heard of the Tobishima Kaido, its quiet neighbour. On our Fukuoka tour, we ride both, and the second one might just be our favourite."

The most Famous ride in Japan

The Shimanami Kaido is a rite of passage for cyclists. It runs for around 70km across the Seto Inland Sea, hopping over six islands and seven soaring bridges to connect Onomichi on the main island of Honshu with Imabari on Shikoku. Countless riders from Japan and all over the world make the crossing every year, and it has become the beating heart of Japanese cycling.

Part of why it is so beloved is how welcoming it is. Long, gentle spiral ramps carry you up to the height of each bridge, so even a first-timer can float over the water without a single steep pitch. It is one of the friendliest great rides on earth, and our guests adore it.

But have you heard of the Tobishima Kaido?

Here is the question we love to ask. Has anyone heard of the Tobishima Kaido? Almost nobody has, and that is exactly the point. It sits just along the coast from its famous sibling, yet it sees a fraction of the visitors. It is quieter, wilder, and more of an adventure, which is why we could not resist building it into the trip.

Why does it stay so quiet? Partly because it is harder to reach, tucked behind a ferry timetable rather than a train line. Partly because it lacks the polished rental network and the crowds that funnel people onto the Shimanami Kaido. And partly because those bridges simply ask more of your legs. For us, every one of those reasons is a gift. Fewer people, wilder scenery, and a route that feels like a discovery rather than a queue.

As part of our Fukuoka Tour, we do not simply ride the seven bridges of the Shimanami Kaido. We then take on another seven bridges in a single day, by way of the Tobishima Kaido route. Fourteen bridges across two of the finest island chains in Japan, on a folding bike. That is the kind of thing that makes our Brompton cycling tours a little different.

A Ferry ride into old Japan

Getting to the start is an adventure in itself. Once we finish in Imabari, we catch one of only two ferries a day out to the small port of Okamura. It is such a tiny fishing port that there is barely room to park, let alone unfold our bikes. It is also a genuine throwback to an older, gentler Japan, the kind most visitors never see.

The crossing is unforgettable. On the way we sail beneath a magnificent suspension bridge that looks even more spectacular from the water than it does from the saddle. You arrive at Okamura already knowing this day is going to be special.

Seven smaller Bridges, and a Real challenge

Within about 40km, we climb and cross another seven bridges.

They are much smaller than the giants of the Shimanami Kaido, but do not let that fool you. In a way they are more demanding for a cyclist, because they do not offer those gentle spiral ramps. Instead, you muscle your way up to the top of each one under your own steam. It is honest, satisfying riding, and the reward at every summit is a view of the Seto Inland Sea that you will have almost entirely to yourself.

If that sounds daunting for a newer rider, do not worry. This is where our way of touring earns its place. You ride what you feel good riding, and where a climb is more than you fancy, you fold up your Brompton, ride ahead in the support vehicle, and rejoin for the descent. Nobody is ever left behind, and everyone gets to stand on those bridges.

Closing the Loop

Once we have completed the Tobishima Kaido, we make our way onward to Kobe, which closes the loop and brings us back towards Fukuoka. It is a fitting end to a journey that has taken us over fourteen bridges, across two island chains, and through a slice of Japan that almost no one on a bicycle ever finds.

Through all of it, we keep the group small on purpose, so that a route this special never feels crowded by our own doing. Good hotels, unhurried days, and someone else quietly handling the ferry timings, the logistics and the bikes. All you have to carry is the sense of achievement, and your camera.

This is the spirit of our Brompton Fukuoka adventure in a single day. The famous and the forgotten, the gentle and the tough, all stitched together by the sea and by a little folding bike that carries you anywhere.

Come and ride the next seven bridges with us. Almost no one else has.

Want to learn more about Fukuoka Shimanami Kaido Tour? Read more on our website here: https://www.bromptonexperiences.com/all-tours/fukuoka-shimanami-kaido