content: Originally published on March 22, 2019 in the morning edition by the Yomiuri Shimbun's Osaka headquarters. This article was translated from Japanese.
Let's Move off the Map to Discover Some Unexpected Scenery
Photograph: Miss Kadota (left) and Miss Torobu (right) are running on a beach in Omishima. Behind them can be seen Tatara Ohashi and Ikuchijima Island, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture.Spring is coming to Setouchi. The “Shimanami Kaido,” the suspension bridge expressway which crosses six islands, linking Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, has been open to traffic for 20 years.
“Tenku-no-Michi” (the road of the sky), with its magnificent views spread out beneath your eyes, is called a sanctuary for cyclists. The “Shimanami Juso 2019”, (Shimanami traverse) is an event held on 23rd and 24th, in which people on foot or by bicycle collect a series of stamps at various spots along the route. Participants are enticed outdoors by the warm spring wind. Let’s all have a good time with *“Shimanami Blue”.
*The Japanese say "Shimanami Blue" to describe how the blue sky meets the blue sea.The Setouchi Islands were selected as one of “52 Places to Go in 2019” by the New York Times. It was the only place in Japan chosen for the list. The event of “Shimanami Juso” is held on March 23rd and 24th. You can feel the great nature of six islands of Setouchi and have a chance to get friendly with residents on each of the islands during this event. Miss Yuri Torobu (nineteen years old, from Hiroshima) and Miss Momona Kadota (nineteen years old, from Ehime) are both members of STU48. They got an early peek by traveling to the Setouchi Islands.
They enjoyed the 40 minutes drive to Omishima Island, Imabari City, Ehime, from Onomichi City, Hiroshima. They were in a prime location overlooking three islands: Mukaishima Island, Innoshima Island, and Ikuchijima Island. Throughout the drive, they excitedly said “We feel like we are flying.” They arrived at Omishima Island, Imabari City, Ehime. The 1,480m long Tatara Ohashi Bridge is one of the most popular tourist spots. The bridge was erected between Omishima Island and Ikuchishima Island, and is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Japan. Its form is just like a bird which is perching on the blue sea.
“Wow, it’s so beautiful. I feel like I’m visiting another country.” They found a nameless, cozy sand beach. It is in Michi-no-Eki Tatara Shimanami Park and close to “Shiawase-no-Kane” (the bell of happiness).
There are powdery sand beaches and a broad panorama of the crystal clear sea. Palm trees tremble in the breeze and the wind carries the sound of the bell. When you look back at the edge of the surf, you can see the ridge line of Ikuchijima Island, aka “Lemon Island”.
It was a peaceful day. The small cozy sea shore is their favorite place. They said “We are so happy.” “We can get along with each other better.” And they smiled at each other.
They also enjoyed local food at Michi-no-Eki Restaurant. A specialty of a restaurant is fish cuisine, particularly Mahata (a kind of grouper), which is a rare and prized fish. The texture is really fleshy and fresh.
Island hopping, walking or riding a bicycle wherever you want to go, is a typical attraction of Shimanami.
There are a lot of sightseeing spots on the map, but feel free to try and find new wonderful places by yourself. You will experience serendipitous discoveries. Soon, these islands will turn pink with the setting sun, and the surface of the sea will sparkle in the sunset.
Japan's First Bicycle Trail That Can Cross the Shimanami Strait
The 22nd "Shimanami Juso”(Shimanami Traverse) was held on March 23rd and 24th, which is a stamp rally held along 10 check points installed from ONOMICHI 2, Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, to Imabari City Cycling Terminal, Ehime Prefecture. Pedestrians and bicycles are free to pass. No prior application required, and there is no entry fee.
All participants can get an original badge, and finishers can receive a complete run certificate and an original Imabari towel. For more information, visit the website of Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company.
What Is Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway?
Construction on the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway, officially named “The Nishiseto Expressway,” started in 1975, and it opened on May 1, 1999. The total cost of the project was approximately ¥ 730 billion. It connects six islands in the Seto Inland Sea by nine bridges (Kurushima Strait Bridge is a triple suspension bridge, so is counted as three bridges). The total distance is about 60 km from Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, to Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture.
It is called a “bridge art museum” because it consists of different type of bridges: Shin Onomichi Ohashi, Innoshima Ohashi, Ikuchibashi Bridge, Tatara Ohashi, Omishima Island Bridge, Kushikata Oshima Ohashi, and Kurushima Channel Ohashi.
The traffic volume was 32,686 per day last year.
Photograph: From No.1 to No.7, Shin Onomichi Ohashi Bridge, Innoshima Ohashi Bridge, Tatara Ohashi Bridge, Omishima Island Bridge, Kushikata Oshima Ohashi Bridge, and Kurushima Channnel Ohashi Bridge. (Photographer, Hamai Takayuki)
About STU 48
STU48 is an idol group based in the Setouchi area. “STU” was named from the character of Setouchi (SeToUchi). The boat theater "STU 48" will go into service this spring, and the group will perform regular performances on board around the ports of each prefecture. The group’s second single, “Kaze-wo Matsu” (“Wait for the Wind”), which had been postponed due to heavy rain in West Japan, was released in February.
Sail with Your Bicycle! Cycle Ship "Shimanami Lazuli"
If you want to go cycling with your family in Shimanami, you should ride “Cycleship Lazuli” which connects between a pier in front of JR Onomichi Station and Ikuchi Island. The ship offers regular service mainly on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
“Lazuli” means blue in Persian. The capacity of the ship is 75 people, and about 50 bicycles. There is a parking space for bicycles on the ground floor, and a cycle stand on the first floor. You can also maintain your bicycle with tools installed on the ship.
Setoda is at about the midway point of Shimanami, so you can enjoy cycling half the way and cruise the rest.
Charter service is available. Inquiry: Setouchi Cruising (+81-848-36-6113)
Enjoy a Stay at the Newly Renovated Japanese Traditional Style House- “Uchiko No Yado”
After enjoying the nature of the Shimanami Kaido, you can visit and stay at a kominka, an inn in a rustic old house.
Uchiko town, Ehime Prefecture, prospered by producing vegetable wax from Edo period to the Meiji period, and still remains a traditional landscape. To get there, it takes about 25 minutes on the Express train from Matsuyama City.
There are two kominka hotels, named “ORI,” and “KYU,” in the Important Traditional Building Conservation Area, where there are many ruins of homesteads. Both of these opened in 2017 by renovating Japanese traditional houses. The appearance of the building exudes a retro feeling, and the inside the building makes visitors expect an extraordinary time.
“ORI” consists of a space with a hammock and three bedrooms, and a detached bathroom. It’s perfect for group travelers and three generations families. “KYU” looks like a modern and stylish villa. The Hinoki bath is popular for visitors.
Onishi Kesuke, the NPO corporation representative who manages these two hotels, said “There is a Japanese archetypal image nearby, and visitors can enjoy their stay as if it is their own home. We also welcome repeat visitors from Taiwan. ”
For reservations and more information, call: (+81-893-44-5735)
An Amazing Sunset - Kirosan Park
Photograph: Panoramic view of Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and Seto Islands from Kirosan Observatory Park (provided by Imabari District Tourism Association)Kirosan Park of Oshima, Imabari City, is famous as the best viewpoint in “Shinami Kaido”.
It is about 10 minutes from Oshima South IC to the summit (altitude 307.8 meters) by car. You can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view once you reach to the summit.
You can see the Kijima Ohashi Bridge and the tidal straits below, Imabari City to the south, and, weather permitting, the Ishizuri mountain range to the southeast.
Visitors can get various impressions depending on the season and time zone. The magic hour before sunset is a highly recommended time to come. As the sunset colors the sky orange, the islands rise up like shadows and sink in the dark.
The observation deck designed by Kuma Kengo, who worked on the New National Stadium Japan, is also a point worthy of note.
Get Well at the Power Spot - Ooyamazumi Shrine
Ooyamazumi Shrine is called a Japanese general guardian and has over 10,000 branches all over Japan. It takes about 10 minutes from Mishima IC through Route 317. The shrine, surrounded by dozens of camphor trees, is designated a national natural monument, and there is a large sacred camphor tree, which is about 2600 years old, in the middle of the precinct. The treasure museum nearby exhibits 8 national treasures and 682 national important cultural assets. The highlight of the treasures is “Red thread Odoshi Yoroi,” dedicated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, who won the Battle of Dannoura.
Inquiry: Shrine office (+81-897-82-0032).
Like a Valley in Greece "Miraishin-no-Oka"
Miraishin Hill, at Kosanji Museum on Ikuchi Island, is a garden of about 5,000 square meters on a hill. Many kinds of large and small monuments made of white marble are lined up and called "Hiroshima's Greece."
The sculptor, Kuetani Itto, carried about 3,000 tons of marble from Italy and completed it in 12 years.
The “Lighting Tower” at the top rises to the sky, and visitors often take pictures there against the blue sea.
Inquiry: (+81-845-27-0800).
Taste the Individuality of the Beans with Chocolate "USHIO CHOCOLATL"
The chocolate factory USHIO CHOCOLATL is located on a hill that stands on a winding narrow road in Mukojima, on the other side of Onomichi City.
The ingredients of their chocolate are only cocoa beans and sugar. The staff directly purchases the beans from farmers all over the world and manufactures everything, from roasting to molding with beans, etc.
Each chocolate has beans from a producing area. You can taste the uniqueness of the beans. For example, you can taste chocolate like coconut milk from beans from Ghana, and taste fruits chocolate made of beans from Vietnam. Colorful hexagonal packages for wrapping the chocolates are also popular.
Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Inquiry: (+81-848-36-6408)=====================
Writer, Ide Seiken
Layout, Nishikawa Hitomi
©️2019 The Yomiuri Shimbun
