Onomichi to Kure “Sazanami Kaido” Cycling tour, biking 5 cities by national highway.

 

I would like to share about my trip experience to “Sazanami Kaido”!

The sea route was great!

 

 

Sazanami Kaido Cycling routing map

Cycling course

Onomichi to Kure, you will cycle national highway and will see sea route many times.

 

What’s Sazanami Kaido?

National highway No.185 (Onomichi to Mihara is No.2) – Onomichi City, Mihara City, Takehara City, Higashi-hiroshima City, Kure City.

 

The range of blue line is about 82 km, is the longest within 7 sea routes but there are not so many up down road.

It’s easy to bike compare to the others.

 

Let’s start cycling Sazanami Kaido!

Onomichi

Blue line of Sazanami Kaido (recommended cycling route) starts from JR Onomichi station.

Starting from Shin-Onomichi Shinkansen station which close to JR Onomichi station.

 

Go down the hill near JR Onomichi Station of the sea and join National Highway No.2.

I wanted to go to the south and want to cross the Shimanami Kaido, but today I will head west.

 

As you can see in the photo, you will proceed the Sazanami kaido alongside of the JR Kure line railway from Onomichi to Kure.

Even though I can see it little far away, I feel relieved when I see it again.

 

Mihara

Arriving at Mihara station.

This is the station where I based when I went to “Yumeshima Kaido” before.

 

Related>>>The Yumeshima Kaido Cycling Course; cycling across islands by taking a ferry

https://train-cycling.com/eng/yumeshima/

 

 

Mihara station is also for the Shinkansen.

Sazanami kaido cycling will be easier if you will start from this station.

 

From Mihara, you will cycle national route No.185 and proceed more the seaside.

 

Break time at Sunamikou(Sunami Port).

 

From Sunamikou, there are lots of ferry going for Shimanami kaido (Ikuchi island), I saw many people waiting for it.

I had octopus balls (Takoyaki) as Mihara is famous for the octopus!

 

While looking at the shipyard, feeling the sea breeze, I aim to arrive at Takehara which is the middle point of the 40 km point of Sazanami kaido.

 

“Rabbit island” – the entrance to Okunoshima, Tadanoumi.

I tried to drop in the Tadanoumi harbor.

The Tadanoumi harbor is the entrance to Okunoshima which is famous as rabbit island.

 

Okunoshima is popular travel spot. There was a long queue waiting to get into the ferry.

 

Takehara

It’s central of Sazanami Kaido! Had a “Gyohan(Fish rice)” the local food in Takehara.

Arrived to Takehara at noon.

 

I had a Gyohan(Fish Rice) for my lunch.

Takehara is a place which developed as a “salt town” with salt fields in the past.

 

Gyohan used to eaten as dish of hospitality here.

Now, the salt fields are no longer exists so Gyohan is called as the “local food disappeared with salt fieles”.

 

Put warm soup top on the rice with some ingredients.

 

In the photo, it looks like light meal but you can refill soup and rice for free so you can eat much more after the long time cycling.

I refilled these many times and enjoyed a lot.

 

Restarted cycling aim to Kure.

After passing Takehara you will see scenery of mountains.

Go through the seaside and mountainside alternately and aim for the goal of Kure.

 

Passing Akinada bridge

Reached at the foot of Akinada bridge on the way!

If you turn around, you will be at Tobishima kaido.

 

Related>>>Cycling on “Tobishima Kaido” in Ura Shimanami.

https://train-cycling.com/eng/tobishima/

 

And you will go through Kure city…

 

Kure

Finally arriving at Kure which is the final point!

 

Local food at the final point of Sazanami-kaido.

Kure’s famous local foods are Kaiji Curry rice and Hoso-udon!

It was already evening when I arrived to Kure.

Let’s go to eat dinner.

 

Kure is famous for “Kaiji curry rice” as it has maritime self-defense force Kure base.

Curry and Hoso udon set menu was great!

 

Sazanami kaido overview

 

I could aim to cycle from Onomichi to Kure and the total distance was 82km.

 

It was great experience although the sea route had many mountain landscape.

I will cycle “Hamakaze kaido” which is the route from Matsuyama to Imabari next day after I take ferry to Matsuyama in Ehime prefecture.

 

It was so fun!