Day 1: Arrival on Matsuyama (Ehime)
Fight from Tokyo or train from Tokyo to Matsuyama. Visit Matsuyama Castle if you have enough time. Also the best mandarin orange is grown here, please try it especially when you come in winter.
Stay in Matsuyama
Day 2: Matsuyama – Imabari (47.1km)
The first ride of this long adventure. Today’s flat and comfortable ride is perfect to warm up your legs for 1000km ride. Roadside station Kazahaya-no-sato Fuwari is the first stamp rally point. Imabari, a castle town, is known as a town of textile industry. You can experience Japanese top quality and tradition with Imabari Towel.
Stay in Imabari
Day 3: Imabari – Kanon-ji (99.7km)
Long and almost flat ride about 100km. There is one hill (200m elevation) just after half-way point of today. Roadside stations “Imabari Yunoura Onsen, Toyohana and Kotohiki” are today’s three stamp sites. When you get to Kanon-ji, you can see a huge sand sculpture of an Edo period coin, Zenigata Sunae.
Stay in Kanon-ji
Day 4: Kanonji – Takamatsu (65.2km)
Today we will ride over Kagawa prefecture. Kagawa is known for Udon noodle, please enjoy it at lunch today. However, you need to care how much you eat as there is an uphill (400m elevation) in the second half of today’s route. There are two stamp stations.
Stay in Takamatsu
Day 5: Takamatsu – Tokushima (96.4km)
We are going to east side of Shikoku Today. Several steep up and downs around Naruto. Two stamp stations are on the first half of ride. Today’s top highlight would be Onaruto Bridge, a suspension bridge between Shikoku and Awaji Island.
Stay in Tokushima
Day 6: Tokushima – Shishikui (91.3km)
Rides are getting longer and harder day by day. Couple of hills, up and downs through today. Three stamp stations are on equal distances today. For lunch, Tokushima ramen is recommended as it is the last day of Tokushima prefecture. You can enjoy seafoods in Shishikui as this is a seaside town faced to Pacific Ocean.
Stay in Shishikui
Day 7: Shishikui – Muroto Cape – Kochi (130.2km)
You should wake up and hit the road early today. The longest ride of this tour today. However, mild ups and downs and rural seaside road would be the best for cycling. Four stamp stations today. Murotosaki is a scenic cape faced to Pacific Ocean with beautiful rocks.
Stay in Kochi
Day 8: Kochi – Tosa Kure (58.6km)
Much easier ride than yesterday. There is one stamp station called Susaki. Kochi is known for bonito, you may have much time to enjoy them today. Please rest your legs and get ready for climax of this tour.
Stay in Tosa Kure
Day 9: Tosa Kure – Nakamura (106.7km)
Long ride along River Shimanto. After uphill (300m elevation) at first, we will go down riverside all the way to Nakamura. Enjoy your ride in the countryside surrounded by tons of green. Fish from this river is popular in this area.
Stay in Nakamura
Day 10: Nakamura – Ashizuri – Otsuki (97.6km)
The first half ride is for Ashizuri Cape, the southernmost point in Shikoku, and we will ride to Otsuki. Otsuki Town is known for the beautiful sea, scuba diving here is popular among local divers.
Stay in Otsuki
Day 11: Otsuki – Uwajima (75.8km)
Today’s route is mainly repeated ups and downs along the coast including four stamp stations. Uwajima, the destination of the day, is a traditional castle town. Around this area, fishery is also popular, known as one of top producers of sea bream and pearl. Fresh seafoods and sake would be the best combo, hope you’ll have enough time to enjoy them.
Stay in Uwajima
Day 12: Uwajima – Matsuyama (105.6km)
The last cycling day of tour. We will come back around to Matsuyama this evening. At first we will ride over a mountain to coast town, Yawatahama. In the second half, we’ll take a long seaside ride to Matsuyama. Matsuyama is known as a hot spring town as well as a castle town. This traditional town is really worth visiting for those who like Japanese culture.
Stay in Matsuyama
Day 13: Matsuyama – Tokyo & Flight back to Australia
You can send your bicycle or luggage to airports or hotels in Tokyo safely with delivery services. Hotels will help you to send your items.