The Shimanami Kaido: Island-Hopping Bridge Drive

Crossing the graceful, cable-stayed Ikuchijima Bridge brings you onto Ikuchijima, globally famous as the 'Lemon Island' of Japan. Blessed with a warm, Mediterranean-style climate, the island's rolling hills are covered in terraced groves of lemons and Hassaku oranges. The air here is literally scented with citrus blossom! In the main town of Setoda sits the spectacular Kosanji Temple—a sprawling, colorful temple complex featuring replicas of Japan's most famous historic structures, culminating in the 'The Hill of Hope' (Miraishin no Oka). This is a massive, 5,000-square-meter landscape sculpture made entirely of white Carrara marble imported from Italy, looking like a Grecian palace perched high above the orange groves. The island is also a major open-air art museum, featuring 17 giant sculptures scattered along the shoreline paths. It is a whimsical, highly visual, and sun-drenched stop that provides a perfect, creative introduction to the inland sea culture.

Crossing the massive Tatara Bridge—one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world—brings you onto Omishima, the largest and most sacred of the Shimanami islands. For centuries, this island has served as a sanctuary of profound spiritual power, home to the ancient Oyamazumi Shrine. Dedicated to the Shinto gods of the seas and mountains, the shrine is nestled inside a pristine, sacred forest of massive, 2,600-year-old camphor trees. The most famous of these trees, the 'Kusu-no-ki,' features a giant, moss-covered trunk that is highly revered by pilgrims. Oyamazumi holds an unbelievable historical treasure: its armory museum contains over 80% of all samurai armor and swords designated as National Treasures in Japan, once offered by legendary warriors (including Minamoto no Yoshitsune) to secure victory before heading to sea battles. It is a place of deep, forest silence, ancient lore, and profound cultural majesty, grounding you in the legendary samurai heritage of the inland sea.

Crossing the soaring Hakata-Oshima Bridge brings you onto Oshima, the final island in the chain before reaching Shikoku. This rugged island was once the historic stronghold of the Murakami Suigun—the legendary, noble medieval 'sea pirates' who controlled and protected the inland shipping lanes. At the southern tip of the island, a winding mountain road climbs to the summit of Mount Kiro to arrive at the Kirosan Observatory. Designed by world-famous architect Kengo Kuma, the observation deck is a minimalist masterpiece constructed entirely of wood and stone buried inside the mountain peak to preserve the natural landscape. Standing on the clifftop platform, you are confronted by the absolute emotional climax of the drive: a breathtaking, panoramic view of the massive Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge—the world's first triple-suspension bridge, stretching 4 kilometers across the sea! Winding past whirlpools and islands, the bridge looks like a giant, white thread connecting the land, creating a jaw-dropping coastal vista.