Highlights

1. Pray

Pray for a safe trip to the gods of the sea and mountains at Shikoku’s major Shintō shrines.

2. Cycle

Cycle the renowned Shimanami Kaidō and take a boat ride into the racing currents that flow between the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.

3. Climb on E-Bike

4. SUP

Paddle a SUP board down the pure, clear Niyodo River, visiting a sake brewery and a paper making atelier.

Day 1 Arrive in Dōgo, Matsuyama

You arrive in Dōgo, Matsuyama, and check into your single room at the new Dōgo Hakuro hotel. The hotel has its own hot spring bath, and is located close to the famous Dōgo Onsen Honkan, Japan’s oldest spa.

Meet your guide for a short orientation covering what to expect during the adventure. Then you can have a relaxing soak at the hotel, or one of the local hot spring baths.

In the evening, your guide meets you at the hotel and takes you to Hanahimerō, a geisha teahouse, for dinner and traditional entertainment.

Day 2 Cycle the Shimanami Kaidō

You can go for an early dip in the local baths. After breakfast, transfer along a scenic seaside route to WAKKA on Ōmishima Island, a cycling base in the middle of the Shimanami Kaidō, known as one of the most interesting cycling destinations. The e-bikes make it easy to explore the hilly islands and scoot up the ramps to the massive bridges. We cycle to romantic Ōyamazumi Shrine, where Japanese warriors from time immemorial have dedicated their weapons and armour in thanks for victory. After praying for a safe journey, continue by E-bike back WAKKA.

E-bike from WAKKA to Ōyamazumi Shrine and back ~ Distance: 8.2 km | Time: 1:00 | Up: 80 m, Down 70 m

Enjoy your tasty boxed lunch which we can eat at some scenic spot whenever we feel like it.

At the Murakami Suigun Museum on Ōshima Island, we learn about the pirates of the Inland Sea. Then we take a boat out into the fast currents and whirlpools of the Inland Sea, passing the tiny island fortress of Noshima from where the pirates conducted their operations.
Finally, we cross the great Kurushima Straits Bridge and drive through the mountains back to Matsuyama, where we stay another night at Hakuro.

E-bike from WAKKA to Sunrise Itoyama ~ Distance: 31.4 km | Time: 1:40 | Up: 320 m, Down: 300 m

Enjoy seafood from the Inland Sea and local sake at an izakaya in Dōgo.

Activity: E-bike cycling and boat cruise
Difficulty: 3

Day 4 Descend the Niyodo River by e-bike and SUP

At breakfast time, the dawn sky is reflected on the lake below the inn. After enjoying a traditional Japanese breakfast of locally grown rice with fish, pickles, and miso soup, we check out and cycle on a paved road beside the Niyodo River to the Ainosato Waterside Station. The river is known for its translucent, turquoise blue water and the beauty of the scenery along its banks.
E-bike from Akiba no Yado to Ainosato ~ Distance: 33.9 km | Time: 1:40 | Up: 410 m, Down: 650 m

Enjoy your lunch of vegetables and traditional processed foods of the region at a Waterside Station, a market for local agricultural produce.

At the Waterside Station, we switch to SUP boards to continue our descent of the river to the SUGGOI Sports base. Our route includes some highly picturesque bends in the river, with deep, calm stretches, and some shallow rapids for a bit of excitement. There are also opportunities for a refreshing leap off boulders and bridges. You’re sure to see some big river fish and numerous kinds of birds.
SUP from Ainosato to SUGGOI Sports ~ Distance: 10 km | Time: 4:00 | Up: 0 m, Down: 5 m

From SUGGOI Sports, the bus takes us to the nearby riverside hotel, Kanpo no Yado Ino, a modern hotel with an extensive selection of onsen baths.
Enjoy your dinner from a selection of the famed dishes of Kōchi such as braised tuna in the big dining room of the hotel.

Activity: E-bike cycling and SUP boarding
Difficulty: 3

Day 5 Explore the products of the Niyodo River

The early morning view of the Niyodo River from your hotel balcony invites you to follow its course all the way to the sea.
After a hearty Japanese breakfast of locally grown rice with tofu, fish, pickles, and soup, check out and cycle to the Ino Paper Museum to learn about the steps required to turn these plants into high quality paper, and visit an atelier to try our hand at making some washi paper by the traditional method. Be prepared to be amazed by the sophisticated applications of simple paper.

Enjoy your lunch in the elegant restaurant Uokane which features sweetfish, caught with a rod from the Niyodo River. You can learn about the fishmonger with a focus on sustainability.

After lunch, we cycle from Uokane to the mouth of the Niyodo River where it flows into the Pacific Ocean.
E-bike from Uokane to the mouth of the Niyodo River ~ Distance: 13.4 km | Time: 1:00 | Up: 80 m, Down: 90 m

We drive to Kameizumi Brewery, whose name means ‘the spring that never dries up’, where the master brewer takes us on a tour of the facilities and serves tastings of the brewery’s extensive lineup.

From the brewery, we drive to Kōchi city where we check into the Richmond Hotel.
Our last meal together is at Hirome Market, a lively food court where visitors and locals sit together at communal tables to enjoy the delicious fare which makes Kōchi the best place to eat in Japan.