Shodoshima

The Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海 Seto Naikai) is the body of water between the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. With countless islands crisscrossed by bridges and ferries, a warm climate and low rainfall, this is fertile territory for olives and citrus and is often described as "Japan's Mediterranean Sea". The whole surrounding area was designated as one of the first National Parks of Japan in 1934.

Islands

Depending on how you count, there are anywhere between 700 and 3000 islands in the Inland Sea, over 170 of which are inhabited. English naming is quite inconsistent, with the Japanese -shima/jima (島, "island") sometimes includes in the English name, sometimes not. Here are some of the better-known ones.

• East
  • 1 Awaji Island — Kansai's stepping stone to Shikoku
• Central
  • 2 Shodoshima — the island of olives
  • 3 Naoshima — devoted to contemporary art
  • 4 Inujima — a new centre of art.
  • 5 Teshima — yet another art-island.
  • 6 Shiraishijima — quiet beach island with an international villa
  • Megijima — AKA "Ogre Island".
  • Ogijima — picturesque, rocky island.
  • Honjima
  • Takamijima
  • Awashima
  • Ibukijima
• West -- Geiyo Islands (芸予諸島 Geiyo Shotō)
  • 7 Ikuchijima — Japan's Lemon Island, with a famously eccentric temple complex
  • Innoshima — famous for tangerine cultivation.
  • 8 Miyajima (Itsukushima) — famous for its shrine and "floating torii" gate
  • Omishima
  • 9 Ōsakishimojima — home to one of Japan's best-preserved yet least-visited historic town districts
  • Suooshima

Understand

Floating torii of Miyajima

Many of Japan's largest cities border the Inland Sea, and the countless small islands in the Sea are perfect for off-the-beaten-track exploration.

Get around

By boat

Boats are the natural way to travel around the sea. There are countless services, most running only short distances; check under your destination of interest for details.

By car

Major highways in the Seto Inland Sea. Yellow: Kobe-Awaji-Naruto. Green: Seto-Ōhashi. Red: Shimanami Kaido.

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, as seen from Awaji Island

After billions of dollars in construction works, the Seto Inland Sea is now crossed by no less than three stupendously huge bridges. From east to west:

• Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, with the longest suspended span in the world, between Akashi (off Kobe, Honshu) and Awaji
• Seto-Ōhashi Bridge, a set of ten bridges connected Kurashiki, Okayama (Honshu) to Sakaide, Kagawa (Shikoku)
• Shimanami Kaido, from Onomichi, Hiroshima (Honshu) to Imabari, Ehime (Shikoku) via seven bridges

By bicycle

The very popular Shimanami Kaido Bikeway crosses the seven bridges of the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi, Hiroshima (Honshu) to Imabari, Ehime (Shikoku). The 70km route can be covered in a single long day, but most travelers opt to split it in two. Bike rentals are widely available at both ends.

For a more off the beaten track alternative, the nearby Akinada Tobishima Kaido from Kure also hops from island to island. One end can be reached by ferry from Imabari, so the route can be combined with the Shimanami Kaido into a grand tour.

By train

The only train connection across the Inland Sea is via the Seto-Ohashi Bridge from Okayama to Takamatsu and onward. Services are fast and frequent, although no Shinkansen service is available.

See

Itineraries

• Shimanami Kaido Bikeway
• Akinada Tobishima Kaido