Date: 30 Apr, 2019
Time: 12:00pm
Weather: 13C cloudy
Distance: 6km / oneway
Course type: bridge
Elevation: 42m, mostly flat
Traffic Light: none
Start Point: Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road Imabari Entrance
Access: 20 mins by bus from JR Imabari Station
Comments:
- Shimanami Kaido is the most famous cycling route in Japan, it's around 70km long, composing of 7 bridges crossing islands from Onomichi of Honshu to Imabari of Shikoku. Apart from cycling, it's also a great course for running.
- Kurushima Bridge is the longest bridge along Shimanami Kaido, and it's the first one from Imabari side, so the access is good from Shikoku.
- If you are enthusiastic about running, you might try running the whole 70km route by dividing it into 2-3 days. There are small guesthouses you can stay on the islands.
This is where I started to run, runner and cyclist go for left, and motor bike go for right.
This is the winding path and the start point is at the left bottom part, you run in a circle then come up to where I took this picture.
Arrived at the bridge, there is clear distance sign every 1km, showing you the distance to final point (Onomichi or Imabari) & the closest view check point.
Even though the sky was not blue, the sea is so blue on that day, picture taken up from the bridge.
It's really rare to see people running in Shimanami Kaido, so I was so happy to pass by him!
The big information board of Shimanami Kaido in the middle of the bridge.
I am 65km to Onomichi! Why don't you put a runner mark too...?
Approaching the end of Kurushima Bridge, and this is the perfect circle path to bring us down to Oshima, the first island along Shimanami Kaido.
running down a perfect curve, feel so good, I wish it's not a cloudy day though.
A good view of the bridge, and the private clear beach underneath.
After coming down from the bridge and passed the circle path, entering the path leading to Oshima Island.
View of seaside houses along the beach of Oshima from the downhill slope.
gradually running down to the beach of Oshima, of course you will see a lot of cyclist along the way.
Arriving the seaside of Oshima, turn left for Onomichi direction, turn right for running around Oshima Island. I turned left.
This is where I stopped the run at 6km, I arrived at a souvenir store called Iki-iki Kan, there are toilets, shops, restaurants, and also a pier for taking sightseeing boat to see Kurushima Sea Strait. After lunch I then walked back to start point via the bridge.
Comments