Omishima Island

Omishima is an island roughly halfway along the Shimanami Kaido cycle route, making it an excellent place to stop and break the journey.

The Shimanami Kaido is a purpose-built cycle route that runs from Onomichi on Honshu Island to Imabari on Shikoku Island, traversing six small islands via a series of bridges. The 70 kilometre route offers gentle cycling and superb views over the Seto Inland Sea, and though it's easily tackled in a day, breaking it in two allows extra time for detours to explore the islands along the way.

About half-way through the journey, the island of Omishima is a great place to spend the night. On the opposite side of the island from the cycle route, facing out to sea, is the Toyo Ito Museum of Architecture. Housed in two striking buildings known as "Steel Hut" and "Silver Hut", the museum was designed by the 2013 Pritzker Prize winner, Toyo Ito, and hosts exhibits relating to his work and other themes in contemporary Japanese architecture. One of the themes of the museum is the revitalisation of rural Japanese communities through art and design: a very salient subject here in the Seto Islands!

Accommodation

Recommended Accommodation in Omishima Island

The following are our favourites from among the western-style hotels and Japanese-style inns of Omishima Island.

Omishima Island

Fujimien

Moderate

Featured trips including Omishima Island

Self-Guided Adventure

Art and the Seto Inland Sea (Superior)
- Kyoto
- Onomichi
- Omishima Island
- Takamatsu
- Naoshima
- Osaka
Discover Japan's artistic heart among the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.

14 nights: from US$5453 pp (twin share) Read more >

View more Self-Guided Adventures