The islands of Oshima, Hakatajima, and Omishima float in the Seto Inland Sea along the Shimanami Kaido. Not only will you find long-established Japanese-style inns, guesthouses, and hotels, but new accommodations are continuously opening. These include different types such as cycling hostels, glamping facilities, and cottages. Many offer an ocean view, so you’re sure to have an exceptional overnight experience.

Imabari is the starting point on the Shikoku side of the Shimanami Kaido. There are plenty of hotels of varying types and price ranges concentrated in the vicinity of JR Imabari Station. If you venture a little way from the city center, there are hot springs such as Nibukawa Onsen and Yunoura Onsen. This makes it possible to plan a trip to thoroughly enjoy hot springs in the mountains, the sea, and the many floating islands. Many hotels offer money-saving plans for cyclists, so be sure to check them out.

The JR Yosan Line cuts across this area and runs along the coast. There are many hotels around major stations, including Kawanoe, Iyomishima, Niihama, and Iyosaijo. We recommend Iyosaijo Station as a base for travel because there is a bus to Mt. Ishizuchi hiking trails that departs from there. The station also provides easy access to major cities in Ehime such as Imabari and Matsuyama.

Hotels are numerous in central Matsuyama, which is the largest city in Shikoku. You won’t have trouble finding an accommodation since there are many inns in the vicinity of the Okaido area on the south side of Matsuyama Castle and in the Dogo Onsen area. However, you won’t feel inconvenienced no matter where you stay since central Matsuyama and Dogo Onsen are just ten minutes or so away by bus or streetcar. You’ll enjoy such a diverse range of lodging that you’ll have trouble choosing one.

There are numerous historical buildings preserved in the Uchiko/Ozu area, and many spots where you can experience fantastic overnight stays that make use of those buildings. Not only are there facilities that have renovated old houses and that let you rent an entire house, but amazingly in Ozu you can also stay in Ozu Castle, an important cultural property.

This area is in the vicinity of Sadamisaki Peninsula, the narrowest peninsula in Japan that juts out on the westernmost tip of Shikoku. While there isn’t an array of accommodations, there are several hotels and Japanese-style inns scattered in central Yawatahama and Japanese-style inns and guesthouses in Ikata. You can enjoy local seafood while connecting with local people at a quiet accommodation surrounded by the sea.

There are various types of accommodations, primarily hotels, in the city of Uwajima, the largest castle town in the Nanyo area, so you won’t have any trouble finding lodging. Further south along the rias coastline in the town of Ainan accommodations are few, but you’ll find hotels, Japanese-style inns, and guesthouses.

The Shikoku Karst is on a plateau 1,000–1,485 m above sea level straddling Ehime and Kochi prefectures. This area, far from the urban region, has a landscape of exposed limestone rock and grassland. However, even here you’ll find hotels, Japanese-style inns, and lodges sprinkled about, so you can stay overnight. The air is clean and free of buildings, so at night the expansive, beautiful starry sky stretches out above.