Seto Inland Sea Voyage Tips and guide

Contents

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.

Map of Seto Inland Sea

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
  • 34.383333134.8333331 Awaji Island — Kansai's stepping stone to Shikoku
• Central
  • 34.513611134.2855562 Shodoshima — the island of olives
  • 34.46133.9827783 Naoshima — devoted to contemporary art
  • 34.563611134.1016674 Inujima — a new centre of art.
  • 34.483333134.0666675 Teshima — yet another art-island.
  • 34.402778133.5216676 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)
  • 34.287556133.1079447 Ikuchijima — Japan's Lemon Island, with a famously eccentric temple complex
  • Innoshima — famous for tangerine cultivation.
  • 34.275556132.3077788 Miyajima (Itsukushima) — famous for its shrine and "floating torii" gate
  • Omishima
  • 34.1725132.8359 Ōsakishimojima — home to one of Japan's best-preserved yet least-visited historic town districts
  • Suooshima

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

• Shimanami Kaido Bikeway
• Akinada Tobishima Kaido