Feb 25, 2013 - 1 min read

Umashima on the Shimanami Kaido

The first little island on the Ehime side

By Anonymous

Community writer

Looking down on Umashima from the Kurushima Straits Bridge

A lift takes you and your bicycle or motorbike down to the island

An idyllic scene with a sandy cove with an island topped with both a shrine and a lighthouse

The lighthouse and shrine look rather good together

A little path takes you to another beach on the other side of the island

The current here is savage, so you wouldn't want to try swimming in it

Buddha watches over the ships and islands

The island is holey like a cheese, and you can pass right through it

Even in winter, the sun beats down and the flowers are beautiful

If you take the road past the little pond, you come to a concrete path that leads down to a palm-lined beach. You can have it pretty much to yourself

Umashima offers fine views of distant Mt. Ishizuchi with its snowy peaks

Wherever you are, the bridge is a constant presence

Umashima is the first little island on the Shimanami Kaido. It was once used for breeding war horses, but they didn't thrive on the steep slopes. Today it's a quiet place with little beaches and abundant bird life. Riding across the bridge to Umashima is an undemanding way to get a little taste of the Shimanami Kaido if you don't have time for anything longer. There are no shops or restaurants, so take your own fodder.

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