Awaji Island, a bicycle tour of the myth of the birth of Japan

Shimanami Kaido, a cycling route that runs through the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, is world famous for cycling in Japan, but actually there is also a beautiful cycling course with ocean views in Awaji Island. Its name is “Awaichi”. Among several cycling paths, I will introduce some of the model courses that are easy even for beginners.

Let’s go on a journey to encounter unique scenery that can only be seen by bicycle and the myths of Awaji Island !

Have you heard of “Awaichi”, a cycling course with a spectacular view ?

The monument located at Awaichi’s starting point (* it’s different from the place where you can rent your bicycle)

Awaichi is a cycling course allowing you to go all around Awaji Island. The length of Awaji Island’s coastline is about 150km. Since the course has moderate ups and downs and has changing sceneries, even the most serious cyclist would be able to be satisfied!

However, it’s not easy to run 150 km. If you want to complete it in one day, you need to cycle for 10 hours straight.

There is a variety of courses available, from beginner courses to advanced courses, so that every traveler can choose depending on their itinerary. Therefore, please choose the course that suits your travel plans and your fitness level best.

Please check out here if you want to know more about each course!

https://www.awajishima-kanko.jp/cycling/en/modelcourse.html

Later, I will introduce the “Izanagi course” as a short distance course that is easy for beginners.

How to rent a bicycle and points to keep in mind

Inside the store CYCLISM AWAJI

Renting a bicycle is an essential part of cycling at a travel destination. Even though you can rent your bicycle at tourist information centers and other places on the island, we recommend foreign visitors to visit “CYCLISM AWAJI”, a bicycle rental shop that has an English website.

You can get a cycling course map in English at tourist information centers and “CYCLISM AWAJI”.

Here, more than 80 TREK bicycles, which are loved by cyclists all over the world, are available. Other than cross bikes and road bikes, there are six types of bicycles for rent, including bicycles for children and E-BIKEs with electric assistance. A wide range of sizes is available depending on the rider’s height and morphology.

To get to “CYCLISM AWAJI”, take the “Oiso” highway bus from Kobe (this is a different route from the highway bus going to Sumoto).

For directions to the store :

You should make a reservation in advance through the official website. Fill in the application form with the scheduled time of your visit and the type of bicycle you want to rent. On site, the store staff will give you a lecture on how to handle the bicycle and will adjust it to your height.

Prices vary depending on the type of bike you rent. For example, cross bikes start at 2,300 yen for 2 hours and up to 3,300 yen for a full day (until 18:00 pm). Prices include consumption tax, a bicycle insurance, a helmet, a lock, front and back lights, and a flat tire repair set.

For those who are not used to riding a bike, electric bicycles are recommended.

You can rent the necessary items for cycling at the store, but you should prepare your clothing yourself. It doesn’t have to be an authentic cycling wear, but you cannot ride your bike if you are wearing skirts or dresses due to high risk of accidents. Wear pants that are easy to move around in.

Information on how to use the bicycles

When cycling on a trip, you may worry that your bicycle might break or you may get injured. Even if you are careful, there are always dangers when you are in a new place and new roads for the first time. At “CYCLISM AWAJI”, you can exchange messages with the store staff by downloading a message application such as LINE or WeChat in advance.

Since the store staff are experts on the cycling courses of Awaji Island, you can ask them for advice on routes too!

Going around the Mythical Birthplace of Japan

Next, I will introduce to you the “Izanagi Course”, a cycling course recommended for beginners.

Izanagi Course is a route that goes around Awaji Island’s mythical spots.

https://www.awajishima-kanko.jp/cycling/en/modelcourse_3.html

The course’s total distance is 55.8km, and it circles the northern part of Awaji Island (Iwaya Port, Gunge, Shizuki, Ura, etc.). It takes about 4 hours to complete the course, but there are many sightseeing spots along the course, so you should consider allowinf for 5 to 6 hours if you plan to make stops along the way.

“Izanagi” in the course name refers to Izanaginomikoto, one of the two deities who are said to have created the nation of Japan. Izanagi, together with his wife Izanami, stirred up the sea with a sacred spear and created the Japanese archipelago. It is said that Awaji Island was the first of the Japanese islands to have been created !

Izanagi Shrine

Izanagi Shrine, dedicated to the two gods that gave birth to Japan, is located on the route of the Izanagi Course. Taga in Awaji city, where the shrine is located, is said to be the place where Izanaginomikoto spent the rest of his life, and Izanagi Shrine was built on this sacred land. The shrine has gained people’s respect and faith for a long time.

Anyone can freely visit the shrine, but since it is a sacred place, visitors should follow the rules and manners of worship.

First, purify your hands and mouth at the temizuya (purification fountain), and purify your body and mind. When praying, follow the "2 bows, 2 claps, 1 bow" rule. This involves bowing deeply twice, clapping twice, and then bowing again. Do not speak loudly within the shrine grounds, and be respectful of the sacred place. When praying, please follow these rules and offer your heartfelt gratitude and prayers.

At first, purify your body and mind by cleansing your hands and mouth at the "Temizuya" fountain. When visiting the shrine, perform “2 bows - 2 claps - 1 bow”. This means you need to bow deeply twice, clap your hands twice, and bow once again. Do not speak loudly on the shrine's grounds, and be respectful of the sacred place.

Also, there are prohibited areas, so be careful not to enter such areas.

Eshima

There is another place in the Izanagi Course that is associated with the myth of the birth of Japan. Eshima, which is located at the northern tip of Awaji Island, is one of the islands which is thought to be “Onokoro Island”. “Onokoro Island” is the earliest island born around Awaji Island in the myth of the birth of Japan.

Experiencing culture of Awaji Island. A bicycle trip making a fun stop over

When you actually ride around the “Izanagi Course”, you will be impressed by the pleasant sea breeze and the townscape and scenery unique to Awaji Island!

Even though it’s an ocean-view cycling course, the seaside scenery differs greatly depending on the place. From a resort-like ocean view with palm trees to a fishing port with many fishing boats coming and going and a beautiful view of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, changing coastlines as you ride make the ride worth the effort.

It is one of the bicycle’s appeals that you can easily stop by whenever you find a store or back alley that interests you.

The retro cityscape is captivating

For example, at Michi-no-eki (roadside station) Awaji, you can go right under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which connects Honshu (main part of Japan) and Awaji Island, and take a break while watching the peaceful scenery of fishing boats passing by.

One of the spots where you can get in touch with the culture of Awaji Island along the west coast is “Nojima Scuola”, a complex facility that uses a closed elementary school, where you can meet with Awaji's food culture.

Facade of Nojima Scuola

Inside Nojima Scuola, there is a market where you can buy fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the area and other local products, a café, and a restaurant. The bakery on the first floor is a popular place for locals!

At the café, try the salad buffet of Awaji grown vegetables. All the vegetables are surprisingly flavorful and fresh!

At the end of the cycling course, recover from your journey in an infinity hot spring with a spectacular view

Relaxing in a hot spring while overlooking the spectacular view of the ocean is exceptional

The natural hot spring water from underground will heal your body from the core

After returning your bicycle at CYCLISM AWAJI, I recommend going to the superb bathing facilities of Aquaignis Awajishima, located on the same premises. Here, you can enjoy the scenery of the sea while soaking in a natural hot spring. The view from the open-air baths is particularly spectacular, and you can relax while being surrounded by the beauty of nature. Heal your body after all this hard cycling, and also relax through a moment of pure bliss.

Another great feature of this facility is that in some facilities you can bathe in the open-air baths (Infinity Hot Springs) with spectacular views while wearing a swimsuit or Yuamigi*. As it is a swimsuit, it is an easy hot spring to try even for those who are not used to bathing in Japanese hot springs, so please take this opportunity to visit.

One of the main characteristics of this facility is that in one of the spots you can use the open-air bath (infinity hot springs) with a spectacular view by wearing swimsuits or Yuamigi*. Since you wear a swimsuit, it makes it easier for those who are not used to bathing in Japanese hot springs to try out. Please take this opportunity to visit and see for yourself.

*Yuamigi…A lightweight bathing gown you wear in onsen and open-air baths. They are provided at many onsen facilities to enjoy a relaxing bathing experience while maintaining privacy.

The Real Awaji Island Seen Only by Bicycle

 A Ferris Wheel suddenly appearing in the back of an alley. A scene typical of Awaji Island, which has many tourist attractions.

The cycling course follows the main road, but if you have time I recommend going off course and visiting the back alleys. Of course, drive slowly and safely in residential areas!

Local people happily shopping together

The old shopping streets and fishing ports are filled with the leisurely pace of life of the people living there.

Women chatting, fishermen working silently, plants being looked after by someone, and stray cats... You can feel the warmth of people's lives in these ordinary town scenes. Before you know it, you'll feel like you've already become a resident of Awaji Island in your heart!

The sight of women standing around talking, fishermen working in silence, plants and stray cats being cared for by someone. In these ordinary scenes of the town, you can get a feeling of the locals' day-to-day life. You will feel as if you have already become a resident of Awaji Island!

Please experience the excitement only a bicycle trip can provide.

CYCLISM AWAJI

  Address：2-28 Yumebutai Awaji-city Hyogo-prefecture 656-2306 Inside Aquaignis Awajishima (Google map）  

Business hours: 

(February to the end of September) Weekend/National holiday　7:30〜18:00, Weekdays　8:00〜18:00

(October to the end of January) Weekend/National holiday　7:30〜17:00, Weekdays 8:00〜17:00

※Please return your bicycle 1 hour prior to the closing time

Closed on：variable

Website：https://www.cyclism-awaji.com/english-page/

Michi-no-eki (Roadside station) Awaji

Address：1873-1 Iwaya Awaji-city Hyogo-prefecture 656-2401（Google map）

Businee hours：Weekend/National holiday　9:00～17:30、Weekdays　9:30～17:30 （Until 17:00 on weekdays of December～February）

※Restaurant Kaikyorou 11:00～17:30

Website (Japanese only)： http://michi-awaji.co.jp/

Nojima Scuola

Address：843 Nojima Hikinoura Awaji-city Hyogo-prefecture 656-1721（Google map）

Business hours：10:00〜19:30

※Closing time differs depending on the store

Closed on Wednesdays

Website：https://nojima-scuola.com/

Aquaignis Awajishima

Address：2-28 Yumebutai Awaji-city Hyogo-prefecture 656-2306（Google map）

Business hours：Izanagi hot spring / Izanami hot spring（Hot spring facility）8:00 ～ 22:00

Closed on the same day as the regular holidays of Awaji Island National Akashi Kaikyo Park

Website：https://aquaignis-awaji.jp/spa.php