Cycling in Ehime: A Guide to Ainan’s Best Scenic Routes & Coastal View

Ainan Town is a small town with a population of about 18,000 located at the southernmost tip of Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku. There is no train service, and it takes about two and a half hours to get there from the nearest Matsuyama Airport, making it one of the farthest towns from Japan's capital, Tokyo. However, Ainan Town has many tourist spots that even Japanese people don't know about.

In this article, we will introduce a model cycling course for touring the lesser-known tourist spots of Ainan Town.

• Table of Contents
• Ainan Town Cycling: Where to Rent a Bike 
• Essential Cycling Rules & Road Safety in Japan 
• One-Day Coastal Cycling Itinerary 
• Enjoy the Scenic views of Ainan Town 

Ainan Town Cycling: Where to Rent a Bike 

Bicycles can be rented from the Ainan Town Tourism Association located in Minami-Rek Misao Park. E-bikes are recommended for long rides or when climbing steep hills.

Follow the rules and enjoy safe and fun cycling!

Operating hours: 9:00-17:00
Regular bicycles are 500 yen, electrically assisted bicycles are 1,000 yen, and E-BIKEs are 1,000 yen for 4 hours and 2,000 yen for 8 hours.

Find out more about Ainan Town

Essential Cycling Rules & Road Safety in Japan 

To enjoy cycling safely and with peace of mind, it is important to follow traffic rules. Below are some basic rules.

1. Principles and exceptions for riding on the road

The general rule is to ride on the road : keep to the left. On roads where there is a distinction between the sidewalk and the road, ride on the left edge of the road.

2. Rules at intersections

Obey traffic lights and stop signs : At intersections with traffic lights, obey the traffic lights.

3. Obligation to Drive Safely

Nighttime Lights : Headlights and taillights (or reflectors) must be on at night.

No drinking and driving : You must not drive while under the influence of alcohol.

4. Prohibited matters

Prohibition of riding with two people (riding beyond the capacity) : As a general rule, riding with two people is prohibited. Also, two or more vehicles must not be driven side by side. Violation of the safe driving obligation : Driving while holding an umbrella, using a mobile phone, or using headphones or other devices that prevent you from hearing surrounding sounds is prohibited.

One-Day Coastal Cycling Itinerary 

9:00 Depart from Ainan Town Tourism Association

So let's take a bicycle trip around this town surrounded by blue seas and lush mountains.

9:30 Arrive at the Shiden Kai Exhibition Hall

The Shiden Kai fighter plane is the only one still in existence in Japan. It was discovered in Kura Bay in 1978 and is displayed as a symbol of hope for lasting peace. You can get a close look at this legendary fighter plane.

10:30 Arrive at Ishigaki Village

The cultural landscape of Sotodomari Ishigaki Village remains. Stone walls have been neatly stacked to a height that reaches up to the eaves of the houses to protect them from seasonal winds and typhoons, creating a unique and rare sight unique to this village. This landscape has even won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the past.

11:00 Lunch at Oshita Minshuku

Once you're feeling a little tired, enjoy the delicious seafood of Ainan Town. With your body and mind satisfied, head to Cape Takamo.

13:00 Arrive at Takamo Cape

Once you reach the top of the hill, you will come across Takamo Cape, where cliffs over 100 meters high continue, covered in lush greenery. On clear days, you can see as far as Kyushu, and every year around mid-November, you can see hawks gliding through the clear sky and wild chrysanthemums in full bloom. With a spectacular view of the sea and blue sky, it is also famous as Ainan Town's most Instagrammable spot.

15:00 Arrival of the Saikai sightseeing boat

Much of the sea around Ainan Town is designated as part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. With exceptional transparency and a large population of colorful corals and tropical fish, it has attracted many divers. With Sea Walker, no diving license is required, so everyone from children to adults can enjoy the extraordinary experience of walking on the seabed.
Every hour on the hour, a boat departs to see the ocean floor. Take a break from cycling and explore the underwater world!

16:30 Arrive at Ainan Town Tourism Association

The trip ends with a leisurely stroll along the coast at dusk. The sky and sea are dyed orange, and the light sparkling between the waves creates a mystical sway. The beauty of this scene makes you want to come back again.

Enjoy the Scenic views of Ainan Town 

The course introduced this time is a course where you can fully enjoy the distinctive scenery of Ainan Town. If you want to see the original landscape of Japan, be soothed by Japanese nature, or visit places that even Japanese people don't know about, then be sure to enjoy cycling in Ainan Town!

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