Thinking of a cycling getaway but still considering your destination options? If you want gloriously smooth roads with minimal traffic and great choices of riding terrain, look no further than Ehime in the northwest of Shikoku island in Japan.

 

Introduction to a series of travel videos: Episode 1  |  Episode 2  |  Episode 3  |  Episode 4  |
– by Rob Arnold 

 

It was an offer that was too good to refuse. “Would you be interested in being part of a cycling trip in Ehime in autumn?”

The answer came easily even if, before I hit ‘Reply’, I needed to first check the map of Japan and work out where or what Ehime was. With a tiny bit of research completed the return email was sent and one word was all I needed to offer. “Absolutely!”

Until that moment, I hadn’t really considered packing my bike and flying away from Australia in late-October. Spring in Sydney is, after all, a great time to ride a bike. The days are getting warmer, there are more daylight hours, and I know my way around my town well enough to be able to eke out a route that suits my cycling desires.

But the six-day itinerary of rides outlined by the tourism representative from the Ehime prefecture piqued my interest. Admittedly, I only really glanced at the possible schedule before replying to the email although this was enough to lure me in. I wanted to know more, and I’d always been curious about cycling in a country I’d visited a few times in the past.

I joined five other Australians for the trip that became an absolute highlight of my year. We arrived as strangers but after a week together – riding our bikes, taking in the sights, and enjoying some fantastic food along the way – we left as friends.

It was an experience that opened my eyes to a sensational place to ride a bike and although it was oh-so foreign to me when I landed, by the time I left one thing was already certain: I will be returning to Ehime with my bike and, all going well, even more time to explore.

 

– Scroll down the page to see the itinerary and the ‘Ride In Ehime’ video series. –

 

 

Summary of the Ehime experience

31 October – 5 November 2025 (click Strava links to see the routes)

  • Day 1: Around Yuge Island – 13.55km (179m elevation) Route on Strava
  • Day 2: Up the mountain / UFO Line – 98.52km (2,359m elevation) Route on Strava
  • Day 3: Shimohatanokawa to Takenoyabu – 84.65km (1,570m elevation) Route on Strava
  • Day 4: The Perfect Ride (Nakadomari to Yusu) – 80.88km (1,182m elevation) Route on Strava
  • Day 5: Rollercoaster along the coast – 86.61km (1,155m elevation) Route on Strava
  • Day 6: One last blast (Ozu to Tobe) – 69.98km (845m elevation) Route on Strava

 

 

Ride In Ehime // YouTube series

Episode 1

Introduction: arrival in Ehime (chapters)
  • Intro Background briefing
  • 00:45 “It’s the best of everything”
  • 02:30 Arrival in Japan
  • 03:13 Rain (day one)
  • 06:00 First ride (Yuge Island)
  • 06:50 Route for the ride
  • 09:55 Starting as strangers, friends by the end
  • 12:07 Finish of the ride

 

 

Episode 2

2nd ride – up the mountain (chapters)

 

Episode 3

2nd ride – UFO Line… and down (chapters)

 

Episode 4

3rd ride – Shikoku Karst (chapters)

 

Ehime is not exactly part of the traditional tourist route in Japan and that’s what makes it the ideal location for a cycling holiday. There are villages, towns and cities, all with plenty of interesting options for food and accomodation.

For the bike rider, there are plenty of extra elements that make it suitable for cycling: long, flat coastal roads, rolling terrain with stunning views in every direction, and stunning mountains that provide a challenge (on the way up) and an absolute thrill (on the way down). Making it even better should you choose to visit with your bike (or grab a rental while you’re there) is that everywhere we went during our visit had a distinct lack of traffic.

The Ehime prefecture is proud of its Blue Line. It’s a painted highlight that you can find – and follow – all over the region and it means that cyclists are not only welcome on the roads, but encouraged to be there.

For now, there are a few videos of the ‘Ride In Ehime’ series already posted on YouTube, with more still to come.

Click ‘play’ on the videos above and be sure to follow Ride Media on YouTube to see more from the series. It might have been a short visit but it was a most memorable week of riding, sightseeing, and camaraderie.

Our time in Ehime featured a range of weather conditions including a day of considerable rain that cut short one of the planned rides – the Shimanami-Kaido, which features stunning ocean backdrops and a series of huge bridge crossings… and is one of the most popular cycling routes in the region. It was mid-autumn when we were in Japan and while we would indeed get wet and cold during our first few adventures, by the end of the trip it was short-knicks weather.

Every ride was a treat and I hope the videos help showcase what makes Ehime so special, and so suitable for a cycling adventure.

 

– Rob