Cycled the Shimanami Kaido, and Yamaguchi, Saga, Nagasaki etc.

[rbjhan]

The day started with a good breakfast!


Outside Hotel Beacon there's a terrace with views to the city and port.
Obviously I'd like a sunny day, but as long as it's not raining I'm happy!



These were students and cyclists lined up for the ferry to Mukaishima!
**Unlike all the other bridges, the one connecting Onomichi and Mukaishima was designed for cars only, so everyone takes the ferry here.

 

[rbjhan]

My planned route was a little different, I wanted to take the ferry directly to Setoda, then cycle the whole loop of Ikuchijima, up and over Tatara Bridge to Ehime (a bit), then back to Setoda and ferry back to Onomichi.

On the ferry
**Took about one hour, 1500 one way, plus 500 for the bike.


Started riding!

This is Ikuchi Bridge, I didn't ride it.


Somewhere on the eastern side of Ikuchijima.


Got up to Tatara Bridge!
This was where the extra power really came in handy The bridge itself is 1480m long. But I reckon the ramp leading up to it was about equal distance on either ends, at average maybe 3% incline.
**According to Google the clearance below is 26M.


The border between Hiroshima and Ehime.


Yeah technically I rode across two prefectures

 

[rbjhan]

As I was coming down Tatara Bridge, saw some very pretty Sakura.


Suddendly noticed some bikes parked at the road side...
Why people stopping here? I wonder...Naturally I also stopped

OOOOh there's an observation deck uphill!


OMG OMG

 

[rbjhan]

Just under the bridge there's Roadside Station Tatara Bridge.
I was starving so went straight for the most popular fried Tai burger!


Oishii 美味しい!


Finished the burger, I went to check out the souvenir shop and saw a proper restaurant insde! oh well...

"Cyclist Sancruary"


There were a few raindrops...so I kinda hurry afterwards....

 

[rbjhan]

Back up to the Tatara Bridge again.


Can you guess what's the local specialty here?




Setoda Sunset Beach


Back to Setoda Port.


Took the 3pm ferry to Onomichi, the rain had already arrived! Great timing...
Rode about 30KM, which was not too bad for me (the Capital City Trial is about the same distance in Mel..)

I really loved the experience, am already planning to come back
Next time I want to stayed 2 or 3 nights on the islands and take my time enjoy the scenery.

 

[rbjhan]

So the day before I already booked a private bath with the hotel and asked them to make a dinner reservation for me in a local izakaya

I was sitting at the counter, looking at all the seafood...


Obviously I started with a sashimi


Chawanmushi


Forgot the name of this one...let's call it fish head soup with noodles


Chirashi


Right behind me was a semi-private dining room. There were a big group of people talking in English, hmm they sounded familiar...later someone mentioned something something Lygon St, something something Collins St

 

[rbjhan]

Back to the hotel and my private bath!
After a day of cycling this was most needed.


This hotel has only 16 rooms so there's no public bath. Instead there are two private baths for rent, 2500/hour for hotel guests and 3500 for everyone else.
**If you just want a shower I think they are available at the Municipal bike rental station.

 

[rbjhan]

So, what to do on Friday seeing that it would rain and I had already done the cycling?
I was lounging in the armchair in my hotel room thinking about this...

Ah suddenly I had an idea!
As a train lover, I've done some research re the specialty trains in this region. Most of them run on weekends only, but there's one runs Fri to Mon!
Quickly ran downstairs to the ticket machine, checked, some tickets still available!
That's Friday afternoon sorted

 

[rbjhan]

Friday morning started with another good breakfast!


Fukuyama was a short train ride away.
Looking at my room window on the platform


Fukuyama Castle was right next to the JR Station! It doesn't get easier than that.

The rain had been on the whole night afaik...Sakura certainly took a hit.
So glad I had time to visit Senkoji Park on Day 1.


The original castle didn't survive WWII. So this one you see now is a rebuilt, not in the good way!
Inside it's just like any other building, if you've been to Osaka Castle - it's about the same. With much fewer people, ofc.

Top floor had some nice views though.


The cityscape.


There's even a fancy looking church nearby.

 

[rbjhan]

I was about to leave when I saw some leaflets, apparently the castle's northern side was renovated to its original state: covered by iron plates.
Oh that's interesting!

Almost looked like another castle


Info re the iron plates.


This angle was cool.

 

[rbjhan]

Nothing left of the Honmaru ofc (in any Japanese castle, Honmaru Goten 本丸御殿was the Daimyo's residence).
The only castle I've been where they rebuilt the Honmaru Goten was Nagoya Castle.



Main Gate of the Castle.


Now this is the Daimyo's bathhouse!
Damn the aristocrats and their fancy lifestyle


Some nice Sakura left in this area...


** I was really curious so went to check out the castle's website. Apparently you can rent the bathhouse at 1010 Yen per hour! Very reasonable rate? Ah but there are no bathing facilities in it now....The original bathhouse also didn't survive the war. Guess when it was being rebuilt they didn't bother too much since no daimyo now needing to bath here

For anyone's that's also curious:

貸会場について - 福山城博物館

貸会場について ご利用案内 団体利用・ 学校関係者の方へ 事前予約 バリアフリー対応状況 展覧会図録 博物館販売図書 貸会場について 友の会について お問合せ １　使用の申し込み 福山城では、月見櫓（1階 ... 貸会場について

fukuyamajo.jp

**In Japanese only, English page doesn't mention any of it.