A Seaside Pause Halfway Through the Shimanami Kaido
Amenities
- Ocean-View Accommodation
- Seafront Café
- Fishing Experiences (Paid)
- SUP Activities (Paid)
- Cycling Support Services
- Laundry Facilities
- Private Bathtub in Residence
We arrived at WAKKA on Omishima after a much longer day on the bikes than we had planned. We were cycling the Shimanami Kaido from Imabari to Onomichi, with a detour to Kirosan Observation Deck that brought spectacular views, a rain delay and several hours of riding still ahead of us.
We had booked the Ocean-View Residence and left a full day between our two cycling days. That gave us time to go fishing, try stand-up paddleboarding and enjoy a seafood dinner in our own kitchen. WAKKA became one of the main experiences of the trip.
Stay at WAKKA
An adventurous ocean-view stay on Omishima with fishing, paddleboarding and Setouchi seafood, plus time to recharge halfway along the Shimanami Kaido.
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The view across to Tatara Bridge from WAKKA.
The reception and café building.
A warm welcome inside.
Where We Stayed — Ocean-View Residence
Our room at WAKKA was the Ocean-View Residence, a private house with its own kitchen, washing machine and soaking tub. After traveling with just our overnight essentials, having space to unpack and wash clothes was particularly welcome.
There was Snow Peak camping gear and cooking equipment, which fitted the outdoor setting. We also borrowed a massage gun during our stay. After a day of bridge ramps and our Kirosan climb, that got more attention than it might have on a normal hotel trip.
Coffee with a view of Tatara Bridge from our Residence.
The Imabari towel roomwear was another favorite. Putting it on after a bath and staying in for dinner felt like a very good way to spend an evening halfway through a cycling trip.
This is the room category we experienced, so it is the one we can describe firsthand. WAKKA also offers cottages, dome tents, bunk rooms and trailer accommodation. Compare the facilities for the category you choose, especially the bathroom arrangements. A tent or bunk-room stay will be a different experience from the private Residence.
See the Residence layout and facilities ↗
Our ocean-view Residence.
A proper kitchen, with coffee equipment ready to go.
The Residence has its own bathtub.
Twin beds and warm wood finishes.
A borrowed massage gun after a day on the bike.
Why We Stayed on Omishima
Omishima gave us a natural place to break up the journey. Instead of treating the Shimanami Kaido as a distance to finish as quickly as possible, we wanted time to enjoy the islands we were riding through. Staying at WAKKA meant we could stop cycling for a day and get out onto the Seto Inland Sea.
The setting also gave us a view of what was coming next. From WAKKA, we could look toward Tatara Bridge, which we would cross when we continued toward Onomichi. Seeing it from the café and then riding across it the following day made the route feel more connected.
Our late arrival is the part we would change. A relaxed itinerary still needs an early enough start, especially if you want to add a steep sightseeing detour. We missed some of the scenery by riding after dark. Next time, we would give ourselves more daylight and get to the hotel with time to settle in.
Fishing with a Guide
We were back up early the next morning for fishing. Daisuke, a local from Omishima, was our guide. After a short ride to the dock, we found the boat and equipment ready for us. He spoke English, which made it easy to get started.
As our fishing session was nearing the end, we caught a tai fish! We had not exactly become expert anglers in an hour, but we were very happy to have a fish to bring back. WAKKA prepared it for our dinner that evening.
That connection between the morning’s activity and the evening’s meal made the experience memorable. If you want to do the same, ask about the fishing trip and the arrangements for preparing a catch when you book. The outcome on the water is part of the adventure.
A tai caught during our guided fishing trip.
Time out on the calm Seto Inland Sea.
Our First Time Paddleboarding
Later that day, we went stand-up paddleboarding. It was our first time trying it, and we got the hang of it fairly quickly. Daisuke guided us toward the small uninhabited island of Kojojima and even took some action shots of us along the way.
He had brought snacks too, so the outing felt like a little island adventure. We spent some time swimming and saw jellyfish and stingrays in the water. Getting out onto the sea gave us a completely different view of the islands we had been cycling across.
This is where we were especially glad we had left a full day at WAKKA. Fishing and paddleboarding would have been a lot to squeeze around a long cycling leg. Having a separate day let us enjoy both without constantly checking when we needed to get back on the road.
A swimming break beside our boards, with Tatara Bridge behind us.
The sheltered launch where our boards were waiting.
A Setouchi Seafood Dinner in Our Kitchen
We had a Japanese seafood dinner brought to our Residence that evening. After the previous night’s convenience-store feast, sitting down to a meal in our own kitchen felt particularly good.
The dishes included crab, shellfish and the tai from our fishing trip, served as sashimi. Its gentle, slightly sweet flavor was a highlight, especially knowing how it had arrived on our table.
One dish came as a wafer that opened into soup when we poured boiling water over it. Dessert was vanilla custard wrapped in mochi and bamboo leaves, one of our favorite things we ate on the whole trip. We finished the evening with local beers from the fridge.
WAKKA currently describes a Japanese seafood meal delivered to the Residence. Confirm your dinner plan when reserving, particularly if you want the same style of meal!
A seafood dinner brought to our Residence.
Cooked fish alongside the sashimi.
Custard-filled mochi wrapped in a bamboo leaf.
Breakfast and Planning Your Meals
Our first night at WAKKA showed why dinner deserves a little planning here. By the time we arrived, we were too late to go out for a proper meal, so FamilyMart became dinner. That worked for us, but we would rather have arrived earlier.
We also found that restaurant hours shown on Google Maps were not always reliable on the islands. Having hotel staff help check what was open was useful. If you plan to eat elsewhere on Omishima, ask about restaurant options and any shuttle arrangements before setting off.
Breakfast at the café, with a croissant, salad, fruit and iced coffee.
The café looks out towards the sea.
Pour-over coffee back in our Residence.
Useful Support for a Cycling Trip
WAKKA is worth knowing about even if you are still deciding where to sleep. During our visit, we saw shower and laundry facilities, a place to rest on tatami and the café overlooking the water. Those are practical comforts when you have spent several hours on a bike.
Our Residence had its own washing machine, but other accommodation categories use different facilities. Check what is included with your booking rather than assuming every room has the same setup.
WAKKA also offers cycling support, including transport for riders and bicycles. We did not use its pickup service on this trip, but it is helpful to know who to contact if tiredness, weather or a change of plans interrupts your ride. Check availability and the fare directly with WAKKA.
Cyclist and bicycle transport information ↗
WAKKA’s cycle taxi can carry bikes on the roof.
Shaded terrace seating overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.
Shared laundry facilities for a refresh between cycling days.
Would We Stay for One Night or Two?
If you simply need a comfortable stop between cycling days, one night may fit your route. For the kind of stay we had, we would choose two nights again. Arriving one evening, keeping the next day free and cycling onward the following morning gave us time to enjoy WAKKA itself.
The extra day was active, with fishing and SUP, but it gave us a break from covering distance. We could have a bath, do laundry and enjoy dinner without packing everything up again that same afternoon.
We would particularly recommend considering WAKKA if you want a Shimanami trip that includes time on the water. If your main priority is a lower-cost bed before an early start, compare the bunk-room option and other island accommodation. The Residence was a bigger part of our trip budget, and we made time to enjoy it.
Other accommodation sits among the greenery.
Continuing Toward Onomichi
WAKKA sent us off with electrolyte candy, then we were back on the bikes for the second cycling day. We stopped at the Omishima rental terminal to exchange the batteries on our rental bikes before heading toward Tatara Bridge. Rental systems and battery arrangements depend on the bicycle you book, so confirm those details with your operator.
From there, our journey continued across the remaining islands and ended with the ferry into Onomichi. We stayed at HOTEL CYCLE inside ONOMICHI U2, giving us a very different finish to the island stay.
Our Shimanami Kaido guide covers the wider journey, including bike rentals, route planning and overnight stops. WAKKA is the place we would build into that itinerary when we wanted time to enjoy Omishima instead of cycling straight through.
Before You Book
- Choose the room category carefully. We stayed in the Ocean-View Residence with a private kitchen, washing machine and bathtub.
- Keep time for the activities. A full day between cycling legs made fishing and SUP much easier to enjoy.
- Arrange dinner. Confirm meals and any dietary requirements in advance, especially if you expect a late arrival.
- Book experiences ahead. Check the guide language, weather arrangements and current activity prices.
- Plan the practical details. Confirm bicycle returns, luggage forwarding and any transfers with the relevant provider.
Our Shimanami Kaido Trip
See our WAKKA stay in the video, including the Residence, fishing, paddleboarding and seafood dinner.
Read Our Shimanami Kaido Guide →Getting to WAKKA
WAKKA is at 6691-1 Inokuchi, Kamiuracho, Imabari, Ehime 794-1402, on Omishima. We arrived by bicycle while riding from Imabari toward Onomichi.
If you are arriving without a bike, contact WAKKA about the transfer options for your journey. Its hotel information lists pickup and drop-off arrangements for Omishima bus stop, the Kamiura bicycle rental terminal and Sakari Port. Confirm the meeting point and timing directly before traveling.