Tobishima Kaido: Driving Hiroshima’s Quiet Island Chain to the Old Port of Mitarai

Quick answer: The Tobishima Kaido is a chain of seven bridges linking five main islands south-east of Kure, ending at Okamura Island in Ehime. It’s much less known than the Shimanami Kaido. The highlight is Mitarai, an Edo-period port town on Osakishimojima, about 1 hour 10 minutes from Kure IC. Only the first bridge (the Akinada Bridge) has a toll — ¥730 for a car. The old direct bus from Hiroshima has been discontinued, so a car (or a bicycle) is by far the easiest way. There’s no bridge to the Shimanami Kaido: you’ll need a ferry from Okamura.

My family is from Hiroshima, and I’ve driven the Tobishima Kaido across the islands and walked the old streets of Mitarai. If you liked Onomichi or Takehara, Mitarai is another well-preserved Inland Sea port town.

The route

The road crosses seven bridges, island by island:

From the Akinada Bridge to Okamura is only about 30 km, but with stops it easily fills a day.

Toll: only the Akinada Bridge charges: ¥730 for a standard car, ¥570 for a kei car. Bicycles and pedestrians cross free. The other six bridges are free.

Getting there

By car (easiest): from Kure IC, it’s about 30 minutes to the Akinada Bridge and about 1 hour 10 minutes to Mitarai. This is how I’ve done it. See Renting a Car in Shikoku — the same tips apply in Hiroshima.

By bus: the direct “Tobishima Liner” bus from Hiroshima Bus Center was discontinued in 2024, though some older guides still mention it. Today you take the JR Kure Line to Hiro Station, then a local bus across the islands to Osakishimojima (about an hour to Mitarai). Buses are infrequent, so check the timetable carefully.

By bicycle: the route has few hills and little traffic, and rental bikes (including e-bikes, from ¥1,500 for 3 hours) are available near the Akinada Bridge. Book ahead.

Stops along the way

Shimo-kamagari: Shotoen

Just across the first bridge, the old port of Sannose was where Korean envoys stopped on their way to Edo. Shotoen is a garden with small museums about the envoys and a collection of Imari porcelain.

• Admission: ¥800. Closed Tuesdays. 9:00–17:00.
• About 40 minutes from Kure IC. Free parking.

Kami-kamagari: Kenmin no Hama

A 400-metre sandy beach with a hot spring, accommodation and an observatory — one of Japan’s officially listed “100 best beaches”. A good place to stop in summer.

Osakishimojima: Mitarai

Mitarai is the main sight. From the 1600s, sailing ships waiting for the right tide and wind stopped here, and the town grew with inns, merchant houses and teahouses. Today its narrow lanes of old wooden buildings are a nationally protected historic district.

I’ve walked the streets of Mitarai myself. Look for:

• The old stone harbour wall and lighthouse.
• Narrow lanes of Edo- and Meiji-era houses, some now cafés and small shops.
• A clock shop and other old shopfronts that have barely changed.

Practical: there’s a small free car park (about 20 spaces) near the town. A volunteer guide can show you around (¥3,000; book a week ahead, in Japanese).

Osakishimojima is also known for Ocho mikan, the island’s citrus.

Okamura (Ehime)

The last bridge crosses into Ehime Prefecture. Okamura is a small, quiet island with a ferry port.

Connecting to the Shimanami Kaido

There’s no bridge between the Tobishima Kaido and the Shimanami Kaido. From Okamura port:

• Ferry to Munakata (Omishima) — a Shimanami Kaido island — about 5 sailings a day.
• Ferry to Imabari — about 4 sailings a day, about 1 hour. No cars on this route; bicycles are fine.

If you’re driving, you’ll normally come back the way you came. Check before you plan a car route through Okamura. See Shimanami Kaido: Bike or Car? and Taking Your Car on Shimanami Kaido Ferries.

Tips

• Fill up and stock up before you cross. It’s a rural island route; don’t count on finding everything you need on the way.
• Allow a full day from Kure, or combine it with a night nearby.
• Combine it with Kure — the Akinada Bridge starts just east of the city.

FAQ

How long does it take to drive the Tobishima Kaido?
About 1 hour 10 minutes from Kure IC to Mitarai, without stops. Allow a full day with stops.

Is the Tobishima Kaido free?
Only the Akinada Bridge has a toll (¥730 for a car). The other bridges are free.

Is there a bus from Hiroshima?
Not a direct one any more. Take the JR Kure Line to Hiro, then a local bus.

Can I drive from the Tobishima Kaido to the Shimanami Kaido?
There’s no bridge. Ferries run from Okamura to Omishima and Imabari; the Imabari ferry doesn’t carry cars.

Tolls, access and ferry information checked on official Hiroshima Prefecture tourism and Kure City sources on 25 October 2026.

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.