Awaichi: Complete Guide to Cycling Around Awaji Island (2026 Edition)

The Essence of Awaichi

150km (93 miles), 1,100m (3,609 feet) elevation gain, 11 hours riding time.

Add to that: Onokoro Park, Dragon Quest landmarks, mystery parks, onions, Hello Kitty, ferries... and you have the essence of Awaichi.

The "※※-Ichi" Cycling Tradition

In Japan, cycling around a specific region is called "※※-ichi" (one lap). The 6 Great Ichi are:

1. Awaichi — Awaji Island loop
2. Biwaichi — Lake Biwa loop
3. Hamaichi — Hamana Lake loop
4. Fuji-ichi — Mount Fuji circumnavigation
5. Izu-ichi — Izu Peninsula loop
6. Kasu-ichi — Kasumigaura Lake loop

Other variations exist: Shikoku loop (Shiko-ichi), Seto Inland Sea loop (Seto-ichi), Shodoshima loop (Mameichi).

I took a trip around Hokkaido, covering approximately 2500km.

In my home region of Kansai, two Great Ichi stages exist: Awaji Island and Lake Biwa. I've completed both Awaichi and Biwaichi twice each—all as relaxed two-day, one-night cycling trips.

This article introduces a beginner-friendly Awaichi report.

Awaichi Basic Information

Awaji Island is the largest island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. Its specialty product is onions. There are no trains on the island—access is by car or ship.

Awaichi Distance

Kansai cyclists can recite the distances of Awaichi and Biwaichi from memory. Awaichi is 150km, Biwaichi is 200km.

This is near Iwaya, the starting point of Awaichi. On the left sign you can see "0/150km" written.

By the way, the car exit onto the island is Awaji Island IC about 1km inland from here. Other landing points include Naruto in the south of the island and Sumoto via temporary ferry from Fuke, Osaka.

No matter where you place the starting point, cycling around Awaji Island precisely gives you 150km of riding distance. Furthermore, according to stamina or time, using shortcuts can shorten it to 50km or 100km courses. Branching and merging points are more abundant than Lake Biwa loop.

Difficulty comparison: Full Awaichi at 150km is harder than full Biwaichi at 200km. As described below, ups and downs concentrate in the southern part of the island, draining rider stamina.

The biggest bottleneck is few recovery points. Around Lake Biwa, JR and private railways run, but Awaji Island has no train network whatsoever. In an emergency, you can't take a train home. This is painful for beginners.

Cycling broadly speaking is outdoor activity. The basic principle of outdoors is self-reliance. "The outing isn't over until you get home." Not being able to easily retire is one source of anxiety.

Awaichi Elevation Gain

Most of the full Awaichi route is a comfortable flat course along the sea. Riding clockwise as convention dictates allows resort-style touring.

It's truly comfortable up to Sumoto. In the central area, Dragon Quest sanctification progresses. Yes, this is the birthplace of Yuji Horii, creator of that super-popular game in Japan. His family ran a glass shop."

The Southern Climb Zone

Beyond this Sumoto, the climb zone begins at Yura—the Minami-Awaji Suisen Line. Furthermore, traffic and houses decrease dramatically, and smartphone reception worsens. The next town-like place is Fukura 40km ahead.

This is a sign near the start of climbing close to my accommodation Fukiage Beach Campground. Pretty serious numbers are presented: "Average gradient 9%, distance 1,100m." In other words, this is a hiking opportunity for beginners.

The area around the Naruto Strait branch is also all uphill. Access to the whirlpool is 1.5km one-way.

The full Awaichi elevation gain including these southern ups and downs reaches approximately 1,100m. By comparison, Biwaichi is about 250m.

Awaichi Time Estimates

Using ferry times as a baseline, for day-trip Awaichi you must finish in 16 hours 50 minutes (6:30–23:20). Riding at leisurely cycling pace with plenty of breaks and encountering one or two accidents means missing the last boat. The difficulty of first-time solo full Awaichi for beginners is not low.

For beginners: Two-day, one-night is recommended. Or shorten to 100km course. Running anxiously while worrying about ferry times isn't fun.

My two-day, one-night Awaichi was approximately 11 hours on a folding bicycle—5 hours 40 minutes day one, 5 hours 20 minutes day two. Net average speed around 14km/h (8.7 mph)—a fast cycling pace. Beginners can't ride at this speed.

Hello Kitty on the West Side

Notable spots on Awaji Island are on the east side of the island: Onokoro Park, Dragon Quest, Sumoto Hot Springs, Hotel New Awaji, etc.

The western side of the island was a relatively inconspicuous route until recently, but in the last few years it has become a popular resort destination.

Comparison with Biwaichi

As above, Awaichi is harder than Biwaichi. So how about other comparisons?

Summary for Beginner Awaichi

The full Awaichi loop around Awaji Island is 150km. The ups and downs woven by four passes in the south reach an elevation gain of 1,100m.

The maximum limit time for day-trip Awaichi from ferry departure/arrival times is 16 hours 50 minutes. For beginners to ride through solo, it's fairly demanding. You can complete it sacrificing tourism, breaks, and meals—but can you go home without eating octopus or checking the Dragon Quest statue?

The area around Fukura, Fukiage Beach, and Aman is exactly the midpoint of Awaichi—ideal for overnight stays. Campgrounds, pensions, and hotels line up abundantly.

Hotel options: My DIY New Awaji was roughly wild camping style, but Sumoto Main Building is hot spring ryokan-based, and Plaza Awaji Island is resort hotel-based.

Key difference from Biwaichi: Awaichi is shorter but significantly harder due to elevation. The lack of train recovery options makes it less forgiving for beginners.