{"id":75474,"date":"2021-01-19T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=75474"},"modified":"2021-02-24T17:46:03","modified_gmt":"2021-02-24T08:46:03","slug":"local-life-setouchi-islands-shimanami-kaido","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/local-life-setouchi-islands-shimanami-kaido\/","title":{"rendered":"Relax and Discover the Local Life of Setouchi Along the Shimanami Kaido"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

With chickens clucking around my feet, I spot a perfect lemon up in the branches. Stretching, I snip with shears and carefully place my first fruit in the basket. I\u2019m picking lemons on a small island in the Seto Inland Sea, trading recipes and stories of studying in the UK with my hosts \u2014 it\u2019s a pretty perfect Tuesday afternoon. Local life here is slower, sunnier, and kinder than the city I\u2019ve left, and I already wish I didn\u2019t have to leave. While I had planned on cycling the famous Shimanami Kaido route<\/a> for its views<\/strong>, I hadn\u2019t expected to meet such amazing people along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cycling this specially-designed, 70km route across the islands can be done in a day, but in my opinion, the longer it takes, the better. Getting lost amongst the islands and discovering what makes them special is far better than a record-fast finish time \u2014 and these islands have so much to offer. Picking strawberries and feeding goats on one island before stretching out cycle-weary legs in a sunset yoga session on another, I slowed down and took the time to enjoy each experience, meeting the locals that make up the small but wonderful communities of rural Japan<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day One: Omishima Island\u2019s Strawberry Farm Stay <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After cycling across the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge (\u6765\u5cf6\u6d77\u5ce1\u5927\u6a4b), the world’s first triple suspension bridge, from the Imabari bicycle rental terminal, I had begun my island-hopping tour on Oshima island then would be spending the night on neighbouring Omishima Island. Omishima is the largest of the Geiyo Islands<\/strong>, made up of fields, hills, forests, and a small population of residents. After a day of cycling, I arrived to find my accommodation of Shimanami no Chisana ie Farmstay<\/a><\/strong>, a striking traditional Japanese home, and my host was the wonderful Mrs Inoue. Quick to usher me in, within no time at all, I was seated with tea and a strawberry sherbert \u2014 a hint of what was to come. The family have their own strawberry farm, she explained, as we chatted over the delicious dessert. Having once travelled to the UK, a stay in a welcoming Bed and Breakfast inspired her to open her home to guests. Those lucky enough to stay would be treated to strawberry picking as well as a farm-stay with the family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"traditional
Shimanami no Chisana ie Farmstay is a striking traditional Japanese home and the perfect opportunity to experience local life on the Setouchi Islands.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wandering through the rows of ripe strawberries, Mrs Inoue taught me how to pick and eat them (top first \u2014 I didn\u2019t know!) \u2014 and eat I did. Assuring me the colder weather makes them sweeter, Mrs Inoue explained that in Japan, strawberries are a winter treat, while in the UK we commonly think of them as a summer staple. Having finally reached my fill, we headed out to pick vegetables from the small-holding for breakfast the next day, meeting her husband along the way. Feeding the goats, Kiki (named after the family cat) and Ichigo (meaning strawberry in Japanese) was the final task before setting off for dinner, which was a filling course of locally-caught octopus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n