Exploring the Kamijima Islands on Two Wheels

Matt Petersen and his wife Momo have never forgotten the warm welcome they received upon moving to the Kamijima Islands in 2018. Eager to share the charms of his adopted home with global travelers, Matt began offering guided cycling tours. To maximize accessibility, he utilizes e-bikes for his excursions and employs a flexible approach to route planning and distances.

Rather than imposing a rigid itinerary, Matt’s cycling tours invite participants to slow down and fully absorb island life. This relaxed approach provides for freedom and spontaneity. Cyclists can stop en route as they please, whether to sample local seafood dishes, admire spectacular views from the inter-island bridges, or visit a beach for a refreshing dip in the Seto Inland Sea.

Matt says that for many travelers, the friendly residents they encounter are the most memorable part of the tour. While he can assist as an interpreter when necessary, some of the most impactful interactions are as simple as a smile, a nod, or a wave—reminiscent of the kindness Matt and Momo experienced when they first came to the Kamijima Islands.

Additional Island Activities

A variety of other activities are available across the Kamijima Islands. In addition to fishing, SUP, and kayaking, options such as catamaran yacht cruises, beachside yoga, and seaside camping provide excellent opportunities to appreciate the islands’ natural beauty. Cultural experiences include Bizen-ware pottery workshops, cooking lessons, and salt making. Matt and Momo can arrange for many of these activities to be part of their cycling tours.

Yuge Sea Station: Gateway and Community Nexus

While four of the main Kamijima Islands are connected by bridges, the island chain itself is only accessible by ferry. Yuge Port on the island of Yugejima serves as one of the most convenient entry points for visitors, with ferry connections to Mihara on Honshu and Imabari on Shikoku.

Yuge Sea Station, located just a five-minute walk from the port, is an ideal starting point. The facility is managed by Matt and Momo, who can provide tourist information and assist with booking island tours and activities. Visitors and residents alike are also welcome to drop in for a break. The facility provides tables and seating for those wishing to work or simply enjoy a coffee and conversation. The second-floor terrace offers pleasant views of the sea surrounding Yuge Port. Showers and laundry machines are available on site.

A Community Hub That Brings People Together

When Matt and Momo assumed management of Yuge Sea Station in 2020, the facility primarily functioned as a stop-off point for yacht travelers. However, the couple immediately recognized its potential as a community hub that could welcome residents while offering guidance and services to a broader range of visitors.

Their motivation stemmed from their own experiences. Matt and Momo first arrived in Yugejima in 2018 to visit a university friend from New Zealand who was living on the island. Charmed by the warm reception they received wherever they went, they returned to Yugejima six months later, determined to stay.

Though he spoke no Japanese, Matt began working at the sushi restaurant Totoya, relying on translation apps to communicate at first. Now proficient in Japanese, he credits the patience and kindness of Totoya’s owner with helping him learn the language and become a part of the island’s community.

Yuge Sea Station now hosts regular monthly markets to promote local businesses, along with workshops and special community events. Free Wi-Fi and self-serve coffee encourage locals and visitors to spend time relaxing and interacting at the facility. The station provides bike racks for cyclists, along with docking and mooring services for those arriving by boat.

Onward Travel in the Inland Sea Region

Although the Kamijima Islands may feel quite remote, they can easily be incorporated into longer trips across the Inland Sea region thanks to excellent transport connections. One ferry service from Yuge Port connects to Mihara, which has a station on the Sanyo Shinkansen high-speed rail line, while another connects to Imabari on the island of Shikoku. Still other ferries link the Kamijima Islands to those along the Shimanami Kaido, a popular route for cycling trips between Honshu and Shikoku.