Stay on an island in the Seto Inland Sea! How to get to GLAMPROOK Shimanami's "Umashima"

2025.01.09

``Umashima'' in the Seto Inland Sea, where ``GLAMPROOK Shimanami'' is located, is a special island that cannot be accessed by regular cars. To get ashore, you can take a regular boat, a local bus, or a free shuttle service available only to hotel guests. We will introduce the access to such a mysterious place "Umashima".

Stay at Umashima in the Seto Inland Sea, known for its beautiful archipelago

GLAMPROOK Shimanami is located on Umashima, one of the islands in the Seto Inland Sea known for its spectacular scenery. Umashima is a small island with a circumference of about 4km, located just below the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. There are no convenience stores or vending machines on the island, and the blue sea and white sand beaches go on forever. You can experience an extraordinary experience as if time has slowed down.

This is a special island where only authorized cars can enter.

The Nishiseto Expressway (Shimanami Kaido), which runs over the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, has a ``Umashima Interchange,'' but only the cars of island residents and related parties can pass through here. This is a rare interchange in Japan where regular cars cannot get off. Permitted vehicles use a special remote control to lower their chains before entering the island, so if you use a courtesy car exclusively for guests from Imabari Port, you can see this rare sight.

The best part of staying on the island is feeling the sea breeze and going by boat.

For free transportation exclusively for guests from Imabari Port, you can choose a pleasure boat in addition to the shuttle car. Pleasure boats allow you to feel the sea up close and enjoy the sea breeze on your face, giving you the best part of staying on an island. Additionally, the regular ferry ``Kurushima Maru'' operates from Hashihama Port, and can be used by non-guests as well.

Three ways to get to “Umashima” from the city of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture

Method 01: Go by “Linner Kurusima Maru”

If you board the Kurusima Maru, a liner that departs from Hashihama Port in Ehime Prefecture, you can reach Umashima Port in about 20 minutes. GLAMPROOK Shimanami is about a 3-minute walk from Umashima Port.

The Kurusima Maru has a passenger capacity of 58 people and connects Hatohama Port, Kurushima, Kojima, and Umashima. It has a retro design with red and blue bi-colors, and its bow has a special shape because it docks from the bow against the fast currents of the Kurushima Strait. It is also possible to carry bicycles, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy visiting the holy land of cycling.

Passenger fare: 310 yen for adults, 160 yen for children (Hatohama Port - Umashima) *Bringing a bicycle 90 yen

Method 02: Go by “route bus”

It takes about 16 minutes by bus from Imabari Station to reach the Umashima Bus Stop located on the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. From the bus stop on the bridge to Umashima Island, you can have the unique experience of using the elevator on the pier to get off.

It is not possible to enter Umashima Island by regular car, but if you are riding a bicycle, moped, or on foot, you can use this elevator to land on the island.

Means 03: For guests only! Go by “free shuttle boat or private car”

Guests staying at GLAMPROOK Shimanami can enjoy free transportation from Imabari Port by private car or pleasure boat. Imabari Port also has a parking lot exclusively for guests, so those who come by car can move around comfortably.

Hotel & Glamping “GLAMPROOK Shimanami” in Umashima

Hotels and glamping where you can stay in the Seto Inland Sea “Umashima”

GLAMPROOK Shimanami

TEL 0898-22-1101

1006 Umashima, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture 799-2123

https://glamprook.jp/umashima/