Shimanto River Road — Japan's Last ClearStream.
Distance
170 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
550 m
Shimanto River Road — Japan's Last Clear Stream.
The Shimanto is Japan's longest undammed river and its clearest — called "the last clear stream in Japan." The 196km river flows through remote Kochi Prefecture, crossed by 47 chinkabashi (submerged bridges) with no railings, built to flood and survive rather than resist. The riverside road traces the river from its lower reaches upstream through quiet farming hamlets and cedar forest.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance170 km
Days1
Total climb550 m
DifficultyEasy
Loading map...
The route.
Shimanto City (Nakamura)Start · Start at Shimanto City. Fuel up — stations are sparse along the river road. The city sits where the Shimanto meets the Pacific.
Sada Chinkabashi BridgePhoto Spot · The longest of the Shimanto's 47 submerged bridges at 292m. No railings — designed to sink in floods and survive. Eerie and serene in morning mist over the clear green water.
Nishitosa RiversideScenic Point · The road follows the river through tea fields and bamboo forest. Almost no traffic. The river's clarity — visibility up to 10m — is unmistakable here.
Kubokawa (Shimanto Town)Restaurant · Main service town of Shimanto-cho. Lunch stop — try ayu (sweetfish) grilled on a skewer over charcoal, the local specialty from May to October.
Kochi CityEnd · End in Kochi City. The castle and Hirome Ichiba covered market are excellent for the evening. Well-connected by train back west.
More routes in Japan
Saba Kaido — Kyoto to Obama over the Mackerel RoadJP 26 · 220 kmShigisan-Ikoma Skyline — Osaka & Nara Night-View RidgeJP 29 · 50 kmMount Ibuki Driveway — Lake Biwa & the Alps PanoramaJP 25 · 55 kmMatsuhime Pass — Otsuki to Okutama over Route 139JP 19 · 65 kmNihondaira & Kunozan — Shizuoka Fuji BalconyJP 22 · 55 kmShikoku Karst — Tengu Kogen Skyline (Route 383)JP 38 · 92 km
Save this ride. Open the app.
Clone it to your planner, customize dates and stops, then ride. All free.
Open in MotoVault
Navigate this route with GPS