The Shimanami Kaidō Expressway passes over the Kurushima Strait via the Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge.

Located just off the coast of Imabari city, Ehime Prefecture, the Kurushima Strait is famous for its fresh ‘firm’ seafood. Due to the necessity of swimming in the fast tides of the Kurushima Strait (one of the 3 fastest in Japan), fish develop very firm flesh. Everybody is surprised when they bite into it for the first time!

A great spot for doing just that is “Road Station Yoshiumi Iki-iki Kan” in Ōshima, Imabari City.

As well as fresh fish, there’s a wide variety of fresh shellfish in the seafood section.

I want to taste it all !!

You can choose specific items, or there are courses that include popular seafood.

This is the popular “Tsushima Course”.

Originating with the legendary Empress Jingū, “Taimeshi (Sea-bream rice)”is another local, uniquely Imabari’ dish that uses sea bream caught in the Seto Inland Sea.

I recommend that you eat it as part of a course.

Putting the ingredients on a ‘shichirin’ grill, the fresh shellfish gradually open their shells…

When the shells are fully open, they’re ready to eat!

Dig in!

Such fun eating together with everyone…

Because the novel “Daughter of Murakami Pirates” has been a huge hit this year, many tourists are visiting Ōshima on weekends. As it’s been introduced on a number of TV shows, they say a lot are from the Kanto area.

Next month, one of the world’s biggest international cycling events, “Shimanami cycling”, will be held on the Shimanami Kaidō Expressway. Cyclists come from all over the world to take part.

Shimanami Kaidō has been getting a lot more international attention lately, with many foreign tourists paying a visit.

Please do visit once! It’s definitely worth the trip!!

Road Station Yoshiumi Iki-iki Kan:

Address: 4530-2 Yoshiumi chōmyō, Imabari-shi, Ehime

TEL: 0897-84-3710

Open: 9:00-17:00

Restaurant: 10:00- 16:00  (Last call 15:00)

Parking: Free (100 spaces for passenger cars, 10 for large-size vehicles, 2 for disabled vehicles)

Closed: New Year’s Day

Website (Japanese): http://www.imabari-shimanami.jp/ikiiki/barbecue.html

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer : Maki Ohashi