Soil Setoda

SOIL Setoda is located on Ikuchijima Island at the midpoint of the Shimanami Kaido, a world-renowned cycling route connecting Honshu and Shikoku across the Seto Inland Sea. Setoda Port served as an important stop on the Westward Passage connecting Osaka with northern Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868, and the town prospered from salt production and maritime trade. Today, a century-old salt warehouse has been transformed into the centerpiece of SOIL Setoda, now housing a coffee roaster and café.

SOIL Setoda functions as both a community hub for locals and a gateway accommodation for travelers, revitalizing the historic port town through a blend of hospitality, dining, and cultural exchange. The facility includes hotel rooms, a waterfront breakfast lounge and wood-fired restaurant, a bento shop, and a souvenir store spread across multiple renovated buildings along the local shopping street. On weekends, the venue hosts workshops and farmers' markets that bring together residents, local producers, and visitors.

The on-site restaurant Minatoya serves wholesome set meals using seasonal ingredients sourced directly from local farmers and fishermen for breakfast and lunch, while dinner features fresh ingredients carefully grilled over wood fire. The adjacent shop Hifumi offers ready-to-eat dishes, bento boxes, condiments, and tableware that connect visitors with local artisans. The café serves specialty coffee and refreshing drinks in a space that doubles as a social lounge. Guests can experience local life by enjoying freshly roasted coffee in the morning and visiting the neighborhood public bathhouse in the evening.

The location provides access to Ikuchijima's citrus groves and cycling routes. Nearby attractions include the 600-year-old Kojoji pagoda, Kosanji Temple, the Hill of Hope, and the Ikuo Hirayama Museum of Art. The Tatara Bridge, Japan's longest cable-stayed bridge, stands nearby with Lemon Valley at its base, where citrus harvest season runs from November to April. The facility offers custom cycling tours and stand-up paddleboarding experiences, including sunset SUP tours on the Seto Inland Sea.

From JR Onomichi Station, Setoda is accessible by a ferry from Onomichi Port that takes approximately 35 minutes. Bicycles can be loaded onto the ferry for a small charge, or rental bikes are available in Setoda. Ferries also operate from Mihara Port with a journey time of 25 minutes. By car, the island is approximately 30 to 40 minutes from Nishiseto Onomichi IC via either Ikuchijima North IC or Ikuchijima South IC, and about 70 minutes from Hiroshima Airport. The cycling distance from Onomichi to Ikuchijima is approximately 30 kilometers along the Shimanami Kaido route.