Start this tour at Onomichi Station, meet with English Speaking guide here. One of the most unique attractions of Onomichi is the Shimanami Kaido. The route, which passes across bridges and islands of the Seto Inland Sea, is the only land connection between Japan's main island of Honshu and Shikoku that is traversable by cyclists and pedestrians. Along the way there are two particular attractions of interest to visitors: the Hirayama Museum and the unique Kosanji Temple.

The first island is Mukaijima, though it is recommended that you take the short ferry across the channel as the first bridge is quite a way out of town, has no dedicated bike lane, and involves quite a climb to reach. There is not a lot to see on Mukaijima, though there are a few guest houses that offer an alternative to overnighting in Onomichi itself. The bike path soon leaves the main town and reaches the coast with views that open up across the Inland Sea.

The first bridge that crosses over to Innoshima is a "double-decker," with the bike path on a level underneath the main roadway.

The next island, Ikuchijima is reached by the Ikuchi Bridge on which bikes and pedestrians have their own section of the bridge with only a waist height steel fence which allows for great views. This is part of the uniqueness of this bike route because the bridges are quite high so you get unusual views looking down on the surrounding landscape. You can easily spend half a day on Ikuchijima as it is home to several places worth a visit including the fantastic complex of attractions at Kosanji, possibly the most unique temple in Japan. Ikuchijima also has a nice long stretch of white sand beach and a series of modern art sculptures dotted around the island. The iconic Tatara Bridge takes you over to Omishima Island, the largest of the chain along the Shimanami Kaido, and the one most deserving of a diversion off the official bike route.