Turns out there are tourist ferries, but foot passengers only. There was a bridge, but only for motor vehicles. Busses wouldn't take my bike, they claimed. The only thing to do, the locals decided, was hitch hike. They proceeded to make a sign for me, and point me towards the nearest entrance to the bridge.

A ton of vans and trucks passed me by, but it was a super nice guy in a car who actually stopped. I said anywhere on Awajima was fine, but wound up going to Kobe.