Awajishima - Hyogo

Located in the Seto Inland Sea and under the jurisdiction of Hyogo Prefecture, Awajishima (淡路島) or Awaji Island is the largest of the islands found in between Honshu and Shikoku island groups.

Awajishima (淡路島) or Awaji Island

Awajishima Details

Awajishima has an area of 228.64 square miles. It is separated from Honshu by the Akashi Strait and from Shikoku by the Naruto Strait. The name Awaji originally means  "the road to Awa". Awa being the historic province in the Shikoku side of Naruto Strait which is now part of Tokushima Prefecture.

Awajishima Route Map

Heading to Awajishima via Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Awajishima 2 kilometers away.

The island was finally connected to Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture when Akashi Kaikyo Bridge opened on April 5, 1998. Together with the Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway and Onaruto Bridge which was opened to the public in 1985, Awajishima finally became a concrete link to Honshu and Shikoku.

Gotta love the view from Awaji Service Area

An article about Awajishima won't be complete without including the myth of its creation. According to the Japanese creation myth, Awaji was the first of the Oyashima islands born from the union of the gods Izanagi and Izanami. Historically, Awajishima was once a province until it became part of Hyogo Prefecture. Today, Awajishima consists of three municipalities which are Awaji, Sumoto, and Minamiawaji.

Ella with our Japanese family

Team Nicerio visits Awajishima

Awajishima is famous for their onions

My family and I got to visit Awajishima during our 10th day in Japan. Our Japanese family brought us to the island on a road trip to see the famed Naruto Whirlpools which forms in Naruto Strait. 

Things to see and do in Awajishima:

Cross Akashi Kaikyo Bridge - Japan's longest

Admire the view of the bridge and Kobe City from Awaji Rest Area

Try out the first and second-best burger in Awaji Island

Buy onion souvenirs and products

Eat Awaji's famous onions

Rent a boat at Minamiawaji to view the Naruto Whirlpools up close

Watch the Naruto Whirlpool from the viewing deck of Uzushio Deck Area

Other things to do and see in Awajishima:

- Watch the traditional puppet theater, the Awaji Ningyo-Joruri 
- Check out the Nojima Fault Preservation Museum in Hokudancho Earthquake Memorial Park

- Drive around Awajishima ( You can check out my first time driving in Japan video below)

Why visit Awajishima?

Overall, Awajishima is a perfect place to visit as it is seldom visited by foreign tourists. This gives it the "road less traveled" feel. Aside from that, the island is also perfect for nature lovers and food trippers. So what are you waiting for? Add Awajishima to your itinerary on your next visit to Japan.

Getting to Awajishima:

From Sannomiya in Kobe City, ride a highway express bus. The ride will take approximately 50 minutes to go to Awaji Yumebutai.  

You may ride the Awaji Kotsu from Sannomiya to Awaji which costs around 1850 yen.

Another bus line is the Honshi Kaikyu Bus, it's more expensive but allows you to visit more destinations. 

Once you are in Awajishima, you can go around the island by local bus.

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