Beautiful
Awaji Island
- Located south of Hyogo Prefecture, it is the largest island in Seto Inland Sea and the 11th largest island in Japan.
- Blessed with a warm climate and long daylight hours in all seasons, the island is a place of agricultural and floral beauty.
- Composed of Awaji City, Sumoto City and Minami Awaji City, Awaji has a population of about 150,000 people.
- Local and highway express buses and privately owned cars are the main means of transportation, with a well-developed road system to navigate and explore the island.
Food
- Awaji Island was historically closely tied with the Imperial Family. As one of Japan`s richest agricultural regions, it was known as “Miketsukuni”, presenting the Imperial Court with numerous delicacies and ingredients.
- Awaji boasts a rich variety of special produce, from livestock to vegetables, seafood, and rice.
- Awaji Island is most famous for its sweet and delicious onions of the highest quality. Popular onion dishes include onion cutlet, fried onion, onion pickles and baked whole onions.
- Awaji Beef is also another local specialty, famous throughout Japan.
- In particular, the Awaji Island Burger is extremely popular, using beef and produce from Awaji such as onions and lettuce.
Tourism
and Culture
- Considered to be the birthplace of Japan according to Kojiki (A Record of Ancient Matters) as well as Chronicles of Japan and possesses a wealth of myths and shrines. Izanagi Shrine is an important cultural and religious symbol on Awaji Island relating to the spiritual birth of Japan.
- Well known for its tourism spots with clean beaches and beautiful sunsets ranked amongst the top 100 in Japan, as well as for its famous hot springs.
- Affectionately known as the ‘Park Island’ for its natural scenic park areas.
- Awaji Island is also famous for the ‘whirling waves’, otherwise known as the Naruto Whirlpools. They are the 4th largest in the world, created by the collision of the Pacific Ocean and currents running from the Seto Inland Sea.
- A mecca for fishing and cycling, Awaji Island attracts tourists all year round..
Pasona Facilities
on Awaji Island
Nijigen No Mori
In July 2017, a theme park area was opened inside the Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Island Park, where media arts were integrated into the natural environment reflecting Japan’s famous 2D contents—comics and animation. Visitors can enjoy attractions ranging from a 2-dimensional Night Walk telling the story of the Phoenix, and a wide range of other installations including Crayon Shin-chan, Naruto-Boruto and Godzilla.
Nojima Scuola
Through the renovation of an old elementary school building, Nojima Scuola was opened in 2012 under the keywords of “food, farming, learning, and art.” Located on Awaji Island, it incorporates an Italian restaurant, an onsite mini zoo and shop serving a range a local specialty products. It is used for hosting a variety of events, serving as center for distributing information on local activities and a place for the local community to gather.
Café Miele
Popular with younger people, Cafe Miele serves cuisine made with honey and fresh ingredients from Awaji Island in a relaxed and casual environment.
Craft Circus
Traditional crafts and merchandise from around the world are sold in the International Bazaar, and craft booths offer hands-on workshops. There is an expansive wood deck that opens to a commanding view of the sea, where visitors can savor international cuisines using the island’s ingredients while enjoying scenery selected as one of the 100 Best Sunsets in Japan.
Ocean Terrace
In line with the theme of Awaji Island resort space, we opened the Ocean Terrace grill restaurant in September 2017, designed by Executive Chef Hal Yamashita, where guests can enjoy the highest quality Awaji beef and other local cuisine all the while overlooking the beautiful sea.
Grand Chariot
Situated inside the Awajishima Prefectural Park on a starry hill at the 135th meridian East, where wind blows up, it is a glamping facility that serves authentic Japanese cuisine using meticulously chosen original local ingredients. With it`s cocoon style uniquely designed rooms and breathtaking sky views it offers a truly refreshing and rejuvenating experience.
Hello Kitty Smile
Hello Kitty Smile is a large entertainment complex and as the name suggests is Hello Kitty themed from top to bottom. With restaurants that serve the freshest food caught off the island, Hello Kitty afternoon tea is also served overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. The complex offers a projection mapping hologram theater where customers enjoy 15 minutes of Hello Kitty cuteness. There is also an art gallery with Hello Kitty artwork and sculptures, and an outlet shop with products only available at Hello Kitty Smile.
Hello Kitty Showbox
Hello Kitty Show Box is a Hello Kitty shaped boxlike theater opened in August 2019. When the theater is viewed from the sky Hello Kitty’s face can be seen from the air. A medley of songs, dances, and musical numbers are performed together in the Hello Kitty Dream Entertainment Show utilizing both live performers and the latest in hologram media art. Hello Kitty Showbox also specializes in entertaining customers with healthy vegan cuisine from sourced from local farms.
Seikaiha
The newest of Pasona`s facilities on Awaji Island, Seikaiha was created to provide customers with a unique relaxing experience combining Japanese culture and performing arts, against the beautiful backdrop of the Seto Inland Sea. The complex includes a social distance sushi and tempura restaurant `Ao no Ya`, a western style restaurant `Umi no Ya`, a theater showcasing traditional Japanese performing arts `Nami Nori Tei`, and a bar and shop where customers can enjoy old style Japanese sake `Koshu no Ya`.
Enjoying
Awaji Island
Awaji Island is 40km long and 20km wide and is located between the main islands of Honshu and Shikoku. Being the birthplace of Japan, Awaji Island has a long history and therefore many captivating tourist destinations. From Akashi Strait in the North to Naruto Strait in the South there are many historical, cultural, gastronomical, leisure and fun places to visit. Click through to see the must-visit-places must-visit-places for you to plan an unforgettable time on Awaji Island.
AYF Life
at Manabi no Sato
This is Manabi no Sato (which translates into Learning Village), the home of Awaji Youth Federation!
It acts as our learning center by day and our home sweet home by night, and is where Fellows live, learn and work together across cultures on social improvement projects. It is a large facility surrounded by nature and is equipped with all that you need to succeed
