Awaji Island
Awaji Island fills the strait between Honshu and Shikoku in the Seto Inland Sea, anchored at its northern end by the vast Akashi Kaikyo suspension bridge. In Japan's founding myth this was the first island the gods created, and Izanagi Jingu shrine keeps that story alive.
The Naruto whirlpools churn off the island's southern tip, viewed up close from sightseeing boats. Awaji Hanasajiki spreads seasonal flower fields across a northern hilltop with the sea behind, and Tadao Ando's Yumebutai complex terraces gardens down a hillside. The island's sweet onions and Awaji beef are worth planning a meal around.
Most visitors drive, crossing from Kobe in the north or Tokushima in the south, and loop the island in a night or two. Spring and autumn bring the flower fields to their peak, while summer adds beaches. Awaji suits travelers who want Inland Sea scenery at an easy pace.
