Awaji Farm Park England Hill

Awaji Farm Park England Hill is an agricultural theme park located in the central part of Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture, designed to evoke the British Lake District. Awaji Island sits in the Seto Inland Sea between Honshu and Shikoku and holds special cultural significance as the first island created by the Shinto deities Izanagi and Izanami according to Japanese creation mythology.

The park serves as one of only seven facilities in Japan where visitors can observe koalas, making it particularly significant for wildlife enthusiasts. The park is divided into two main zones: the Green Hill Area near the entrance, featuring the Koala House, a greenhouse with Australian plants and reptiles, hands-on workshops for bread and candle-making, and the Rabbit Warren with rare rabbit breeds; and the England Area, surrounded by mountains with sheep pastures, vegetable harvest fields, and a large pond for swan boats. A free shuttle bus connects these two areas due to the distance between them.

Visitors can interact with approximately 30 species of animals including koalas, rabbits, capybaras, rare birds, sheep, and wallabies. The park features about 30 sheep across three breeds, including the white-wooled Corriedale from New Zealand and the black-faced Suffolk from England. During summer, the England Area displays 50,000 sunflowers, while year-round activities include vegetable harvesting, with strawberries and mini-tomatoes available from mid-September to early May.

The Farmer's Kitchen restaurant serves fresh Awaji beef and seafood, with signature dishes including Ushi Ju (beef rice box) featuring Awaji beef and Awaji onions for 1,980 yen. The on-site specialty shop "Delicious Kobo" offers freshly baked bread, sausages, and dairy products made by local craftsmen. Additional activities include swan boat rides for 1,000 yen per 15 minutes, along with horseback riding, go-karts, and hands-on workshops for making candles and herbariums.

The park is accessible by car, located approximately 15 minutes along National Route 28 toward Fukura from Sumoto IC. By public transport, take the Awaji Kotsu Bus from Sumoto Kosoku Bus Center toward Fukura and alight at England Hill bus stop, followed by a short walk. Free parking is available for visitors arriving by car. Adult admission costs 1,200 yen. The park's vast site, approximately 14 times larger than Hanshin Koshien Stadium, makes it suitable for full-day visits combining nature, animal encounters, and agricultural experiences.