Planning a trip to Japan with your family? Hoping to escape the crowds, or to explore new places beyond Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka that your children will love too? Look no further than Awaji Island! Just one hour from Osaka and one and a half hours from Kyoto by car or public transport, the island is easily accessible by public transport or car. Though it is close to Kobe, Awaji Island is far removed from the hustle and bustle of everyday city life, boasting rich nature, delicious food made with fresh local ingredients, and many fun facilities that everyone, both young and old, can enjoy. There is sure to be something for everyone!
Table of Contents
- Anime Theme Park with Something for Every Family Member: Nijigen no Mori
- For Hello Kitty Fans: Children and Adults Alike Will be Delighted
- A Fun Family Outing at Awaji Island Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park
- Get Up Close to the Friendly Animals at Nojima Scuola
- An Exciting Voyage for the Whole Family: Naruto Whirlpool Cruise
- For Overnight Trips: Lots of Space for both Parents and Children in Grand Chariot Hokutoshichisei 135°
- Closing
Anime Theme Park with Something for Every Family Member: Nijigen no Mori
Nijigen no Mori is an anime-themed park located in Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park, featuring characters and locations from popular Japanese anime, movies, and video games. In addition to limited-time exclusive collaborations, there are four permanent attractions: Godzilla Interception Operation Awaji, Crayon Shinchan Adventure Park, NARUTO&BORUTO SHINOBI-ZATO, and Dragon Quest Island.
“Godzilla Interception Operation ~National Godzilla Awaji Island Research Center~” is an attraction that features a life-size Godzilla. You can ride a zipline through Godzilla, shoot Godzilla’s cells with special guns, and visit the world’s only permanent Godzilla museum. Though you must be at least 120 cm tall and weigh at least 25 kg to ride the zipline, children who are too small can play in kids park Kaiju no Mori, where they can build the city of Kobe up with soft blocks and destroy it!
“Crayon Shinchan Adventure Park,” which revolves around the theme of the anime Crayon Shinchan, is home to many attractions that will allow you to actively get your body moving. Tackle the rope courses at “Appare! Sengoku Daibouken!,” where four different rope courses of different difficulty levels provide a suitable challenge for those of all ages, from children to adults. Soar above the trees on the “Challenge! Action Kamen Flight!” zipline, which includes two zipline trips (225 meters and 140 meters). Afterwards, children can also explore the “Exciting! Hide and Seek Maze in Futaba Yochien” and “Action Kamen Secret Base” playground, a net playground that is 13 meters wide and 4 meters tall!
| Park Name | NIJIGEN NO MORI |
|---|---|
| Address | 2425-2 Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-2301 |
| TEL | 0799-64-7061 |
| Website | https://nijigennomori.com/ |
| Reservations | https://ticket.nijigennomori.com/en/ |
| Operation Hours | Everyday10:00-22:00 *Each attraction has a different last reception time and closing time. |
Click here for details of NIJIGEN NO MORI
For Hello Kitty Fans: Children and Adults Alike Will be Delighted
HELLO KITTY SMILE
If you have any Hello Kitty fans in your family, these are attractions you definitely won’t want to miss. HELLO KITTY SMILE provides guests with an immersive multimedia experience that lets you get up close with Hello Kitty. Make your way through the colorful and beautifully decorated Under the Sea Cave & Mirror Maze, and be amazed by the projection mapping show depicting a lively party in the palace under the sea. Of course, the star of the show is Hello Kitty, who cruises around on a sea turtle. Afterwards, say hello to Hello Kitty in person in Hello Kitty’s room. She wears a unique underwater princess costume that she doesn’t wear anywhere else, so make sure you don’t miss the chance to take exclusive souvenir photos together!
| Location | HELLO KITTY SMILE |
|---|---|
| Address | 985-1 Nojimahikinoura, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1721 |
| Access | 10 minutes by car from Awaji IC or Hokudan IC on Awaji-Kobe-Naruto Expressway. |
| Parking | Free parking available |
| Operating Hours | Weekdays 11:00~19:00 Sat., Sun, & Public Holidays 10:00~19:00 Please note that each restaurant/café has different operating hours. |
| Closed | Tuesdays |
| Website | https://awaji-resort.com/hellokittysmile/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/hellokitty-smile2restaurant/reserve |
| Review | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1022838-d15190676-Reviews-Hello_Kitty_Smile_Garden_Terrace-Awaji_Awaji_shima_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki.html |
| Phone Number | 0799-70-9037 |
Click here for details of HELLO KITTY SMILE
HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX
Our next facility for Hello Kitty fans is HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, a Hello Kitty-shaped building which holds the Guinness World Records® for the Largest Roof in the Shape of a Brand Character. Children and adults alike are bound to be delighted by the song and dance shows during lunch and café time featuring Hello
Kitty herself! At lunchtime, you get to choose your favorite out of a menu including a delicious vegan meal that is gentle on your body. In the afternoon, during café time, you can partake in adorable sweet treats that feature Hello Kitty motifs—almost too cute to eat!
| Location | HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX |
|---|---|
| Address | 177-5 Nojimahirabayashi, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1724 |
| Access | 10 minutes by car from Awaji IC and 15 minutes from Hokudan Interchange on Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway. |
| Phone Number | 0799-70-9022 |
| Parking | Free parking available |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Operating Hours | 11:00-17:00 |
| Show Time | 12:10-13:30(Open at 11:00, Last In at 12:00) |
| Café and Greetings by HELLO KITTY | 14:00-17:00 Greeting at 14:30-/16:00- Café Show and Greetings by HELLO KITTY: 14:30~ / 16:00~ |
| Website | https://awajiresort.com/hellokittyshowbox/ |
| Review | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1022838-d17793182-Reviews-Hello_Kitty_Show_Box-Awaji_Awaji_shima_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki.html |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/hellokittyshowbox/reserve |
Click here for details of HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX
HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE
Like HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX, the adjacent HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE also holds a Guinness World Records®—this time, for the Largest Building in the Shape of an Apple, which is Hello Kitty’s favorite food. Start your exploration with the 360-degree dome theater, where projection mapping offers a glimpse into Hello Kitty’s delightful dream world as she gets ready for her show over at
HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX. Later, head up to the viewing platform, and take in the picture-perfect view of the Hello Kitty-shaped roof of HELLO KITTY SHOW BOX next door.
| Location | HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE |
|---|---|
| Address | 177-5 Nojimahirabayashi, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1724 |
| Access | Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway: 10 minutes by car from Awaji Interchange and 15 minutes from Hokudan Interchange. |
| Phone Number | 0799-70-9022 |
| Parking | Free parking available |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Business hours | LUNCH TIME 11:00-13:30 CAFE TIME 14:00-17:00 |
| Website | https://awaji-resort.com/hellokittyshowbox/applehouse/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/hellokittyshowbox/reserve |
| Review | https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1022838-d17793182-Reviews-Hello_Kitty_Show_Box-Awaji_Awaji_shima_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki.html |
Click here for details of HELLO KITTY APPLE HOUSE
A Fun Family Outing at Awaji Island Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park
The sprawling Awaji Area of the Akashi Kaikyo National Government Park covers 96.1 hectares, and is the perfect place for a family outing. You can enjoy picnics on the grass, wander around and take in statues made of flowers that measure up to 4 meters tall, and rent a swan-shaped boat for a ride around the lake. Seasonal flowers make every trip a fresh one, but children will also have fun at the large playground areas like Children’s Forest and Yumekko Land all year round.
Get Up Close to the Friendly Animals at Nojima Scuola
Nojima Scuola is a renovated former elementary school building that now hosts a petting zoo, bakery, café-restaurant, Italian restaurant, and marché. The petting zoo, Nojima Zoo, is home to many friendly animals, such as alpacas, goats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. Take home your own little stuffed alpaca companion from the marché shop, along with a range of local souvenirs such as instant onion soup packets and other Awaji onion products.
| Name | Nojima Scuola |
|---|---|
| Adress | 843 Nojimahikinoura, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1721 |
| Website | https://www.nojima-scuola.com/ |
| Reservations | 2F Ristorante Scuola https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1022838-d12135206-Reviews-Nojima_Scoula-Awaji_Awaji_shima_Hyogo_Prefecture_Kinki.html |
| Tel | 0799-82-1820 |
| Operation Hours | 1F Marché /Bakery: Weekdays 10:30~19:00 Sat., Sun., & Public Holidays 10:00~19:00 1F Café Scuola: Weekdays Lunch 11:00~14:00/ café 14:00~18:00 Sat., Sun., & Public Holidays breakfast 10:00~11:00 Lunch 11:00~15:00 Café 15:00~18:00 2F Ristorante Scuola: 11:30~15:30 (in by 14:00) / 18:00~21:30 (in by 19:30) Outdoor Zoo: Weekdays 11:00~16:00 Sat., Sun. & Public Holidays 10:00~16:00 (13:00~14:00 animals in recess) Closed: Wednesdays (Open on Public Holidays) |
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An Exciting Voyage for the Whole Family: Naruto Whirlpool Cruise
Photo: “Whirlpools and Awaji Island from Uzunomichi Promenade 3” by そらみみ, licensed by CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped from original
The Naruto whirlpools are tidal whirlpools that occur in the Naruto Strait, which lies between Awaji Island’s southern tip and Naruto City in Tokushima. Catch these whirlpools up close on an hour-long whirlpool cruise departing from Furano Port in Minami-awaji City.
For Overnight Trips: Lots of Space for both Parents and Children in Grand Chariot Hokutoshichisei 135°
With so much on offer, it’s no wonder you’ll want to stay on Awaji Island for at least a night. The hotel Grand Chariot Hokutoshichisei 135°offers you and your family a luxurious and comfortable space to unwind in after a long day. All rooms in the hotel are private cottage-like “Cocoons,” filled with warm wooden tones, and each comes equipped with its own bath made of Japanese cypress. Located within Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park, the hotel also offers easy access to Nijigen no Mori.
Fans of Hello Kitty and the characters and franchises that star in the attractions at Nijigen no Mori will also be delighted by the themed rooms the hotel offers, like the Hello Kitty Collaboration Room
“Hello Kitty Star Cocoon” and Godzilla Collaboration Room “Monster Land.” The collaboration rooms are filled with original character goods you can take home with you, and some rooms even have missions that are sure to entertain the whole family!
| Name | GRAND CHARIOT |
|---|---|
| Adress | 2425-2 Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-2301 Located at Nijigen no Mori in Hyogo Prefecture Awajishima Park |
| Tel | 0799-64-7090 |
| Website | https://awaji-grandchariot.com/ |
| Reservations | https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/guransiyariobei-dou-qi-xing-135deg.ja.html |
Click here for details of GRAND CHARIOT
Closing
No matter who you’re travelling with, there is something to do for everyone on Awaji Island. Why not plan your perfect island getaway with your whole family on your next trip to Japan?
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