Japan is a popular destination among the world’s travelers. With many visitors both local and foreign, major destinations like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka have become very crowded, leaving visitors searching for lesser-known hidden gems in Japan. An Awaji Island trip is the perfect solution for those seeking a peaceful, authentic Japanese experience away from the crowds.
Awaji Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea across from Kobe, is just one hour from Osaka and 1.5 hours from Kyoto by car or public transportation. It is a perfect destination for a day trip as well as an overnight trip within your Japan travel itinerary. The island is rich in beautiful nature, unique culture such as the Awaji Puppet Theater, delicious local gourmet food, amazing architecture designed by world-famous architects including Tadao Ando and Shigeru Ban, and fascinating historical sites connected to Japanese mythology, as it is said to be the birthplace of Japan.
Among the many attractions on the island, several spots are not to be missed to fully experience Awaji Island’s special qualities:
– Nature: Zenbo Seinei, a zen wellness retreat to rejuvenate yourself among stunning nature,
– Gourmet Cuisine: Aonoya, a Japanese restaurant where you can savor fresh seafood; Haru San San, a farm-to-table restaurant where you can relish fresh local vegetables; Aman no Shokutaku – Sajiki, a teppanyaki and sukiyaki restaurant where you can sample Awaji Island specialties from both the mountains and sea; and Oh-SOBAR, a soba (buckwheat noodles) restaurant where you can enjoy a healthy soba which is deeply rooted in Japanese traditions;
– Architecture and Culture: Senshin Waho, a hot spring ryokan built primarily by miyadaiku, traditional carpenters specializing in shrines and temples.
Table of Contents
- Explore Stunning Nature on Your Awaji Island Trip
- Refuel on Your Awaji Island Trip: Gourmet Cuisine with Local Specialties from the Mountains and Surrounding Sea
- SEIKAIHA Aonoya, a Japanese Restaurant with Tiered Seating Facing the Sea
- Haru San San, a Farm-to-Table Restaurant
- Aman no Shokutaku – Sajiki, a Teppanyaki and Sukiyaki Restaurant Featuring Awaji Beef
- Oh-SOBAR, a Refined Soba (Buckwheat Noodles) Restaurant by the Seaside
- More Restaurants and Cafés to Round Out Your Awaji Island Trip
- Enjoy Striking Architecture and Culture on an Awaji Island Trip
- Closing
Explore Stunning Nature on Your Awaji Island Trip
Awaji is the biggest island in the Seto Inland Sea with a size similar to Tokyo’s 23 wards. Yet its population is less than 130,000 people. Celebrated for its verdant scenery and serene ocean vistas, Awaji Island has been able to preserve its natural beauty. Why not refresh yourself amidst the exquisite architecture extending into the magnificent nature on your Awaji Island trip?
Zenbo Seinei, a Zen Wellness Retreat with Japanese Cultural Experiences
Zenbo Seinei is a serene sanctuary on Awaji Island, designed by world-renowned architect Shigeru Ban. It embodies his innovative, sustainable design philosophy, featuring natural materials such as Japanese cedarwood. At its heart lies a breathtaking 100‑meter deck where meditation and yoga sessions are done, offering an immersive 360° panorama of Awaji Island’s stunning natural landscape.
Zenbo Seinei offers both day-trip sessions and overnight stays, where you can experience meditation, yoga, a Zen tea ceremony, Zen calligraphy, and vegetarian Zenbo Cuisine made from native Awaji Island ingredients, nurturing both health and wellness. Zenbo Cuisine does not use animal products, flour, oil, or white sugar. It also values the Japanese food culture of “fermentation,” and uses only carefully selected seasonings made using traditional methods that take one to three years to mature. It also serves homemade amazake (sweet sake) and soy sauce that has not yet stopped fermenting. Whatever your desire, you’ll be leaving feeling refreshed in mind and body at this Japanese wellness retreat.
| Name | Zenbo Seinei |
|---|---|
| Address | 2594-5 Aza-Banaka, Kusumoto, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-2301 A free shuttle bus is available. |
| Tel | 0799-70-9087 |
| Website | https://www.zenbo-seinei.com/en/ |
| Program Reservations | https://zenbo-seinei.com/en/onedayplan/ |
| Hotel Reservation | https://zenbo-seinei.com/en/zenstayplan/ |
| Operation Hours | Mon: 9:00 am～5:00 pm / Tues～Sun: 11:00 am～6:30 pm Closed: Varies depending on a month. Please inquire. |
Click here for details of ZENBO SEINEI
Are you ready to start planning your trip to Zenbo Seinei on Awaji Island? Send us an inquiry by filling the form below.
Refuel on Your Awaji Island Trip: Gourmet Cuisine with Local Specialties from the Mountains and Surrounding Sea
Awaji Island, historically known as “Miketsukuni” or the “Land of Food,” holds a storied past as a provider of fresh seafood and produce to the Imperial Court located in Kyoto. It is said that there were only three areas in Japan including Awaji Island which were called “Miketsukuni.” This tradition of providing a high quality seafood and produce has been carried on in the blessed environment till the present time. You can enjoy the rich food culture that has flourished on the island for centuries at the following restaurants:
SEIKAIHA Aonoya, a Japanese Restaurant with Tiered Seating Facing the Sea
Aonoya, one of the restaurants at SEIKAIHA theater and restaurant complex, is a Japanese restaurant, featuring sushi and tempura. Inside, the tiered, step-like seating is designed so that every seat faces the sea. The walls are made of glass, allowing uninterrupted views.
Awaji Island, historically known as “Miketsukuni” (Land of Food) by providing produce and seafood to the imperial court in Kyoto at ancient times, still stands out in Japan for its fresh ingredients. Aonoya’s nigiri sushi features fresh ingredients such as sea bream, sea urchin, and octopus caught in Yura Port on Awaji Island. The Akashi Strait between Awaji Island and Kobe on Honshu (main island of Japan) is particularly known as a rich fishing ground for white fish. The freshly fried tempura highlights ingredients from Awaji Island, including shrimp, white fish, and just-harvested vegetables from our own fields and nearby farms. Enjoy it with tea salt, seaweed salt, or traditional dipping sauce for a truly exquisite taste of Awaji Island.
| Name | SEIKAIHA - Aonoya |
|---|---|
| Address | 70 Nojima-okawa, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1723 A free shuttle bus is available. |
| Tel | 0799-70-9020 |
| Website | https://awaji-seikaiha.com/aonoya/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/awaji-seikaiha/reserve |
| Operating Hours | 11:00~15:00 (Last In 14:00, L.O. 14:00) 17:00~21:00 (Last In 19:30, L.O. 20:00) Closed: Thursdays |
Click here for details of SEIKAIHA - Aonoya
Haru San San, a Farm-to-Table Restaurant
Farmer’s Restaurant Haru San San is a sustainable restaurant where vegetables take center stage.
The Haru San San farmhouse is a sustainable building also designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Shigeru Ban, one of the most respected figures in the architecture world. This environmentally conscious design makes extensive use of renewable materials.
Its thatched roof is crafted from kaya, a sturdy grass that can later be reused as compost, while the pillars are made from paper tubes using recycled cardboard. Inside, the restaurant’s design flows naturally into the surrounding farmland, creating a harmonious space that connects people with the earth.
Haru San San’s cuisine showcases the bounty of Awaji Island, with a particular emphasis on fresh vegetables grown on our own farm. The menu was created through the collaboration of Masayuki Okuda, selected as one of the “1,000 Chefs of the World,” and Nobuaki Fushiki, a specialist in fermented cuisine. Every dish makes the most of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Farm products from the island, seafood from the surrounding seas, and fruits and vegetables harvested just steps from your table come together to offer an authentic taste of Awaji Island.
| Name | Farmer’s Restaurant – Haru San San |
|---|---|
| Address | 1510-4 Nojima-tokiwa Aza Genpachi, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1726 A free shuttle bus is available. |
| Tel | 0799-70-9082 |
| Operation Hours | 11:00-18:00（L.O.17:00） |
| Closed | Wednesdays |
| Website | https://www.awaji-nlr.com/harusansan |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/noukarestaurant-haru-sansan/reserve |
Click here for details of Haru San San
Aman no Shokutaku – Sajiki, a Teppanyaki and Sukiyaki Restaurant Featuring Awaji Beef
Sajiki, Aman no Shokutaku’s second-floor restaurant, serves Japanese hotpot dishes like sukiyaki, as well as teppanyaki, where high-quality ingredients such as Awaji Beef, abalone, and Japanese spiny lobster are prepared in front of guests. Savor a sumptuous meal while enjoying the ultimate performance as the chef deftly demonstrates his skills.
While Kobe Beef is more well known abroad than Awaji Beef, both are derived from purebred Tajima cattle (a breed of Japanese Black cattle) in Hyogo Prefecture. In fact, approximately 60% of the calves that eventually become Kobe Beef are born and raised on Awaji Island. Awaji Beef, a premium, highly marbled Wagyu, is celebrated for its intensely rich, melt-in-your-mouth marbling, sweet umami flavor, and rigorous quality standards, with an annual shipment of only about 150–200 heads of cattle. You definitely won’t want to miss this gourmet delight on your Awaji Island trip!
In addition to sumptuous meals, the restaurant’s sommelier can recommend perfect wine and aged Japanese sake to complement your dining. Vintage sake’s taste deepens as it ages, developing a richer sweetness and aroma.
| Address | 1042 Nojima-tokiwa, Awaji-shi, Hyogo Free suttle busavailable |
|---|---|
| Parking | Free (on the premises) |
| Tel | 0799-70-9090 |
| Operation Hours | Lunch/11:00 a.m.～3:00 p.m.（L.O. 1:30 p.m.） Dinner/5:00 p.m.～9:00 p.m.（L.O. 7:00 p.m.） |
| Closed | Tuesdays, Fridays |
| Official Website | https://amannoshokutaku.jp/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/aman-sajiki/reserve |
Oh-SOBAR, a Refined Soba (Buckwheat Noodles) Restaurant by the Seaside
Soba is a traditional Japanese noodle made primarily from buckwheat flour, sometimes mixed with wheat flour. It has a slightly nutty flavor and a firm, smooth texture. Soba is considered relatively healthy compared to some other noodles because buckwheat contains protein, fiber, and certain vitamins and minerals. In Japan, it’s also eaten on New Year’s Eve as toshikoshi soba to symbolize longevity and “crossing over” into the new year.
Oh-SOBAR is a Japanese Kappō-style soba restaurant that serves refined, health-conscious cuisine made with carefully selected ingredients sourced from the abundant natural environment of Awaji Island. Kappō, literally meaning “to cut and to cook,” elevates the dining experience through close interaction between chef and guest. Guests share their preferences and desired direction, and the chef then crafts a seasonal menu based on the ingredients nature provides at that time.
Check more details and reserve
| Address | 269-2 Aza-sunagawa, Nojima-todoroki, Awaji City A free shuttle busavailable |
|---|---|
| Parking | 14 spaces（free） |
| Tel | 050-3821-2229 |
| Operation Hours | 11:00 a.m.- 9:00 p.m.(L.O.8:00 p.m.) |
| Official Website | https://www.oh-sobar.com/ |
| Official Reservation Site | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/oh-sobar/reserve/message/ |
Click here for details of Oh-SOBAR
More Restaurants and Cafés to Round Out Your Awaji Island Trip
Many other restaurants and cafés line Awaji’s west coast, all located right by the Seto Inland Sea. The sunset here has been selected as one of the “Top 100 Sunsets in Japan,” offering truly spectacular views. Savor delicious cuisine while taking in the breathtaking scenery on your Awaji Island trip.
Please click here to view the list of restaurants and cafés.
Enjoy Striking Architecture and Culture on an Awaji Island Trip
Awaji Island showcases outstanding works by some of Japan’s most renowned architects, including master architect Tadao Ando’s designs at Awaji Yumebutai and Honpukuji Water Temple; Pritzker Prize laureate Shigeru Ban’s designs at Zenbo Seinei and Haru San San, and Sousuke Fujimoto’s designs at San San Villa. Fujimoto in particular is acclaimed for his design of the Grand Ring for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.
Architecture fans will also not want to miss Senshin Waho, where you can actually stay and spend a leisurely time exploring amazing traditional architecture, crafted by miyadaiku, traditional carpenters who build and repair shrines and temples.
Senshin Waho, a Japanse Hot Spring Inn (Ryokan) Showcasing Traditional Architecture
Senshin Waho is a traditional Japanese ryokan offering a tranquil escape into timeless hot spring culture, seasonal Awaji cuisine, and ocean-view rooms. Nestled on the western coast of Awaji Island—known as the “Birthplace of Japan” in Japanese mythology—it overlooks the breathtaking Seto Inland Sea.
The name Senshin Waho combines Senshin, meaning purified mind, and Waho, referring to ancient Japanese natural therapy practices, expressing the inn’s philosophy of harmonizing body and mind through Japanese hospitality. More than just a place to stay, Senshin Waho is a journey into the culture, wellness traditions, and natural beauty of Japan.
Many of the ryokan’s spaces were crafted by Kongo Gumi, the world’s oldest company, founded in 578 A.D. and renowned for miyadaiku, the traditional carpenters who use highly skilled techniques to build and repair shrines and temples. The refined yet understated design found throughout the ryokan offers an immersive experience of enduring Japanese craftsmanship and tradition.
| Address | 150 Hikinoura Nojima Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1721 A free shuttle bus is available. |
|---|---|
| Parking | Available (Free) |
| Reception | Check-in 3:00 p.m.～／check-out 11:00 a.m. |
| Guest Rooms | 20 rooms in total (8 standard Japanese-style rooms, 6 Western-style rooms, 3 special guest rooms with a bath with a view, 3 independent rooms with an open-air hot spring bath) |
| Tel. No. | 0799-64-9800 |
| Official HP | https://senshinwaho.com/ |
| Official Reservation Site | https://go-senshinwaho.reservation.jp/en |
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Closing
Are you ready to embark on an Awaji Island trip? Whether you’re into architecture, wellness, culture, or gourmet food, the island has it all. By skipping the crowds at more well-known destinations in Japan, you can enjoy a more tranquil stay and experience the country more intimately and authentically. Use our inquiry form to start planning your dream trip today. Our team will help create the perfect Awaji Island adventure for you. Don’t miss out—reach out now and let your journey begin!
