Osaka, one of Japan’s largest cities**, is a city with a fascinating history and gastronomy. It is a vibrant area with many tourist attractions such as Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and Kaiyukan, one of the world’s largest aquariums. Awaji Island is easily accessible from Osaka, taking only about 1 hour by car or 1.5 hours by public transportation! After enjoying sightseeing in Osaka, it is recommended to visit Awaji Island to enjoy the great nature, cafes with spectacular views, and seafood gourmet cuisine. This article introduces a model plan to enjoy both Osaka and Awaji Island! We pick up not only the standard popular spots, but also the latest resort gourmet foods and notable sightseeing spots. If you are planning a trip to Osaka, please take a look at this article for reference.
Table of Contents
Day 1 of 3-day/2-night Trip to Awaji Island and Osaka to Experience Expo 2025 Osaka
12 noon: Shopping and typical gourmet food in the Osaka Station area (Umeda area)
When you arrive at the Osaka Station area by public transportation, it is just time for lunch. The Umeda area is lined with a variety of commercial facilities such as Hankyu Sanbangai and Grand Front Osaka, but many people may be thinking, “If I have come all the way to Osaka, I want to try authentic okonomiyaki and takoyaki!
We have carefully selected three classic gourmet spots in the Umeda area where you can savor Osaka’s specialties.
- Okonomiyaki Sakura
Sakura is a long-established okonomiyaki restaurant that has been in business for over 50 years. The softly baked batter and rich special sauce are superb. - Takohachi Ume Underground Branch
The authentic takoyaki enjoyed at the counter is very attractive. The crispy outside and creamy inside texture is addictive. - Shichifukujin Higashi Umeda Branch
This is a famous restaurant in the Umeda area where you can taste crispy-battered kushikatsu skewers.
Enjoy Osaka sightseeing to the fullest by visiting lunch spots where you can enjoy a wide variety of Osaka’s unique gourmet foods, from the standard to the unusual.
3:00 p.m. Visit Kaiyukan (aquarium)
Kaiyukan, a popular tourist spot in Osaka, is one of the world’s largest aquariums, where visitors can experience up close the diverse ecosystems of the sea, from the deep sea to coral reefs. The “Pacific Ocean Tank,” the largest in the aquarium, is a particularly impressive area where visitors can observe whale sharks, manta rays, and other large marine creatures swimming at their leisure up close. The “Jungle Zone,” which recreates the environment of a tropical rainforest, is home to rare aquatic creatures and plants, allowing visitors to experience the depths of nature. In addition, the “Antarctica Tank,” which is based on the image of an icy world, offers a variety of themed areas, such as the one where penguins can be seen living a leisurely life. Kaiyukan also offers a variety of hands-on programs where visitors can learn about the ecology of living creatures, making it a popular tourist spot for families, couples, and tourists alike. Please be sure to visit when sightseeing in Osaka.
7:00 p.m. Dinner in the aquarium or around the area
Right next to Osaka’s popular aquarium, Kaiyukan, is a large commercial facility called Tempozan Market Place. Located on the second floor of the facility, “Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho” (Osaka Gourmand’s Alley) is an area where visitors can relish Osaka’s famous okonomiyaki, takoyaki, kushikatsu, and other gourmet foods in a retro townscape reminiscent of downtown Osaka around 1965 (Showa era). The “Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel,” which has been recognized as a Japan Nightscape Heritage Site, stands tall right next to the Market Place. The Giant Ferris Wheel, which is 112.5 meters high and 100 meters in diameter, was said to be “one of the largest in the world” when it first opened, and offers a spectacular view of Osaka Bay. At night, the Giant Ferris Wheel is illuminated in rainbow colors, creating a romantic atmosphere. When you visit Kaiyukan, why not also be amazed with the gourmet food and spectacular views in the Tempozan area?
Day 2 of 3-day/2-night Trip to Awaji Island and Osaka to Experience Expo 2025 Osaka
Awaji Island can be reached from Osaka in about an hour by car or about an hour and a half by highway bus, and is an attractive destination where you can enjoy rich nature and a resort atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of the city. After an exhilarating drive across the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge to be impressed with the spectacular view of the emerald green sea, gourmet delights await you, including fresh seafood, Awaji beef, and sweet onions that only Awaji Island can offer. In addition, you can have a memorable and extraordinary experience both day and night by driving along the Sunset Line on the west coast and relaxing at a seaside café.
9:00 a.m. Leave Osaka for Awaji Island
Traveling by car is convenient for sightseeing on Awaji Island. There are many car rental stores near Osaka Station for a smooth departure, but if you are not comfortable driving in Osaka City or on the expressway, an express bus is also recommended. Express buses run from Osaka Station to Awaji IC, and rental cars can be rented upon arrival. During the trip, you can delight in the spectacular view spreading out from the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Choose a comfortable access method and enjoy sightseeing on Awaji Island to the fullest.
11:00 a.m. Take a break at Awaji Interchange
As soon as you cross the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, you will be greeted by the Awaji Highway Oasis, marked by a Ferris wheel. There are a variety of cafes and restaurants, including Starbucks and Mister Donut, that are ideal for taking a break from driving, as well as souvenir stores selling Awaji Island’s specialties. Even Starbucks and Mister Donut, American franchises, have items only available in Japan. To have fun in your trip to Awaji Island even more, we recommend that you take a ride on the Ferris wheel and be entertained with the spectacular view of the Akashi Kaikyo Straits. Enjoy the unique charms of Awaji Island while taking a refreshing break.
12 noon: Lunch on the west coast of Awaji Island
Craft Circus is a dining complex where you can have a meal while looking out over the beautiful sea of Awaji Island. At “Kaiou Ichiba,” you can enjoy fresh seafood on a BBQ or sushi, and at “Craft Kitchen,” you can share a 40-cm-diameter pizza, a hearty hamburger, and other dishes. In addition, there is a flea market, a marché, a dog run, and a variety of other activities. Why not savor a meal while enjoying the spectacular view, and then go shopping or spend some quality time with your pet?
| Location | CRAFT CIRCUS |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-2 Nojima-Hirabayashi, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-1724 |
| Access | 15 minutes by car from Awaji IC on Awaji-Kobe-Naruto Expressway. 10 minutes by car from Iwaya Port (Jenova Line Ferry). |
| Parking | 80 spaces |
| Business Hours | Weekdays: 10:30-20:30 (last order 19:30) Weekends/Holidays: 9:30-20:30 (last order 19:30) |
| Closed | Thursdays (excluding national holidays) |
| Tel | 0799-82-1855 |
| Website | https://awajicraftcircus.com/ |
| Reservations | https://www.tablecheck.com/en/shops/craftcircus/reserve |
Click here for details of CRAFT CIRCUS
Awaji Chef Garden is a restaurant complex where selected talented chefs from all over Japan gather to serve a wide variety of dishes in colorful container restaurants. 16 restaurants are lined up, allowing visitors to pick a meal according to their mood of the day. Particularly popular are Awaji-wagyu specialty restaurant Awaju, where you can enjoy a meal of steak on rice using Awaji Island’s premium brand of Awaji wagyu beef, and HINOMARU, where the popular Hinomaru Kaisen Zuke-don (freshly-pickled seafood bowl) is made with plenty of fresh seafood. These are spots where you can fully relish exquisite gourmet foods unique to Awaji Island.
| Name | Awai Chef's Garden by PASONA |
|---|---|
| Address | 57-3, Nojima Okawa, Awaji Shi, Hyogo Ken, 656-1723 |
| Parking | Approx. 140 units (Chef Garden Parking Space & SEIKAIHA Parking Space) 500 yen/day |
| Phone Number | 080-8177-4501 |
| Website | https://www.awaji-chefgarden.com/ |
| Business Hours | 11:00～21:00 (last order 20:00) *Subject to change depending on the season and weather. |
Click here for details of Awaji Chef's Garden
3:00 p.m. Go to Awaji Yumebutai
Awaji Yumebutai is a resort facility in harmony with nature, designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando. Under the theme of “creating a space where plants and humans can coexist in harmony,” a group of beautiful facilities spread out on the slopes of the mountain. The “Hyakudan-en,” a popular Instagram-worthy spot, attracts visitors with its 100 flowerbeds lined up in a staircase pattern. The Awaji Green Pavilion, which houses a world-class collection of plants, and the Awaji Island National Akashi Kaikyo Park, which boasts a vast area of land, are also among the many highlights of the area. Enjoy the natural beauty of Awaji Yumebutai.
6:00 p.m. Try Awaji Island’s unique accommodations
Here are some facilities where you can be fully delighted with dinner and lodging on Awaji Island. We recommend two facilities where you can enjoy delicious cuisine and the bounty of nature on Awaji Island, which is known as “Miketsukuni” (the land of foods) due to its abundant food resources and its history of providing foods to the Imperial court at an ancient time.
Grand Chariot Hokutoshichisei 135° is a glamping facility located in the northern part of Awaji Island, offering a variety of sumptuous dishes for dinner, including nabe dishes like shabu-shabu and sukiyaki as well as barbecue and much more. In 2022, it was recognized as a “PLATINUM HOTELS Top Quality Inn” by Rakuten Travel, and the hotel has been recognized for its high quality. Each room is equipped with a skylight to allow guests to enjoy the starry sky and morning sunlight. Some rooms are collaborated with popular anime characters, being decorated with items familiar around the world. You can spend a luxurious time in the midst of nature.
| 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
Auberge “French Forest” is a restaurant and lodging facility that serves authentic French cuisine using fresh ingredients from Awaji Island. Three different styles of French cuisine can be enjoyed for dinner, and the rooms in which guests stay offer a quiet space reminiscent of a French mansion. At breakfast, you can savor dishes prepared with care by the chef using a variety of Awaji Island ingredients. This is the perfect place for those who want to spend a luxurious and relaxing time.
| Name | Auberge “French Forest” |
|---|---|
| Address | 2593-8 Kusumoto Aza Banaka, Awaji City, Hyogo Pref. 656-2301 |
| TEL | La Rose 0799-70-6062 Prince Etoile 0799-70-6061 Grand Baobab 0799-70-6063 |
| Website | https://frenchnomori.jp/ |
| Reservations | https://frenchnomori.jp/reservation/ |
| Hotel Reservation | https://www.booking.com/hotel/jp/aubergehurentinosen.ja.html |
| Operation Hours | Lunch – 11:30~15:30 (Last Entry: 13:00) Dinner – 17:30~21:30 (Last Entry: 19:00) |
| Menu | A Full-Course Lunch ￥7,000～/ A Full-Course Dinner ￥10,000～ |
Click here for details of Auberge “French Forest”
Day 3 of 3-day/2-night Trip to Awaji Island and Osaka to Experience Expo 2025 Osaka
To Yumeshima, an Expo site from Awaji Island by car or public transportation
By car
By car, cross the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and head north on the Kobe-Awaji Naruto Expressway. After that, take the Hanshin Expressway to Yumeshima. The trip takes about 1.5 to 2 hours.
By Public Transportation
When using public transportation, head from Awaji Island to JR Maiko Station or Sannomiya Station, then transfer to JR Osaka Station. Then take the Osaka Metro from Osaka Station to Yumeshima Station. The trip takes about 2 hours, but since multiple transfers are required, it is recommended to allow plenty of time for the trip.
By High Speed Ferry
When using a high-speed ferry, the trip from Awaji Island to Akashi Port takes about 13 minutes, and from there it takes about 1.5 hours by train, making the trip less than 2 hours.
Using these access methods, it is possible to visit the Osaka-Kansai Expo smoothly from Awaji Island.
Experience Innovative Technology and Ideas of the Future at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai
The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan under the theme “Designing a Future Society that Shines with Life,” is an international event dedicated to the realization of a sustainable society in harmony with nature. The Expo brings together innovative technologies and forward-thinking ideas to present a vision of a better future, featuring the latest technology, including the iPS heart developed from iPS cells, and exhibits aimed at a society based on well-being, with a focus on physical, mental, and social health. The Expo will send a message to the world centered on physical, mental, and social health. The Expo is a rare opportunity to experience sustainable development and innovation.
Pasona Group, which is contributing to the revitalization of the west coast of Awaji Island, is exhibiting a pavilion at the Expo 2025 under the theme “Thank You for Life.” The pavilion introduces the Group’s efforts to realize a sustainable future with respect for nature, and communicates its vision for the future based on the themes of mind, body and bonds through exhibits that aim to create a wellbeing society, including an iPS heart created from iPS cells.
Closing
Centered on Awaji Island, a travel plan to enjoy the natural beauty and innovative vision of the future offers a special and memorable experience. Surrounded by the rich natural beauty of Awaji Island, you can be delighted with a relaxing resort atmosphere and feel the innovation of the Expo, a world-class event. Away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this trip to experience visions of the future society will be a wonderful time to refresh your mind and body.
