When you think about summer, what do you imagine? The sea? Delicious food? Maybe exciting events with friends and family? If so, you’re in luck because the popular summer destination of Awaji Island, just 1 hour from Osaka, offers all this and more.
Let’s take a look at the best summer spots on the island!
Table of Contents
Transportation: Getting here
Getting to Awaji Island is not as complicated as you might think. Read on for the best options. For drivers, getting here is a breeze.
However, for those without wheels, don’t worry! As you might expect from a country as convenient as Japan, there’s bus options as well. First, go to Sannomiya Station, then catch the bus to Awaji Island.
Osaka to Sannomiya Station
Direct trains to Sannomiya Station depart from major areas in Osaka. If coming from Umeda, simply take the JR Rapid Tokaido Sanyo Line directly from JR Osaka Station to JR Sannomiya Station. From the Namba area, the easiest way is to use the Hanshin Namba Line from Osaka-Namba Station (platform 3) to Kobe-Sannomiya Station.
Sannomiya Station to Awaji Island
Next, travel to Awaji Island from Sannomiya Station. The easiest way is by using the Awaji Resort Bus – Kita-Awaji Nishi-Kaigan Line (Shinki Bus).
This bus takes you directly from Sannomiya to all the best spots on Awaji Island. Check this article for more details, including the bus schedule.
The Awaji Resort Bus – Kita-Awaji Nishi-Kaigan Line (Shinki Bus) has limited availability throughout the day. If your timing doesn’t match the bus schedule, don’t worry—there’s more than one way here!
From Sannomiya Station, you can go to Awaji Interchange (IC). Two buses leave from each of Sannomiya’s 2 bus terminals to Awaji IC. One leaves from Sannomiya Bus Terminal (Mint Kobe) and the other from Shinki Bus Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal. Both buses go directly to Awaji IC. From there, catch the free shuttle bus to all the best spots on Awaji Island.
Check out this article for more information about the free shuttle bus from Awaji IC.
Summer Adventure at Nijigen no Mori
What’s summer without exciting events and activities, right? Nijigen no Mori is full of unique experiences found nowhere else, especially for fans of anime and manga. But even if you’re not a big fan, there’s still plenty here for all to enjoy.
Nijigen no Mori is an anime theme park on Awaji Island, featuring many smaller parks inside based on popular franchises like Naruto, Godzilla, Dragon Quest, Shin-chan, and many more.
If the idea of zooming into Godzilla’s jaws, becoming a ninja and completing missions, or going on a quest like in the RPG World sounds exciting to you, Nijigen no Mori is a must!
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Awaji Island Summer Gourmet Selections
Summer is a time of joy, energy, happiness, and celebration. With all of these qualities in mind, Awaji Island has launched the SUN SUN Sparkling Summer Festival! Restaurants up and down the West Coast are offering special, limited-time menus serving dishes the color of the golden summer sun. These unique culinary creations can only be found on Awaji Island!
The summer dishes are amazing, but so are the incredible ocen views from the restaurants, especially the evening sunset, ranked as one of the best in Japan!
So come enjoy the idyllic resort atmosphere of the region while dining on unique summer treats. It’s perfection!
Meet & Greet with the Iconic Hello Kitty!
Another of the island’s unique experiences is meeting the iconic, beloved character, Hello Kitty! Awaji Island offers spots to experience all things Hello Kitty. At the theme park, Hello Kitty Smile, Hello Kitty-themed projection mapping transports you to a magical realm with Hello Kitty.
Also, take a seat at restaurant to try Hello Kitty-inspired dishes while enjoying a Hello Kitty show. And of course, the highlight is the opportunity to meet Hello Kitty in person!
Getting Around Awaji Island
We’ve introduced you to the best summer spots on Awaji Island: Nijigen no Mori, Hello Kitty facilities, and resort restaurants. Now, you might be wondering how to get from one place to another. Going to Awaji Island is simple, as explained above, but what about getting around the island? Well, it’s also easy!
A free shuttle bus stops at all the popular summer spots introduced here, and many more. Check out the article below to find out about routes and schedules of the free shuttle bus on the west coast of Awaji Island!
Closing
There you have it! A comprehensive guide to enjoying summer on Awaji Island. It’s truly one of the best destinations to make the most of summer in Japan. Getting here is easy too, with convenient transportation options to and around the island. So what are you waiting for? The fantasy paradise of Awaji Island is only a hop skip and jump away!
