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A lot is claimed about Japan’s “4 most important islands,” it’s simple to overlook that Japan has a number of medium-sized islands simply off the shores of stated most important ones.
Many of those are within the Sea of Japan, from Sado Island off Niigata, to the Oki Islands off Shimane prefecture, to a cluster of islands simply north of Nagasaki. That is to say nothing of Okinawa, which itself is a completely separate archipelago from the remainder of Japan.
Then, in fact, there’s Awaji-shima, which is one thing of a land bridge between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, so necessary and conspicuous that it’s oddly simple to overlook. Proceed studying to study why it’s unattainable to overlook, regardless of this—and, in fact, for my suggestions about issues to do in Awaji Island.
Easy methods to Get to Awaji Island
Whether or not you’re taking an Awaji Island day journey or keep the night time, the island is troublesome to entry by Japanese requirements—there’s no practice station, so that you must come both by personal automobile or by bus. Buses depart each from Kobe on Honshu island and Tokushima on Shikoku. You can even lease a automobile in each these cities, although doing so will imply it’s important to pay bridge tolls to entry the island, so it’s higher to attend till you get to Awaji to lease your automobile.
Now, Awaji Island won’t be the primary vacation spot you affiliate with cryptocurrency—most of the older residents right here gained’t even have heard of it. To me, nevertheless, this makes it all of the extra interesting a vacation spot for vacationers who’re keen about crypto. Amongst different causes, issues have a tendency to shut down fairly early for the night time right here, which signifies that you’ll have loads of time to attempt your luck at one of many bitcoin casinos out there in Japan after you’ve accomplished your day’s sightseeing.
What to Do in Awaji Island
Admire the Akashi Kaikyo bridge
I adopted my very own recommendation after I visited Awaji Island with my buddy Eriko: We took a bus from Kobe over to Awaji Island, and picked up a rental automobile after we obtained there. Nonetheless, though we had crossed the mammoth Akashi Kaikyo bridge through bus, we made positive to drive again to the north coast of the island to admire it from beneath.
Say a prayer at Izanagi Shrine
The primary of the issues to do in Awaji Island I’m going to suggest is Izanagi Shrine. Situated within the middle of the island not removed from Awaji metropolis, it was the island’s most important shrine again when it was the anchor of Awaji province, throughout Samurai instances. Named for one of many progenitor gods in Japanese mythology, it was first constructed within the ninth century.
Eat an onion
Given how largely rural it’s, it isn’t stunning that Awaji Island has a strong agricultural trade. An important crop is the famously candy Awaji onion, which is spotlighted in delicacies served in eating places across the island. You’ll additionally see onion mascots and paraphernalia as you drive, so hold an eye fixed out!
Benefit from the view from Sumoto Citadel
A citadel go to won’t be one of many issues to do in Awaji that you simply search out, provided that Himeji simply over the bridge is dwelling to considered one of Japan’s finest castles. Nonetheless, what Sumoto Citadel lacks in originality—it was rebuilt in 1928—it makes up for with the gorgeous views of the Seto Inland Sea you get pleasure from from its tenshu.
Recognize the design of Hachijo-ji temple
On the floor, the tiny Hachijo-ji temple close to the city of Sano won’t appear value spotlighting. However along with the individuality of its design (which strongly resembles the Danjo-garan temple complicated at Mt. Koya), it is usually stated to deal with the “Seven Fortunate Gods,” making it an auspicious place for Buddhist and Shinto worshippers.
Is Awaji Island Value Visiting?
I’ll be trustworthy: Awaji Island takes plenty of effort to go to. It’s not a matter of getting on a Shinkansen and making a brief stroll, as is the case once you go to close by Himeji Citadel from Osaka or Kyoto. You’ll both must lease a automobile (which is pricey), or spend time planning out a bus journey that will depend on somewhat lean schedules across the island, which can in all probability necessitate at the least one night time in a resort.
With this being stated, I do suppose the island is value visiting, irrespective of what number of days in Awaji Island you in the end find yourself spending. The problem of getting there and round signifies that there aren’t many vacationers, making Awaji-shima some of the genuine locations in Japan. Then, in fact, there’s the target awesomeness of all of the issues to do in Awaji I’ve lived (which, let’s face it, are solely actually the start).
Different FAQ About Visiting Awaji Island
How do you get round Awaji?
There are solely two methods to get round Awaji Island. The primary and finest is to make use of your personal personal automobile, whether or not you reside in Japan and personal one, or lease one after you get there. The second choice is to make the most of the native bus community, which has a hub at Sumoto Bus Middle on the east coast of the island.
The place is Awaji Island positioned?
Awaji Island is positioned simply southwest of Kobe, and kind of serves as a land bridge between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, to which it connects close to town of Tokushima. The closest main worldwide airport to Awaji is Osaka’s Kansai Airport.
How do I get from Osaka to Awaji Island by practice?
You’ll be able to’t trip a practice all the way in which from Osaka to Awaji Island. Reasonably, you possibly can trip a JR Particular Fast Service from Osaka Station to Kobe’s Sannomiya Station, then get the Awaji Kotsu freeway bus from there. You can even trip a bus to Awaji Island from town of Tokushima on Shikoku island.
The Backside Line
Whereas the checklist of issues to do in Awaji Island I’ve offered inside this submit isn’t complete, it positively provides you an adventurous head-start. Like many locations in Japan—and like Japan extra broadly—it’s quite a bit greater than it appears on the map. Even in the event you lease a automobile (which is admittedly essential to discover this no-train island) and see off from Kobe or Tokushima early within the morning, the fact is {that a} day is admittedly not sufficient to understand it in its entirety—keep in a single day and discover two days to get the total image. Want personalised assist placing your Awaji journey collectively? Take into account hiring me to plan your Japan itinerary!
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