Awaji Island

Awaji Island is the largest island in Japan's Seto Inland Sea, connected to Kobe by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, whose 1,991-meter main span makes it the world's longest suspension bridge. To the south, the Onaruto Bridge links Awaji to Shikoku. According to the Kojiki, Japan's oldest chronicle, Awaji was the first island created when the deities Izanagi and Izanami stirred the primordial sea. The island bears the mark of both natural disaster and architectural renewal. The Awaji Yumebutai complex, designed by Tadao Ando, sits near the epicenter of the devastating 1995 earthquake. Its terraced gardens were built partly to rehabilitate a hillside that had been quarried for Kansai Airport construction, transforming industrial scarring into contemplative beauty. Awaji has become known for its sweet onions, which appear in everything from gourmet burgers to soft-serve ice cream. From the southern tip, boats carry visitors to view the famous Naruto whirlpools. Flower parks, unhurried coastal roads, and abundant fresh seafood make the island a favorite weekend escape from Osaka and Kobe.