🌊 Hyogo (Awaji) · 1–2 days
Awaji Island Drive: Kobe to the Naruto Whirlpools
Cross the world’s longest suspension bridge from Kobe and drive the length of Awaji Island to the Naruto whirlpools — 4 michi-no-eki with onion cuisine, ocean views and the two great Seto bridges.
Awaji Island sits in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea, tethered to the mainland by two of Japan’s greatest bridges: the Akashi Kaikyo — the longest suspension bridge on earth — reaching over from Kobe in the north, and the Onaruto spanning the Naruto whirlpools to Shikoku in the south. Between them is an island of onion fields, quiet beaches and coast road that all but demands a car.
This short drive runs the full length of the island from north to south. It starts at Michi-no-Eki Awaji, tucked directly under the Akashi bridge with the tower soaring overhead, follows the east coast down to Fukura and the Uzushio station overlooking the Naruto whirlpools, where you can board a boat into the churning tide. Awaji is Japan’s onion capital, and every roadside station serves it — burgers, soup, even onion soft-serve.
The stops, in driving order
- 1 Michi-no-Eki Awaji 道の駅 あわじ · Hyogo
Michi-no-Eki Awaji (道の駅 あわじ) is a government-designated roadside station in 淡路市, Hyogo, Japan, registered in 1997 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 91 cars and 11 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are （平日）9:30–17:30（土日祝）9:00–17:30 ※12–2月の平日は17:00まで ◆レストランのみ通年 11:00–17:00 L.O.. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Higashiura Taaminarupaaku, Miki and Ougo.
Nearby: 🎢舞子海上プロムナード (4 km) · 🏛兵庫県立淡路夢舞台公苑温室 あわじグリーン館 (4.3 km)
- 2 Michi-no-Eki Higashiura Taaminarupaaku 道の駅 東浦ターミナルパーク · Hyogo
Michi-no-Eki Higashiura Taaminarupaaku (道の駅 東浦ターミナルパーク) is a government-designated roadside station in 淡路市, Hyogo, Japan, registered in 2001 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a local-products shop, a tourist-information desk, a museum or gallery and an accessible restroom. There is free parking for about 117 cars and 11 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–18:00（農産物直売所）. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Awaji, Totto Paaku Kojima and Miki.
Nearby: 🎢花さじき (2.3 km) · 🏛兵庫県立淡路夢舞台公苑温室 あわじグリーン館 (3.2 km)
- 3 Michi-no-Eki Fukura 道の駅 福良 · Hyogo
Michi-no-Eki Fukura (道の駅 福良) is a government-designated roadside station in 南あわじ市, Hyogo, Japan, registered in 2013 as one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a hot-spring (onsen) bath, a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 49 cars and 6 large vehicles. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Uzushio, Daiku No Sato and Kubou No Sato Nakagawa.
Nearby: 🏛大嗚門橋記念館（うずしお科学館・淡路人形浄瑠璃館） (3.2 km) · 🌄屋上展望台 (3.5 km)
- 4 Michi-no-Eki Uzushio 道の駅 うずしお · Hyogo
Michi-no-Eki Uzushio (道の駅 うずしお) is a government-designated roadside station in 南あわじ市, Hyogo, Japan, one of the country's official michi-no-eki rest stops for road travellers. On-site you'll find a restaurant, a cafe, a local-products shop, free Wi-Fi and a tourist-information desk. There is free parking for about 102 cars. Typical opening hours are 9:00–17:00. Like every michi-no-eki it offers free parking and 24-hour restrooms, making it a reliable stop on a Kansai road trip or campervan tour. It also makes a handy base for reaching nearby stations such as Fukura, Daiku No Sato and Donari.
Nearby: 📸Naruto Whirlpools (1 km) · 🌄Uzu no Michi Observation Deck (1.3 km)
Make this route yours — load all 4 stops into the planner, reorder or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
Customize this route →Route tips
- Michi-no-Eki Awaji sits right under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge tower — the best free view of the world’s longest suspension bridge.
- Time Fukura for a Naruto whirlpool cruise; the biggest whirlpools form around the daily tidal peaks, posted at the port.
- Awaji onions are the local obsession — try the onion burger and onion soup at the roadside stations, sweeter than any you’ve had.
- The island is the classic land bridge between Honshu and Shikoku — pair it with Kobe to the north or a crossing to Tokushima to the south.
Before you drive
- Can you drive in Japan? License rules by country
- Renting a car in Japan: the complete guide
- Can you sleep overnight at a michi-no-eki?
FAQ — Awaji Island drive
How many days do you need for the Awaji Island drive route?
1–2 days is a comfortable pace: roughly 70 km of driving with 4 michi-no-eki stops along the way. You can compress it, but the stops are the point.
Where does the route start and end?
It starts at Kobe (Akashi Kaikyo Bridge) and ends at Naruto (Onaruto Bridge). Load all 4 stops into the free MichiStops route planner to reorder, add or remove stops, then open the finished trip in Google Maps.
When is the best season to drive this route?
Year-round; onions and spring flowers best April–June.
Do I need to rent a car?
Yes — michi-no-eki are roadside stations, realistically reachable only by rental car or campervan. Most visitors can drive in Japan with a 1949-convention International Driving Permit; check the license rules for your country before booking. License rules by country →
Can I sleep overnight at the michi-no-eki on this route?
Resting overnight in your vehicle is tolerated at most michi-no-eki, but tents, awnings and open-air cooking are not allowed. Read the overnight-stay guide for the etiquette. Overnight-stay guide →