If you ever have the chance to visit Kansai, it would be a real miss not to explore the beautiful islands located just south of Osaka — namely, Awaji Island and Shikoku. Visiting these picturesque islands offers not only breathtaking sightseeing opportunities but also the chance to witness one of Japan’s most impressive technological wonders: the Akashi Bridge, officially known as the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge — Japan’s longest suspension bridge.
In this blog, I’d love to share our family’s one-day adventure exploring Awaji Island and discovering the iconic Akashi Bridge.
1. Akashi Bridge & The Akashi Bridge Exhibition Center – The Longest Suspension Bridge in the World
Since it’s not too far from Osaka, we decided to make a one-day trip by car. The Akashi Bridge connects Awaji Island to the mainland in Kobe. Completed in the 1990s, it held the title of the world’s longest suspension bridge for several decades. The first impression when seeing the bridge up close is simply how massive it is — six lanes of traffic in both directions, stretching almost 4 kilometers, and built entirely of steel.
When you reach the Kobe side of the Akashi Bridge, you can visit the Akashi Bridge Exhibition Center, which showcases the bridge’s development and construction history. You can also head up to the Maiko Marine Promenade, located on the lower deck of the bridge, where you’ll enjoy stunning panoramic views of Kobe Bay. The admission fee is 300 yen for adults (children can enter for free), while the museum charges a small fee for both adults and kids.
The lower deck viewing area offers visitors a spectacular vantage point at 50 meters above sea level. From March to May, you may even witness the famous natural whirlpools under the bridge — a unique phenomenon that attracts both tourists and locals. Unfortunately, since we visited in late July, we didn’t get to see the whirlpools this time.
After exploring the promenade, don’t miss the Akashi Bridge Exhibition Center itself — it’s a fantastic educational experience, especially for kids. Upon entry, you’re given 3D glasses to watch a short film about the bridge’s construction, which screens every 30 minutes. We arrived a bit late and only caught the ending, but it was still fascinating.
The museum showcases real equipment and construction models used to build the Akashi Bridge, from laying the foundation, assembling cables, to installing the bridge deck. There’s also a scaled model of the bridge at a 1:1200 ratio, alongside models of other famous suspension bridges across Japan, allowing you to truly appreciate the scale and complexity of this engineering marvel. Interestingly, even the museum’s roof is designed to resemble the Akashi Bridge, offering kids an interactive way to learn about Japan’s incredible engineering feats from half a century ago.
Regarded as one of Japan’s most iconic examples of suspension bridge technology, the Akashi Bridge leaves visitors in awe of the country’s creativity and innovation. If you ever visit Kobe, make sure to stop by and explore this world-famous bridge.
2. Awaji Island – Happy Pancake Café: A Sweet Paradise for Instagram Lovers
After crossing the Akashi Bridge, we arrived at Awaji Island. Our first stop was the famous Happy Pancake Café — one of Japan’s most well-known pancake shops and a hotspot for social media photos.
This was our family’s first time visiting Awaji Island, though we’d heard so much about it beforehand. No matter the season, Awaji Island draws tourists with its beaches, delicious food, flower parks, amusement parks, and countless photogenic spots. Our kids first discovered the Happy Pancake Café on social media, where it’s highly popular among Japanese students, so naturally, this became our first destination. The café features beautifully decorated photo spots where guests often queue for their turn to snap the perfect shot.
In spring (March to May), there’s even a strawberry picking farm next to the café — though it requires advance booking several months ahead.
At the Happy Pancake Café, you can watch the entire pancake-making process while you wait — from mixing batter and whipping cream to flipping pancakes and decorating each plate. They serve both sweet and savory options, allowing you to try a variety of flavors. Like most Japanese people, our family preferred the sweet pancakes topped with fresh fruits and cream — the perfect combination.
You can choose to sit inside with air conditioning or outside on the breezy terrace by the sea. Thanks to the sea breeze and plenty of fans, the outdoor seating is very comfortable even during summer. If you’re interested in swimming, there are several beautiful beaches just 2-3 km from the café, complete with beachfront restaurants and facilities. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find parking that day, so we had to postpone our beach plans for next time.
Along the coast, you’ll find numerous campsites and resorts, perfect for families with young children who want to stay overnight. I highly recommend booking in advance online if you’re planning to extend your visit and enjoy more of what Awaji Island has to offer.
3. Final
Awaji Island is a small island connecting Shikoku and the mainland. You can easily drive from Osaka across Awaji Island to reach Shikoku — and that’s exactly what our family is planning for our next adventure, as Shikoku is known as Japan’s “land of spirits.”
Since this was a one-day trip, we didn’t have time to visit Awaji Akashi Kaikyo Park, where the kids wanted to enjoy the rides — the park closes at 5 PM. After a leisurely drive along the coast and enjoying the ocean breeze, we wrapped up our wonderful day full of memorable experiences. We’re already looking forward to returning to Awaji Island for more adventures in the future!