Awaji Island

Completed in 1998, this majestic bridge dwarfs the village of Iwaya below. The bridge's total length is 3,991 m, and the main span's length of 1,991 m made it the longest suspension bridge in the world (surpassed by Çanakkale Bridge in 2022). The bridge is attractively lit at night.

See the whirlpools, either at the rest area on the expressway near Onaruto Bridge or by cruise. These are a major attraction for the Japanese, and manga character Naruto Uzumaki (lit. "whirlpools of Naruto") is named after them, but most visitors will find them distinctly underwhelming. Visit during the changing of the tides (four times daily) to see them at their largest.

A ruined castle and keep. It is the oldest reconstructed castle in Japan, having been rebuilt prior to WWII in 1928. Getting there requires quite a hike, but the view from the top is extraordinary.

A famous Buddhist temple building designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando. The same architect also designed nearby Yume no Butai.

A section of the Nojima Fault, responsible for the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, is preserved here.

A beautiful botanical museum.