Awaji Island

Awaji -shima (Japanese淡 路 岛) is a 592.30 km ² large island between the Harima Sea to the west, the Bay of Osaka in the east and the Kii Strait in the south. It is part of Hyōgo Prefecture and is the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea.

In the north, it is connected via the Akashi - Kaikyo Bridge with the main Japanese island of Honshu, in the south of the Naruto bridge to the island of Shikoku.

Topography and climate

Awaji -shima is almost throughout hilly with elevations up to 606 m altitude.

The climate of the island is, as in the whole area around the Seto Inland Sea, relatively mild.

Administrative divisions

The island is divided into urban districts Awaji, Sumoto and Minamiawaji. The largest city on the island is Sumoto.

History

Before the foundation of Hyōgo Prefecture island formed from the 7th to the 19th century, the province of Awaji. Awaji means " road to Awa " because Awaji -shima is located between the main island of Honshu and the former province of Awa, Tokushima Prefecture today. In the Edo period, reigned from 1615 daimyo of Tokushima, the Hachisuka family, also Awaji.

Economy

The economy Awaji - Shima is heavily agricultural. In addition to agriculture onions are a typical product. In addition to the road access to Honshu and a national garden show extensive infrastructure measures were carried out, which have greatly promoted the attractiveness of the island.

Traffic

On Awaji -shima, there are no railways; the island was until the opening of the Akashi - Kaikyo Bridge in 1998 in terms of infrastructure in the shadow of the nearby urban areas on Honshu and Shikoku. Due to the motorway link Honshu - Awaji - Naruto and extensive Safety equipment and new buildings, the island is now well opened to traffic and serves as a direct link between the eastern part of Shikoku and the entire metropolitan area Kobe -Osaka - Kyoto. Has the Naruto bridge designed in the south still for road and rail, purely designed for road link Akashi Bridge has the limitation on Individual, bus and truck traffic as it were cemented. Across the street from Akashi still operate even passenger and car ferries, ferry connections, there are also Sumoto to Kobe and Kansai airport. Shikoku is Awaji -shima from just across the bridge by car or by bus.

Others

The north of the island has suffered the most damage in the Hanshin earthquake in 1995 next to Kobe. On the plane passing through Hokutan -chō rejection of Noshima trench a vivid earthquake museum.

Between Awaji -shima and Shikoku, the Naruto Whirlpools, a popular tourist destination is located. Famous is on Awaji -shima also puppetry Ningyo Jōruri.

The famous Japanese architect Tadao Ando has built on Awaji -shima the Water Temple Hompukuji.

Pictures of Awaji Island

93083
de