Awaji Island
Awaji Island is an island in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, between the Seto Inland Sea and Osaka Bay. Bridges connect it to Honshu and Shikoku.
Seto Inland Sea: A sea in western Japan, enclosed by Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Awaji Island lies at the eastern entrance to this inland sea.
Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway: A Japanese expressway linking Kobe, Awaji Island, and Naruto in Tokushima Prefecture. It makes the island a road corridor between Honshu and Shikoku.
1995 Great Hanshin earthquake: A magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the southern Hyōgo region of Japan on January 17, 1995. The earthquake’s epicenter was beneath northern Awaji Island.
Hyōgo Prefecture: A prefecture in Japan’s Kansai region, extending from the Sea of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea. Awaji Island is administratively part of Hyōgo Prefecture.
Osaka Bay: A bay in western Japan, bordered by Osaka, Hyōgo, and Wakayama prefectures. This bay separates Awaji’s eastern shore from the Osaka-Kobe urban region.
Awaji Yumebutai: A resort and conference complex on Awaji Island designed by architect Tadao Ando. The complex is a prominent example of tourism-led redevelopment on Awaji.
Nojima Fault: An active fault on northern Awaji Island that ruptured during the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake. Its exposed rupture provides direct evidence of the earthquake’s movement.
Kobe: A port city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on the northern shore of Osaka Bay. Kobe is the Honshu-side gateway to Awaji across the Akashi Strait.
Akashi Strait: A strait connecting Osaka Bay with the Seto Inland Sea. It forms the narrow channel between Awaji and Honshu.
Nijigen no Mori: A theme park in Hyōgo Prefectural Awaji Island Park, centered on Japanese entertainment franchises. It uses the island’s parkland and bridge access to attract visitors.