Awaji Island is located near Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture, which was opened to the world as one of Japan's first international trading ports.
There is a legend that Awaji Island was the first island to be born in the Japanese archipelago, according to an old book, and it is said to be a mysterious island.
The Awaji Ningyo Joruri, a puppet show handed down on Awaji Island, is designated as an important intangible folk cultural property of Japan and is performed in many places around the world.
The whirlpools of Naruto Strait, located in the southwestern part of Awaji Island, are said to be one of the world's three major tidal currents, along with those of Messina Strait in Italy and Seymour Strait in Canada.
The straits are currently being prepared for registration as a World Heritage site.
Awaji Island is also known as "Miketsukuni," or the land of foodstuffs. Awaji Island is famous for its onions, Awaji beef, Awaji Island pork, Awaji Island 3-year torafugu (puffer fish), and Awaji Island raw shirasu (whitebait).
Awaji Island has the largest share of incense production in Japan (70%), and is the only island in Japan where there is a fragrance meister called "Koshi". Overseas, it is famous for its "relaxing incense”.