Awaji
Family-Friendly Hotels on Awaji Island: Sea, Whirlpools, Theme Parks
Connected to the mainland by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, family-friendly stays on Awaji Island with the sea, whirlpools, and theme parks
19 family-friendly hotels in Awaji Island, verified by Kids Stay: 14 with tatami rooms, 9 with private onsen baths, 10 with in-room baths, 8 with crib rental and 8 with indoor play rooms. Every listing is checked against the official hotel website or Rakuten Travel.
Awaji Island is the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea, linked to the mainland by the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, and it is a popular resort area for families with children. You can drive over the bridge from the Kobe and Osaka areas, and the Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway makes it easy to reach hotels all over the island from the Awaji, Sumoto, and Awaji-shima Minami interchanges. Highway buses from JR Maiko Station are convenient too, so the island is easy to visit even without a car.
Awaji Island has plenty of sightseeing spots where you can spend a full day with children. In the north of the island, Nijigen no Mori is a hands-on park built around attractions themed on popular anime and games, with tickets priced by age group, so even families with little ones can enjoy it (check the official website for age requirements and prices). In the south, sightseeing boats depart from Fukura Port for a close-up look at some of the largest tidal whirlpools in the world, a chance for the whole family to feel the power of nature. Awaji Island Farm, where children can meet the animals, and Awaji Farm Park England Hill, with flowers in every season, are among the facilities scattered across the island that suit all ages.
For families who want to swim in the sea, another strength of Awaji Island is the number of hotels close to the beach. Some properties are within walking distance of white sand beaches such as Ohama Beach in the Sumoto area and Keino Matsubara on the west coast. Family-friendly lodging on Awaji Island is wonderfully varied, from large resort hotels with pools and hot springs, to family-welcoming pensions with kids' rooms and baby gear to borrow, to whole-house vacation rentals and log houses. With vacation rentals, whether the bath and toilet are inside your own building or a walk away at the main house or a shared building differs from place to place, so it is worth confirming when you book. Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa, in Fukura, is a large family-welcoming resort that offers ready-made baby food and lends bed rails, and many families choose it as their base.
Awaji Island is a treasure house of local produce, starting with its famous onions, and tasting fresh seafood and Awaji beef is one of the pleasures of the trip. The mild climate makes it comfortable year-round: the sea and the beaches from spring into summer, hot springs and good food in fall and winter, so families can enjoy a trip here in any season.
Highlights
- checkEasy to reach by car from Kobe and Osaka via the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
- checkPlenty of spots for children, including Nijigen no Mori and the whirlpool sightseeing boats
- checkHotels near the beach plus large resorts with pools and hot springs
Family-friendly features in Awaji Island
Recommended hotels (19)
Yumekaiyu Awajishima
Awaji Sumoto Onsen Kaigetsukan
Awaji Musenkei
Awakan
Hotel New Awaji
Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa
Umino Hotel Shimahana
Nagisanosou Hanagoyomi
Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza
Kyukamura Minami-Awaji
See all hotels in Awaji Island (19)expand_more
- Yumekaiyu Awajishima
- Awaji Sumoto Onsen Kaigetsukan
- Awaji Musenkei
- Awakan
- Hotel New Awaji
- Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa
- Umino Hotel Shimahana
- Nagisanosou Hanagoyomi
- Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza
- Kyukamura Minami-Awaji
- GRAND CHARIOT Hokuto-shichisei 135°
- Awaji Seaside Resort in Sumoto
- Pension Plage Awajishima
- Kids Pension Fruits Juice Awaji-shima
- Fairfield by Marriott Hyogo Awaji Higashisura
- Awajishima Kaijo Hotel
- 8POINT RESORT AWAJI ISLAND
- Awaji Large Loghouse in Goshiki
- Awaji Seaview Resort in Nojima
Kid-friendly facilities at family hotels in Awaji Island
Kids Stay checked the official information of 19 family hotels in Awaji Island and found 75 kid-friendly facilities on site. Here is a sample by category so you can compare facilities before choosing a room.
Indoor playrooms and kids' spaces(4 hotels, 6 items)
- Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa · Kids lounge Shichifuku: A family lounge that opened in January 2026. Its roughly 460 sq m space holds a play area that nurtures creativity and a reading space, and guests can also enjoy nostalgic sweets a
- Kids Pension Fruits Juice Awaji-shima · A playroom open 24 hours: The playroom inside the building can be used 24 hours a day. Along with toys and educational toys, there is a Plarail train corner that children love, and a play room for parents n
- Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza · Indoor kids' corner and courtyard kids' space: There is an indoor kids' corner where children can ride Rody, the Italian-made toy, and a kids' space in the courtyard with a range of play equipment, so children have somewhere to
- Awakan · Private-hire kids' rooms: Two private-hire kids' rooms are available for children under school age. Each can be used for 1,000 yen per hour by up to 8 people per group, adults and children combined. Members
Pools and water play(5 hotels, 6 items)
- Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa · Outdoor garden pool: A summer-only outdoor pool, open from July 1 to August 31, 2026, and on weekends in September (September 4-6, 11-13 and 18-23). It is divided into a section about 1 m deep and a sh
- Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza · Summer garden pool and the "12 Great Perks" of the summer holidays: A garden pool opens in summer, and over the summer holidays the hotel runs its "12 Great Perks," which include free use of the pool. Events for children are plentiful, including a
- Yumekaiyu Awajishima · Shallow indoor heated pool, open year-round (free): An indoor heated pool usable all year. It is a compact pool, shallow enough for children to play in easily, and staying guests can use it free of charge. Being indoors, it allows w
- Awakan · Outdoor pools (children's pool and toddler pool): Alongside the 25 m adult pool, about 90 cm deep, there is a children's pool about 50 cm deep and an inflatable kiddie pool for toddlers. Children may use them wearing a swim diaper
- Umino Hotel Shimahana · Summer Harborside Pool: A wide-open outdoor pool looking out over the marina, where you can play in the water with the kind of views only a seaside spot offers (summer only).
Baby gear you can borrow(5 hotels, 9 items)
- Awaji Seaside Resort in Sumoto · Baby and kids' items available to borrow (advance reservation required): For families with young children, a baby chair, a crib and a stroller are available to borrow. All require advance reservation and are free of charge, and a wheelchair and a nursin
- Kids Pension Fruits Juice Awaji-shima · Baby and kids' items available to borrow: Even traveling with a baby of 3 to 18 months, you will find equipment that lets you settle in as comfortably as at home without carrying baby gear with you.
- Pension Plage Awajishima · Items to borrow and children's equipment: There is a good range of toys and board games to borrow for the lounge, so you have something to enjoy with your children on a rainy day or in a spare moment in the evening.
- Awaji Large Loghouse in Goshiki · Baby items available to borrow free of charge: A baby chair, a crib and a stroller are all available to borrow free of charge, each by reservation.
- Awaji Seaview Resort in Nojima · Free baby-item rentals: A baby chair, a crib and a stroller can be borrowed free of charge, each by reservation. A nursing-care bath chair is also available to borrow.
Kids' meals and baby food(5 hotels, 14 items)
- Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa · Meals for children: The buffet restaurant has a kids' corner with several children's menu items, including meatballs, warm vegetables and white rice that are easy for children to eat. Commercially pre
- Kids Pension Fruits Juice Awaji-shima · Handmade baby food and toddler meals: A toddler-nutrition adviser prepares baby food by hand for each stage - early, middle, late and finishing - according to your baby's age in months. Toddler meals and children's mea
- Pension Plage Awajishima · Handmade course menu of Awajishima ingredients: Dinner is a course menu made by hand by the owner, built around an assorted sashimi platter delivered straight from Kariya Fishing Port and Awaji beef steak. Dishes use vegetables,
- Awaji Sumoto Onsen Kaigetsukan · Seafood and Awaji beef kaiseki served in your room: Kaiseki course cuisine made with seafood and Awaji beef from Awaji Island, known as Miketsukuni for its long role in supplying food. On the baby plan, dinner is served as in-room d
- Awaji International Hotel The Sunplaza · Awaji beef and seafood kaiseki, plus handmade baby food developed under the head chef: Kaiseki cuisine using Awaji beef along with seasonal seafood such as conger eel, spiny lobster and abalone. In-room dining and all-inclusive plans are also available. For children
Baby-friendly bathhouses(5 hotels, 15 items)
- Awaji Seaside Resort in Sumoto · No communal bath or onsen on the property: There is no communal bath, onsen, sauna or private-hire bath on the property. The house has an en-suite bathroom, fitted with a hot tub (jacuzzi), and free bath amenities, towels a
- Kids Pension Fruits Juice Awaji-shima · Private-hire family bath (Awaji Island Ichinomiya Onsen): An open-air bath and indoor bath filled with 100% Awaji Island Ichinomiya Onsen water, a weakly alkaline simple onsen known as the "beautifying waters," available for private-hire
- Pension Plage Awajishima · Sea-view bath (private for your group): There is no communal bath, onsen or sauna at the pension. There is one view bath, and because only one group stays each day it is simply yours to use privately, at any time from af
- Awaji Large Loghouse in Goshiki · In-house bathroom (no communal bath or onsen on the property): There is no communal bath, onsen, sauna or private-hire bath on the property. Guests use the bathroom, which has shampoo, conditioner, body soap and a hair dryer.
- Awaji Seaview Resort in Nojima · Bathroom with a jacuzzi (no communal bath or onsen on site): There is no communal bath or onsen at the property. The bathroom has a jacuzzi (hot tub) and comes with shampoo, conditioner, body soap and a hair dryer. A nursing-care bath chair
Themed and family rooms(5 hotels, 5 items)
- Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa · Standard Twin (Baby Room): A room type designed for babies and toddlers. The shoes-off bed space is permanently equipped with items such as a diaper bin, baby wipes, a bottle-sterilizing and formula-preparat
- Awaji Seaside Resort in Sumoto · Whole-house rental with 3 bedrooms plus a living room: The whole house of 109 sq m - three bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen - is rented to one group and sleeps up to 12. Bedroom 1 has one single bed and two double beds, Bedroom 2
- Awaji Large Loghouse in Goshiki · Whole-house rental of a big yellow log house: A whole-house rental of about 103-113 sq m, taken entirely by one group. The 2 bedrooms are generously equipped with 2 double beds, futon bedding for 5, 1 folding bed and 1 sofa be
- Awaji Seaview Resort in Nojima · Whole log house with sea views: A two-story log house of about 88 sq m with a 3LDK layout (three rooms plus a living-dining-kitchen area), rented in its entirety. The three bedrooms are generously supplied with b
- GRAND CHARIOT Hokuto-shichisei 135° · Character rooms: Collaboration rooms themed on Godzilla, Monster Hunter, NARUTO, Dragon Quest, Crayon Shin-chan and Hello Kitty. The Crayon Shin-chan room Ora no Cocoon and Hello Kitty Hoshi no Coc
Kids' programs and activities(4 hotels, 5 items)
- Awaji Sumoto Onsen Kaigetsukan · Onion-harvesting experience at Kaigetsu Farm: The ryokan's own Kaigetsu Farm holds an onion-harvesting experience featuring Awaji Island's famous specialty. With staff support, children can dig in the soil and see how the ingr
- Kyukamura Minami-Awaji · Craft corner: At the craft corner inside the building, you can make fukimodoshi paper blowouts or a kaleidoscope. Even small children can join in, as staff show them how to make each item. Sales
- Awajishima Kaijo Hotel · A private fishing pier children can enjoy: At the hotel's private fishing pier, first-timers and young children can try fishing without any fuss. The fish you land can be cooked for you as a separate order, so your child ca
- 8POINT RESORT AWAJI ISLAND · Boat fishing tour (Eishin Maru): A fishing experience on the partner fishing boat Eishin Maru. Everyone from beginners to experienced anglers can take part, and families are encouraged to join. You can also have y
Kitchens for self-catering(3 hotels, 3 items)
- Awaji Seaside Resort in Sumoto · Self-catering kitchen with refrigerator and microwave: The kitchen has a basic set of cooking utensils, including pots, a frying pan, a knife and a cutting board. There is also a refrigerator, a microwave, an electric kettle and a dini
- Awaji Large Loghouse in Goshiki · A kitchen guests can use as they like: Guests have full use of the kitchen, which has a 2-burner induction cooktop, refrigerator, microwave, rice cooker and electric kettle, along with pots, frying pans, knives, cutting
- Awaji Seaview Resort in Nojima · Private kitchen: The private kitchen has a refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, stove, rice cooker and electric kettle, plus pots, frying pans, knives, cutting boards and tableware. An e
Outdoor play and gardens(5 hotels, 11 items)
- Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa · Mini sports plaza: An open space beside the courtyard poolside that everyone is free to use. Parents are asked to keep an eye on young children at all times. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Awaji Seaside Resort in Sumoto · Spacious garden with BBQ and camping space: The spacious garden on the grounds has a built-in barbecue grill, so you can bring your own ingredients - Awaji Island seafood, Awaji beef, onions and more - and enjoy a barbecue.
- Kids Pension Fruits Juice Awaji-shima · Outdoor play space in the courtyard: The pension's courtyard is set up with swings, a wood deck, a seesaw, ride-on toys and other play equipment. It is a family play area where children can move about freely outdoors
- Pension Plage Awajishima · Lawn with a swing: The lawn facing the sea has a swing on it - an outdoor space where children can run around to their heart's content with the sea straight ahead. A barbecue garden adjoins it.
- Awaji Large Loghouse in Goshiki · Barbecue in the garden: The large garden is set up with a barbecue grill, tongs, a bucket for putting out the fire and a table, so you can bring your own charcoal and ingredients and barbecue as you like.
Seasonal collections for Awaji Island
Autumn Cottages and Glamping
No one else to worry about, at your children's own pace. Areas with self-catering villas, cottages, and glamping, from north to south
Autumn Highland Play
In the season that is neither hot nor cold, find hotels where kids can run around outside. Highland areas with outdoor play areas and adventure courses, from north to south
Nearby attractions
Travel tips
Getting around the island is basically done by car. Checking the route from your Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway interchange to each hotel will make your days go more smoothly. Nijigen no Mori and the whirlpool sightseeing boats are very popular, so during busy seasons it is best to reserve and buy tickets well in advance. The whirlpools look different depending on the tides, so check the boat timetable for the hours when the whirlpools are largest before you book, and you will see a far more dramatic sight.
Best season
Summer (July to August) for swimming and beach play, spring and fall for flowers and food. The mild climate makes winter comfortable too.
Getting there
Reachable by car from the Kobe and Osaka areas via the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Kobe Awaji Naruto Expressway (Awaji, Sumoto, and Awaji-shima Minami interchanges, among others). Highway buses from JR Maiko Station are also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Awaji Island?
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From the mainland side, the usual way is to cross the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge by car. Hotels and sightseeing spots on the island are often far apart, so planning around car travel, including a rental car, will make getting around easier. If you plan to take a highway bus, it is reassuring to ask your hotel before booking how far it is from the bus stop and whether they offer a pickup service.
What sightseeing spots on Awaji Island are good with children?
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Popular choices for families with little ones include Nijigen no Mori, with its attractions themed on popular anime and games (check the official website for whether preschooler tickets are available and for age requirements), the whirlpool sightseeing boats departing from Fukura Port, Awaji Island Farm where you can get close to the cows, and Awaji Farm Park England Hill with its flowers and hands-on activities.
Are there family-friendly hotels on Awaji Island with a pool or hot spring?
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Yes. Grand Mercure Awaji Island Resort & Spa in Fukura has a summer-only outdoor pool and a large hot spring bath. The pool is divided into a section about 1 m deep and a shallow section about 30 cm deep, and little ones can play there as long as they wear swim diapers. Beyond that, there are resorts close to the beach, pensions with kids' rooms and baby gear to borrow, and whole-house vacation rentals, so families have plenty of options.
Is Awaji Island easy to visit with a baby?
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If you choose a hotel that handles baby food and cribs and lends baby gear, you can stay with peace of mind even with a baby. Many hotels are close to swimming beaches, and access from the cities via the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is good. Please check each property's facilities and services on its hotel page.