Awaji Yume Butai is unique

Once a barren hillside due to the soil taken away for the construction of a big airport but miraculously restored with great architecture and flower beds, the Awaji Yume Butai was complete in 2000. 

The Hyakudan-en flower beds - unfortunately no picture this time - were made not only to restore the land but also to pay condolences to the dead in the Kobe Awaji Great Earthquake which hit the area in 1995.

Awaji puppet theater will make you happy

The performance was unexpectedly good. So traditional but up-to-date. So much fun. Anybody, including those who do not understand narration, will enjoy how the puppets show emotions or how the Ebisu God tries to bless us on many daily affairs by drinking. He this time wished we would all have a healthy retirement and get good pension. Yep, with increasing numbers of senior citizens, we need to retain a good pension system. Children and foreign visitors will enjoy the shows, too. The theater is for everybody. Come over to this very friendly place. I fell in love with this entertainment at AWAJI NINGYO-ZA.

Memorial for the war-dead youth

This is the only facility in Japan solely dedicated to the young war dead, designed by TANGE Kenzo.

It was reopened to public in the spring of 2015. The eternal flame dedicated to these young members of the country is there. The view is remarkable, which makes thoughtful visitors ponder why they had to die. 

The Nojima active fault is visible here

At the HOKUTAN earthquake devastation memorial park, you can see how the Nojima active fault emerged from the ground. Here are some photos from the facility. At the end of the tour, you can experience two earthquakes in the experiment corner. It's completely safe but you have to sit down and be prepared.

Sen-nen-ichi sake brewery

This is one of the two remaining SAKE breweries in awajishima. 

The brewery suffered from the Hanshin Awaji  great earthquake in 1995 but reopened after restoration. Fortunately the water from the mountains they use did not affected by the earthquake. Hope they keep on going as a local brewery. 

Ando's water temple again

It's been quite a while since I came here last time. The same water temple was there but I saw a few large coaches which accommodated travelers speaking in Chinese. I was not really sure but perhaps from Taiwan. I managed to be in the hall between the large groups, sat in front of the statue of the medicine Buddha, and offered a candle. The group tourists behaved well just for your information. Here are some photos.