Awaji Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea in Hyogo Prefecture, is a long and narrow remote island with an area of ​​approximately 592 km². It is connected to Kobe City via the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and to Tokushima Prefecture via the Naruto Kaikyo Bridge, making it easily accessible. Awaji Island, home to approximately 130,000 people, is the second most populated remote island after Okinawa.

According to Japanese mythology, the divine couple Izanagi Mikoto and Izanami Mikoto stirred the sea with a long staff from the sky, and the water droplets solidified and formed small islands. From there, the two began creating the land of Japan. The first island was Awaji Island. After that, Japan's large islands such as Shikoku, Kyushu, and Honshu were created one after another. This myth is written in Japan's oldest history book, the Kojiki, and Awaji Island is said to be the birthplace of Japan.

Sado Island, floating in the Sea of Japan, once prospered as a gold mining hub during the Edo period, attracting people from all over the country. The diverse communities that emerged during that time still thrive today, and within the island, dialects and customs vary by region, reflecting influences from areas stretching from Nagoya to Noto. Because of this, the island is sometimes referred to as a “microcosm of Japan.”

Additionally, the island is surrounded by both warm and cold ocean currents, creating distinct climates in different areas. In warmer regions, mandarins grow, while in colder regions, apples thrive, bringing an abundance of natural blessings to the island.

Nara flourished as the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. It is home to numerous cultural heritage sites, including Horyuji Temple, the oldest Buddhist temple in Japan, Todaiji Temple, the largest wooden structure in the world, and Nara Park, known for its gigantic bronze statue of the Great Buddha.
In the mountains where Shugendo, the Way of asceticism, was nurtured, visitors can also follow a path of ascetic practice to become one with nature. Nara is a place not only for its superficial attractions, but also for quietly experiencing the ideas, beliefs, and aesthetics that have formed the identity of the Japanese people.