Awaji Farm Park England Hill is a spacious agricultural and leisure park in Minamiawaji City, in the southern part of Awaji Island, Hyogo Prefecture. Inspired by the English countryside of the Lake District, the park combines animal encounters, seasonal flower gardens, agricultural activities, and hands-on craft experiences. It is particularly well known for its koalas, which are among the park’s most popular attractions.
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities, including meeting friendly animals, admiring colorful flowers, harvesting seasonal produce, and making bread, butter, and ice cream. With attractions for children and adults alike, the park is an inviting destination for families, couples, and travelers looking for a relaxing day surrounded by nature.
The grounds are divided into two main sections: Green Hill Area and England Area. Each offers a different atmosphere and a variety of activities, making it easy to spend several hours exploring the park at a leisurely pace.
The England Area recreates the atmosphere of the British countryside, with open landscapes and expansive flower fields that change with the seasons. Nemophila, sunflowers, cosmos, and other flowers add vivid color to the scenery throughout the year.
Spring is especially beautiful when blue nemophila flowers cover the fields. Summer brings cheerful displays of sunflowers, while autumn is marked by colorful cosmos. These seasonal flower gardens are among the park’s most photogenic spots and offer plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors.
Depending on the season, visitors can take part in harvesting strawberries, onions, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and other agricultural products. Picking fresh produce provides an enjoyable introduction to farming and offers a chance to appreciate the flavor of ingredients grown locally.
The park also has restaurants serving dishes made with regional ingredients. These dining options reflect the agricultural character of Awaji Island and allow visitors to enjoy local produce as part of their day out.
The England Area features a rose garden designed in the style of a traditional English garden. Roses in a variety of colors typically bloom from May to June and again from September to October, creating a romantic setting filled with fragrance and seasonal beauty.
With its carefully arranged flowers and peaceful atmosphere, the garden is an appealing place for a leisurely stroll or a relaxing break between activities.
The Green Hill Area is home to a koala exhibit, making the park a special destination for visitors hoping to see these distinctive Australian marsupials. The facility has also kept southern koalas, a group that is relatively uncommon in Japan.
In addition to koalas, visitors can encounter a variety of animals, including wallabies, rabbits, and sheep. These animal experiences are particularly popular with families and provide opportunities to observe animals at close range.
In 2021, a koala named Midori, which lived at the park, reached the age of 25 years and 9 months and was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest living koala at that time. This remarkable age is equivalent to more than 110 years in human terms and brought international attention to the park’s koala care program.
The Green Hill Area includes a large greenhouse displaying plants from tropical, temperate, and cool-climate regions around the world. Visitors can discover a wide variety of plant forms and growing environments in one place.
The rock garden offers a closer look at wildflowers and unusual plants that grow among rocks and in other specialized habitats. Together, these botanical attractions complement the park’s animal exhibits and agricultural experiences.
The park offers a range of practical workshops suitable for both children and adults. Popular activities include making bread and butter, preparing seasonal sweets, and making ice cream.
These experiences provide a fun way to learn about food production and enjoy the satisfaction of creating something by hand. Availability may vary by season and program, so visitors interested in a particular activity should check the current schedule before their visit.
The main facilities include the Koala House, rock garden, large greenhouse, bird enclosure, animal houses, animal interaction area, Flower Hall, and the main building, which serves as a general visitor and exchange center. Together, these facilities offer opportunities to enjoy wildlife, plants, and educational activities in a green setting.
The England Area includes agricultural, forestry, and fishing experience facilities, as well as facilities for supplying and processing locally produced food and agricultural products. Visitors can also explore the hands-on farm, landscaped waterside areas, seasonal flower fields, and recreational attractions such as bumper boats and pedal boats.
The combination of open landscapes, gardens, farming activities, and water-based recreation makes this area suitable for visitors who want to combine outdoor relaxation with active experiences.
One of the park’s cultural highlights is the former Mihara County Office, a government building originally constructed in 1884 during Japan’s Meiji period. The building was relocated to the park and preserved as a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property, retaining the character of early modern Japanese architecture.
It was severely damaged during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 and was reconstructed at its present location in 2007. Today, it offers visitors a glimpse of the region’s architectural and administrative history, adding a cultural dimension to the park’s natural and agricultural attractions.
England Hill developed from a branch facility of the Hyogo Prefectural Flower Center, which originally opened in 1985. In 2001, the site began a new chapter as an agricultural experience and educational facility.
The park was designed to bring urban visitors closer to rural life, encourage exchanges between cities and farming communities, support agriculture, and contribute to regional revitalization. Its combination of flower gardens, animal exhibits, harvesting activities, and craft workshops reflects this mission by allowing visitors to learn through direct experience.
Hyogo Prefecture and the state of Western Australia established a friendship agreement in 1981. As part of this relationship, koalas were donated to Hyogo in 2003 and 2011. Through subsequent breeding efforts, the park succeeded in raising southern koalas, contributing to the diversity of koalas kept in Japan.
The koalas represent more than a popular attraction: they are also a symbol of the friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and Australia.
Awaji Farm Park England Hill is located in Minamiawaji City, in the southern part of Awaji Island. The area enjoys a relatively mild climate influenced by the Seto Inland Sea. It lies approximately 60 kilometers from Kobe and 80 kilometers from Osaka, and can be reached by road using the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge or the Ōnaruto Bridge.
The park occupies gently elevated land at approximately 40 meters above sea level, offering a pleasant natural setting for outdoor activities and seasonal sightseeing.
From the Sumoto Express Bus Center, the park can be reached by bus in approximately 20 minutes. Visitors arriving by car can also take advantage of the large parking area.
Awaji Farm Park England Hill brings together a remarkable variety of attractions in one destination. Visitors can see koalas and other animals, stroll through seasonal flower fields, explore gardens and greenhouses, harvest local produce, and take part in hands-on craft workshops. The preserved historic county office adds a touch of cultural heritage to the experience.
Whether you are traveling with children, enjoying a day out as a couple, or simply looking for a peaceful way to experience the countryside, this farm park offers an enjoyable blend of nature, learning, and recreation on Awaji Island.
9:30-17:00
April-September: 9:30-17:30 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays
No holidays
Adults (high school students and older): 1,200 yen
Children (4 years old to junior high school students) 400 yen
Free for children under 3 years old
20 min. by bus from Sumoto Highway Bus Center → Awaji Farm Park