From Wednesday, October 28, 2026, a Christmas tree about 9 meters tall will be installed and lit at Awaji Highway Oasis, which stands at the gateway to Awaji Island. It is the earliest Christmas tree to be lit on Awaji Island and one of the largest on the island. Awaji Highway Oasis offers restaurants serving seasonal Awaji Island ingredients with views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, as well as shopping for local specialties.
Set up before Halloween, even earlier than last year, the display lets visitors feel the changing seasons and adds a festive touch to the start of the winter sightseeing season.
The tree is about 9 meters tall and decorated with lights, so it works as a photo spot both day and night. Because the facility connects directly to the Awaji Service Area, which is just across the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, it is also well suited to a stop during a drive or a family outing.
Christmas Mode Before Halloween: A Festive Display That Gets Ahead of the Season
The tree has been set up every year since 2004 in the atrium on the first floor of the Oasis Hall, the main building of Awaji Highway Oasis, and this year marks its 23rd edition.
As the morning and evening chill gradually signals the arrival of winter, the facility feels this is the perfect time to put up a Christmas tree. To help visitors enjoy it even more, a related event will also be held. A Christmas tree event will be held on Saturday, November 21 from 5:30 PM, with a concert by music groups including two of Awaji Island's leading children's choirs, the Sumoto Boys and Girls Choir (洲本少年少女合唱団) and the Minamiawaji City Boys and Girls Choir (南あわじ市少年少女合唱団), as well as Chorus Piacere (コーラス・ピアチェーレ).
Overview of the Christmas Tree Installation Commemorative Event (the date and performers have changed from the original plan)
- Event name: Christmas Tree Lighting Event
- Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
- Time: from 5:30 PM (scheduled)
- Venue: In front of the tree at Awaji Highway Oasis
- Program: Ceremony and musical performances
- Admission fee: Free
- Scheduled performers:
- Sumoto Boys and Girls Choir (洲本少年少女合唱団)
- Chorus Piacere (コーラス・ピアチェーレ)
- Minamiawaji City Boys and Girls Choir (南あわじ市少年少女合唱団)
Santa Claus also appears.
Lighting Period and Other Details
- Installation period: Wednesday, October 28 to Friday, December 25, 2026 (scheduled)
- Location: Atrium, 1st floor of the Oasis Hall, Awaji Highway Oasis (Iwaya, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture)
- Lighting hours: All day (the tree is lit during the daytime as well)
- Admission fee: Free
- Access: Directly connected to the Awaji Service Area on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway
- Total number of lights: approximately 10,000
The tree can also be enjoyed from outside the Oasis Hall.
The illumination of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge can be enjoyed at the same time.
About Awaji Highway Oasis
Located within Hyogo Prefectural Awaji Island Park, Awaji Highway Oasis is the gateway to Awaji Island. The facility includes restaurants where visitors can enjoy local seasonal ingredients while looking out over the Akashi Strait, and a shop called Awaji Bussan-kan (淡路物産館) where Awaji Island specialties and other goods are sold. It is a facility packed with the island's charms, and it is a place to spend the whole day, not only to take a break.
It is directly connected via a linking road to the parking areas on both the inbound and outbound sides of the Awaji Service Area on the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, and it can also be reached from general roads. Parking is free, with space for 51 large tour buses and 560 regular cars.
Access
Awaji Highway Oasis is directly connected to the Awaji Service Area in both directions by a linking road. On the way home from Awaji Island, visitors can also stop by via the Awaji Kita Smart Interchange (淡路北スマートIC).
- Awaji Highway Oasis address: 2674-3 Iwaya Oobayashi, Awaji City, Hyogo Prefecture
- Tel: 0799-72-0220
- Website: https://www.awajishimahighwayoasis.com/
- About the Awaji Kita Smart Interchange: https://www.awajishimahighwayoasis.com/access/smart_IC.html
