In September 2026 the three of us — my wife, our daughter and I — travelled from Awaji Island to Kagawa and on to Shodoshima. The first night we stayed at SolaVilla Umi Terrace Minami-Awaji, in the Minato area of Minamiawaji City.
The property has 15 villas in total: eight Deluxe, three Executive, and four dog-friendly Dog Deluxe. We took a one-bedroom Deluxe. It is about ten minutes by car from the Seidan-Mihara interchange, and roughly an hour and a half from Osaka.
Nowhere to eat nearby, so we grilled on the terrace
There are few restaurants around the property, so dinner was a barbecue on our own terrace. Every villa has a grill built into its terrace and you cook for yourselves.
That said, it is not that there is nothing. Drive ten minutes and there are places to eat. They are simply not within walking distance.
We bought our food on the way in, at a supermarket on Awaji Island and at a roadside station. The property also sells a barbecue set, but this time we put our own together. Buying things on the island and grilling them on the island was enough of a plan.
Past the railing there is nothing but sea
The terrace runs straight out to the water. According to the official site, terraces run up to 60 square metres.
Nothing interrupts the view. Apart from a faint line of land on the far shore, there is sea and there is sky.
The sea breeze was pleasant. We ate outdoors in September and insects were barely an issue.
The sun went down into all that water while we were grilling, and the three of us watched it. It felt very good.
All 15 villas have an open-air bath
This is not a hot spring, but every one of the 15 villas has an open-air bath. It is not free-flowing. Only the Executive type has a jacuzzi, and there is a separate private bath on the property as well.
We used ours. It was good. Staying in a villa by the sea and being able to get into an outdoor bath without leaving your own unit is, by itself, a reason to book.
A place to slow down
Check-in is from 15:00. Between arriving and dinner we did nothing in particular; we sat on the terrace and looked at the sea.
The sun set while the grill was going. Afterwards the villa lighting alone was bright enough to keep eating by.
This is less a base for sightseeing than somewhere to get away from the noise and take your time. I was glad the first night of the trip was here, and I would recommend it.
Before you book
- Address: 1131-1 Minato, Minamiawaji, Hyogo
- Check-in 15:00 (last check-in 18:00), check-out 11:00
- Access: about 10 minutes by car from the Seidan-Mihara IC, about 1 hour 30 minutes from Osaka
- Parking: free, 23 spaces, first come first served
- Villas: 15 in total — 8 Deluxe, 3 Executive, 4 Dog Deluxe. All have an open-air bath; only Executive has a jacuzzi
- Every terrace has a barbecue grill. There are plans with ingredients included, and room-only plans where you bring your own
- There are few restaurants nearby. Plan to eat at the villa, and if you are bringing food, buy it before you arrive
If we went again, the same Deluxe would be enough.
Details were checked on the official website in September 2026, with basic information cross-checked against the Jalan listing. Prices and plans change, so check the official site when booking.
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▶ Read on Amazon (Kindle Unlimited)Frequently asked questions
Is SolaVilla Umi Terrace Minami-Awaji a hot spring?
No. It is not a hot spring, but all 15 villas have an open-air bath. The water is not free-flowing, and only the Executive type has a jacuzzi. There is also a private bath on the property.
What should I do about dinner?
There are few restaurants around the property and almost none within walking distance. Every terrace has a barbecue grill. We brought food bought at a supermarket and a roadside station on the way in. There are also plans with ingredients included, and a barbecue set you can pay for on site. Check the official site for current plan details.
What are the check-in times and how do I get there?
Check-in is from 15:00 (last check-in 18:00) and check-out is 11:00. It is about ten minutes by car from the Seidan-Mihara interchange and about an hour and a half from Osaka. Parking is free, with 23 first-come spaces. This was correct as of September 2026, so confirm when booking.
Is it a good base for sightseeing?
Less a base than somewhere to step away from the noise and slow down. We stayed on the first night of a trip through Awaji, Kagawa and Shodoshima. The rest of it is written up in the Kagawa udon comparison and the day we drove around Shodoshima.
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