The hulls are constructed of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) along the lines of the Enoshima class.

Since many naval mines are of the magnetic type, it was necessary to avoid the use of metal in the hull of minesweepers that dispose of that type, and, previously, most minesweepers were constructed of wood.

By making the Awaji-class FRP, the standard displacement of the ships is reduced by 30%, and the life of the hulls are extended, although - it has almost the same dimensions as the previous wooden Yaeyama-class.

Japan Marine United (JMU), which possesses the construction technology and equipment for large FRP vessels, handed over the third ship Etajima to the Maritime Self-Defense Force on 16 March 2021.

[2] The Ministry of Defense and the Maritime Self-Defense Force budgeted 12.6 Billion yen for the construction of the fourth Awaji-class ship, following Etajima, in the 2020 budget.