Tokushima

Tokushima Prefecture is located in eastern Shikoku, Japan, and is home to world-class natural wonders, rich traditional arts, and distinctive local cuisine. Compared with other popular areas of Japan, it is more off-the-beaten-path and peaceful, making it ideal for travelers who enjoy natural scenery and in-depth experiences. Here is a Tokushima travel guide for you:

Itinerary Planning

• One-day trip (from Kansai): Depart from Osaka/Kansai Airport in the morning, arrive in Naruto around noon to see the whirlpools, visit the Otsuka Museum of Art in the afternoon, return to downtown Tokushima in the evening for ramen and an Awa Odori performance, then head back to Kansai at night or stay overnight.

• Two-day trip (in-depth experience): Day 1: Visit the Naruto whirlpools and the museum, then stay overnight in downtown Tokushima; Day 2: Head to Iya Valley to see the vine bridge and take a sightseeing boat through Oboke Gorge, experiencing a secluded mountain retreat and hot springs. Best suited for self-driving or a hired car.

Must-Visit Attractions

Tokushima’s attractions are spread out, mainly concentrated around Naruto and in the remote mountain areas, so it is best to plan your route according to your transportation method.

• Naruto Whirlpools: One of the world’s three great tidal-current spectacles, at their most impressive about one hour before and after high and low tide each day. You can take a sightseeing boat for an up-close experience, or walk along the Uzu no Michi walkway to view them from 45 meters above.

• Otsuka Museum of Art: Displays more than a thousand world-famous paintings reproduced on ceramic panels. Vast in scale, it is a paradise for art lovers (note that it is closed on Mondays).

• Iya Kazurabashi Vine Bridge: One of Japan’s three most unusual bridges, woven from hardy kiwi vines. Walking across it with an emerald-green gorge beneath your feet is thrilling, and the area is also considered one of Japan’s three most secluded regions.

• Mount Bizan Ropeway: Take the ropeway up the mountain around dusk to enjoy both the sunset and the night view of Tokushima City. The views are excellent, but the summit is windy and chilly, so bring a jacket.

• Awa Odori Kaikan: A place where you can watch Awa Odori performances year-round and experience Tokushima’s 400-year-old dance culture. Large-scale festival events are also held in summer.

Food You Shouldn’t Miss

Tokushima cuisine tends to be rich in flavor, blending sweetness and saltiness with a distinctive local character.

• Tokushima Ramen: A sweet-and-salty pork-bone broth served with thin alkaline noodles and a raw egg. Rich and rather salty, it is the soul food of the region.

• Awaodori Chicken: A famous local chicken known for firm meat and low fat content. Bone-in chicken thigh or yakitori are recommended, with crisp skin and juicy meat.

• Naruto Sea Bream: Thanks to the powerful currents of the Naruto Strait, the sea bream has especially firm, springy flesh. It is delicious as sashimi or in a sea bream hot pot.

• Sudachi: A specialty citrus fruit of Tokushima, more aromatic and with a gentler acidity than lemon. It is often used in local dishes to cut through richness, and also appears in desserts such as sudachi ice cream.

• Handa Somen: A local noodle dish thicker than ordinary somen, known for its chewiness and subtle sweetness. It can be eaten cold in summer or hot in winter.

Transportation and Practical Tips

• From Kansai: Taking an express bus is recommended (about 3 hours, 5,000 yen one way) directly to Tokushima Station, which is easy and convenient; alternatively, you can buy a Nankai Electric Railway + ferry combination ticket (2,500 yen), which requires three transfers and takes about 4 hours, but offers excellent value.
• Getting around the city and nearby areas: The city center can be explored on foot or by bus; for Naruto or Iya Valley, renting a car or hiring a car is recommended, as local buses are infrequent and missing one can be very inconvenient.
• Where to stay: The area around JR Tokushima Station is the top choice, as it is the most convenient for dining and getting around; if you plan to soak in hot springs in Iya Valley, stay at a hot spring hotel near Oboke or the vine bridge.
• Pitfall reminders: Be sure to check the day’s tide times in advance before viewing the Naruto whirlpools; prepare offline maps and mosquito repellent for mountain attractions; Tokushima ramen is generally quite salty, so those who prefer lighter flavors may want to have tea with it.