This is a paired outing at the base and summit of Mount Bizan, the green ridge that rises directly behind central Tokushima. The Awa Odori Kaikan building at the foot of the mountain houses a museum and stage devoted to Awa Odori, the city's summer dance festival, and its rooftop doubles as the ropeway station up to the peak. On top, Bizan's observation deck gives a wide look back down over the Yoshino River delta and the city grid, which is the main reason to make the trip outside of festival season.
| Distance | 1.5 km from Tokushima Station |
|---|---|
| Travel time | Under 30 minutes from Tokushima Station |
| Getting there | Walking distance from Tokushima Station, ropeway to Mount Bizan summit |
| Address | 2-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima, Tokushima 770-0841 |
How to get there
- Mode
- Walk + ropeway
- Duration
- 15-minute walk + 6-minute ropeway
- Cost
- ¥1,030 ropeway round-trip (~$6.85 USD)
- Frequency
- Ropeway runs every 15 minutes
Location
2-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima, Tokushima 770-0841
34.0672, 134.5527 View on map
Highlights
- Awa Odori Kaikan stage shows - short live performances of the Awa Odori dance with audience participation, a way to see the dance without visiting in the August festival week
- Bizan Ropeway - a cable car climbing from the Kaikan rooftop to the summit, doing the height gain for you in a few minutes
- Bizan summit observation deck - views over the Yoshino River and Tokushima city, best in clear late-afternoon light
- Moraes Museum - a small summit museum on Wenceslau de Moraes, the Portuguese writer who spent his final years in Tokushima
- Awa Odori Kaikan museum floor - costumes, instruments and history of the dance displayed below the performance hall