The Naruto Strait between Tokushima and Awaji Island produces some of the largest tidal whirlpools in the world, driven by the difference in sea level between the Pacific and the Seto Inland Sea. Naruto Park sits above the strait next to the Onaruto Bridge and gives you two ways to look at the whirlpools: from a walkway suspended under the bridge, or from a sightseeing boat that goes down to sea level next to them. The whirlpools are tidal, so their size on any given day depends entirely on when you show up.
| Distance | 20 km from Tokushima Station |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 60 minutes by train plus 15-minute bus/taxi to the park |
| Getting there | JR Naruto Line to Naruto Station, then local bus or taxi to Naruto Park |
| Address | Naruto Park, Tosadomariura, Naruto, Tokushima 772-0053 |
How to get there
- Mode
- JR Naruto Line
- Duration
- 60 min
- Cost
- ¥510 (~$3.40 USD)
- Frequency
- Roughly hourly from Tokushima Station
- Mode
- Sightseeing boat (Uzushio Kisen)
- Duration
- 20–30 min cruise
- Cost
- ¥1,800–2,400 (~$11.90–$15.90 USD)
- Frequency
- Departures timed to tidal whirlpool conditions; check kaiun.co.jp
Location
Naruto Park, Tosadomariura, Naruto, Tokushima 772-0053
34.2358, 134.6432 View on map
Highlights
- Uzu no Michi glass-floor walkway - lets you look straight down through the bridge deck at the whirlpools forming below
- Naruto Strait sightseeing boats (Wonder Naruto or Aqueiy) - get close enough to feel the pull of the current, not just view it from above
- Senjojiki Observation Plaza - a free clifftop viewpoint above the park if you'd rather skip paid access
- Onaruto Bridge - the road bridge itself, whose underside houses the Uzu no Michi walkway