Naruto Itinerary: Sample Plans for One and Two Days

Naruto rewards planning by time rather than by number of sights, because the whirlpools depend on the tide and buses from the station to the viewing area run on limited schedules. The plans below therefore start with choosing a base and then arrange the day around a tide table checked in advance.

Who this plan suits and how many days

A one-day plan suits people staying in Tokushima or on Awaji Island who want the whirlpools and an art museum. Two days suit those who also want to stroll temples and shrines, or continue to Tokushima and Awaji. For three to seven days there is no need to stay in Naruto the whole time; combine it with Tokushima, other parts of Shikoku or Kansai.

Before you start: where to stay and which pass

For a wider choice of restaurants and lodging, stay in Tokushima city and ride the JR Naruto Line to Naruto. If you want an early start when the current is strong, staying near Naruto is convenient. On passes, see whether the railway or bus operator sells a one-day or multi-day ticket. A nationwide pass may pay off if you are covering long distances elsewhere in Japan, but calculate from the operator's current prices.

Day 1: whirlpools and the museum

1. Morning: train from Tokushima to Naruto Station and bus to Naruto Park, timed with the tide table
2. Before noon: walk Uzu no Michi or take a whirlpool boat when the current is strong
3. Midday: seafood or sweet potato near the bridge
4. Afternoon: Otsuka Museum of Art at an easy pace
5. Evening: return to Tokushima or continue to Awaji

Day 2: temples, shrines and moving on

Day two suits Ryozenji, the first temple of the 88-temple Shikoku pilgrimage, the Oasahiko Shrine, and the story of the German prisoner-of-war camp and Beethoven's Ninth. Then choose between heading to Tokushima for local ramen or crossing the strait to Awaji Island, depending on how you plan the rest of your trip.

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Day 3 and beyond: widening the trip

With a third day, widen the trip into the rest of Tokushima. You could stroll the city of Tokushima, ride the ropeway up Mount Bizan for a view over the city and river, or try the local style of ramen in town. Nature lovers might continue to the Iya Valley, deep in the mountains; allow a long journey and check the connections in advance, because public transport there is not frequent. If you plan to head on to Awaji Island or cross to Honshu, the third day can simply be a transfer day. A three-day plan is therefore flexible and suits people who want to slow down instead of rushing every stop. Keep in mind that the whirlpool is the highlight, so build the extra days around it rather than the other way round, and leave room in the schedule for weather changes.

Budget and transport costs

The main costs are train and bus fares, the whirlpool boat or walkway fee, the art museum admission, food and, if staying overnight, lodging. The museum and the boat are typically the biggest items. To save money, skip the boat and watch from the bridge or shore. Real prices change by season, so check with operators and venues.

Adapting for families, older travellers and rain

• Families: the whirlpool boat and baked sweet potato are fun for children; bring wind protection on the boat
• Older travellers: the walkway beneath the bridge has distance and some stairs, so check first or view from a boat or lookout
• Rainy days: swap in the art museum, a temple and a long seafood lunch

If waves or wind are strong the boats may not run, so always keep a backup.