Naruto

Naruto (鳴門) is a city located in the northeastern part of Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Kii Channel. It is best known for the Naruto Strait, a narrow waterway that separates Shikoku Island from Awaji Island. The Naruto Strait is famous for its whirlpools, which are created by the large tidal differences and the complex underwater topography of the strait. Some whirlpools can reach up to 20 meters in diameter.

Visitors to Naruto can take a boat tour to see the whirlpools up close or view them from the Uzu no Michi walkway, a glass-floored promenade under the Naruto Bridge, or from the Eddy observation deck. The Naruto Bridge is also known for bungee jumping and other adventure activities.

In addition to the whirlpools, Naruto has several other attractions, including the Otsuka Museum of Art, which houses over 1,000 high-quality replicas of famous Western paintings on ceramic boards, and the Ryozenji Temple, the first temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Naruto is also known for its local specialty foods, such as Naruto Kintoki, a type of sweet potato known for its sweetness and vibrant color, and Naruto sea bream, a type of fish often served as sashimi or grilled.

Attractions in Naruto

Whirlpools The Naruto Whirlpools (鳴門の渦潮) are a natural phenomenon occurring in the Naruto Strait, a narrow waterway that separates Naruto City in Tokushima Prefect...

Ryozenji Temple Ryozenji Temple (霊山寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is the first of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage, a ...

German House The Naruto German House (鳴門市ドイツ館) is a cultural center located in Naruto City, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The center was established in 1999, follow...

Getting there

By Train

• From Okayama Station:

1. Take the Marine Liner to Takamatsu Station (about 1 hour)
2. Take the Limited Express Uzushio to Ikenotani Station (about 1 hour)
3. Take the Naruto Line to Naruto Station (about 20 minutes)

By Bus

• From Osaka: Express bus to Naruto-Nishi (about 2 hours)
• From Kobe Sannomiya: Express bus to Naruto-Nishi (about 1 hour 20 minutes)
• From Kyoto: Express bus to Naruto-Nishi (about 2 hours 20 minutes)

By Air

• From Tokyo (Haneda Airport) to Tokushima Airport (about 70 minutes)
• From Tokushima Airport to Naruto Station by bus (about 15 minutes)

By Car

• From Osaka (Suita IC) to Naruto IC: About 1 hour 40 minutes
• From Kobe (Kyobashi IC) to Naruto IC: About 1 hour 30 minutes
• From Kyoto (Kyoto-Minami IC) to Naruto IC: About 2 hours 30 minutes

Naruto is a spread-out city with major attractions located outside the city center. While renting a car can be convenient, public transportation is also available to access the area.