Tokushima in three days: Naruto or Wakimachi?
For performances, views and the strait, take return Naruto buses from your Tokushima base. For historic streets, choose the Wakimachi hire-car day trip. Its admission subtotal excludes hire, refuelling and parking.
Choose an itinerary for 3 days / 2 nights
A — Two nights in Tokushima, Naruto return trip on day two
Stay in Tokushima for a performance day and a Naruto Strait day. Take return buses to Naruto and visit Bizan on the final day.
A — Two nights in Tokushima, Naruto return trip on day two →3 days / 2 nightsB — Two nights in Tokushima, Wakimachi streets on day two
For historic streets rather than the strait, hire a car for a Wakimachi day trip. Stay two nights in Tokushima, with a first-day show and optional final-day Bizan according to departure time. Car costs are separate from the admission subtotal.
B — Two nights in Tokushima, Wakimachi streets on day two →A — Two nights in Tokushima, Naruto return trip on day two
Stay in Tokushima for a performance day and a Naruto Strait day. Take return buses to Naruto and visit Bizan on the final day.
Day 1 · Tokushima city
Stay two nights in the same accommodation near Tokushima Station. Choose the first day's show around arrival; include final-day Bizan only if there is time before departure.
- JR Tokushima Station → Your booked Tokushima accommodation
Travel from Tokushima Station to your booked accommodation.
- Tokushima accommodation → Awa Odori Kaikan entrance
Walk to Awa Odori Kaikan. The theatre is on Level 2 of the same building.
- Awa Odori Kaikan entrance → Level 2 theatre
Watch one daytime show in the Level 2 theatre. Regular performances start at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 and last 40 minutes each. Allow for visiting your accommodation and buying tickets, as well as station arrival. If you miss daytime shows, compare the 20:00 show at JPY 1,600 per adult, JPY 300 more. Closure days and the 11–15 August regular-show suspension prevent following this plan as written.
Kaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fee table
- Awa Odori Kaikan → Meal near the station or Kaikan, then the same accommodation
After the show, choose an open restaurant near the Kaikan or station for dinner and return to the same accommodation. For the evening show, check restaurant last orders.
Day 2 · Return trip to Naruto Strait
Look down over the Naruto Strait from Uzunomichi's walkway. Choose return Naruto Park buses around the tide times.
- Tokushima accommodation and Tokushima Station stand 16 → Naruto Park bus stop
Take a Naruto Park-bound bus from stand 16 in front of Tokushima Station. Adult fares are JPY 870 one way or JPY 1,740 return. Choose both services around your date's tide table and Uzunomichi's last admission. Allow extra for walking from accommodation to the stand and bus waits.
October weekday timetableHoliday timetableFares and payment information
- Naruto Park bus stop → Uzunomichi entrance and strait walkway
Walk about five minutes from the stop and buy the JPY 510 adult ticket. Explore the strait from the walkway beneath the bridge. Whirlpools may be absent at some times; choose buses according to your date's tide table. Last admission is 16:30 in October–February or 17:30 in March–September.
Directions to the entranceCheck fees and closuresTide table for your visit date
- Uzunomichi and Naruto Park bus stop → Tokushima Station and the same accommodation
After visiting, take a Tokushima Station-bound bus from Naruto Park and return to the same accommodation. Fit any park lunch around your return bus; if no shops are open, eat near the station. Choose the return service before sightseeing.
October weekday timetableHoliday timetableCheck fees and closures
Day 3 · Visit Bizan before departure
Walk from your station-area accommodation to Awa Odori Kaikan, then go to the lower ropeway station on Level 5. Enjoy the views from Bizan and take the same ropeway down.
- Lower station, Awa Odori Kaikan Level 5 → Bizan upper station
Buy a return ticket at the lower Bizan Ropeway station on Level 5 of the Kaikan and go to the upper station. Adult return fares are JPY 1,500; the ride takes about six minutes and usually starts at 09:00. Ticketing, waiting and summit walking are extra. Check seasonal closing times and inspection or bad-weather suspensions for your date.
Kaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fee table
- Bizan upper station → Lower ropeway station
After enjoying the views, take the same ropeway down.
- Lower ropeway station and Tokushima accommodation → Your actual departure boarding point
Allow travel to your accommodation and departure boarding point as well as the approximately six-minute ropeway ride. Shorten the Bizan visit if departing early.
Included items: Daytime show JPY 1,300 + Uzunomichi JPY 510 + Bizan JPY 1,500 + return Tokushima Station–park buses JPY 1,740.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward city transport, travel between accommodation and boarding points, and luggage storage cost extra.
The evening show adds JPY 300; omitting Bizan removes JPY 1,500. Bus tickets do not include attraction admission.
Official fee tableKaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesCheck fees and closuresFares and payment information
B — Two nights in Tokushima, Wakimachi streets on day two
For historic streets rather than the strait, hire a car for a Wakimachi day trip. Stay two nights in Tokushima, with a first-day show and optional final-day Bizan according to departure time. Car costs are separate from the admission subtotal.
Day 1 · Tokushima city
Stay two nights near Tokushima Station and hire a car only for day two's Wakimachi trip. Choose a pickup and return point near your accommodation, checking return deadlines and refuelling conditions. Hire, insurance, fuel and tolls cost extra to the admission subtotal.
- JR Tokushima Station → Your booked Tokushima accommodation
Travel from Tokushima Station to your booked accommodation.
- Tokushima accommodation → Awa Odori Kaikan entrance
Walk to Awa Odori Kaikan. The theatre is on Level 2 of the same building.
- Awa Odori Kaikan entrance → Level 2 theatre
Watch one daytime show on Level 2. Shows start at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 and last 40 minutes each. For a late arrival, compare the 20:00 show, changing adult admission from JPY 1,300 to JPY 1,600. Do not include a first-day show on closure days or during the 11–15 August regular-show suspension.
Kaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fee table
- Awa Odori Kaikan → Meal near the station or Kaikan, then the same accommodation
After the show, choose an open restaurant near the Kaikan or station for dinner and return to the same accommodation. For the evening show, check restaurant last orders.
Day 2 · Travel to Wakimachi
Walk Wakimachi's streets and look at historic houses with udatsu walls. Decide separately whether to enter the Yoshida Residence.
- Tokushima accommodation → Ailand Udatsu car park
Drive to Ailand Udatsu's passenger-car park. Official tourism information gives about one hour and five minutes from Tokushima city, or seven minutes from Wakimachi IC. Allow extra for car pickup and parking. The 39-space passenger-car park differs from the tour-bus park. Confirm parking fees and access conditions with the facility.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsPassenger-car and tour-bus parking areas
- Ailand Udatsu car park → Wakimachi Udatsu Townscape
Park and walk towards the Yoshida Residence connected with Ailand Udatsu to enter the historic streets. In the standard plan, walk through the lanes and view house exteriors, with no separate street admission added. The optional Yoshida Residence interior costs JPY 510 per adult and opens 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Find an open shop for lunch. Ailand Udatsu's visitor facilities open 09:00–17:30 and close 27 December–1 January; this does not mean every street shop follows those hours.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsYoshida Residence fees and hours
- Wakimachi Udatsu Townscape → Tokushima accommodation
Return along the same route to the car park and drive to your booked Tokushima return point. Refuel and return the car by the agreed deadline, then go to your accommodation. The one-way hour and five minutes is general road guidance; allow extra for traffic and refuelling. Without a hire car, choose the Naruto bus itinerary. This driving plan cannot simply become a bus trip using the same timing.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsOctober weekday timetableHoliday timetableFares and payment information
Day 3 · Visit Bizan before departure
Walk from your station-area accommodation to Awa Odori Kaikan, then go to the lower ropeway station on Level 5. Enjoy the views from Bizan and take the same ropeway down.
- Lower station, Awa Odori Kaikan Level 5 → Bizan upper station
Buy a return ticket at the lower Bizan Ropeway station on Level 5 of the Kaikan and go to the upper station. Adult return fares are JPY 1,500; the ride takes about six minutes and usually starts at 09:00. Ticketing, waiting and summit walking are extra. Check seasonal closing times and inspection or bad-weather suspensions for your date.
Kaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fee table
- Bizan upper station → Lower ropeway station
After enjoying the views, take the same ropeway down.
- Lower ropeway station and Tokushima accommodation → Your actual departure boarding point
Having returned the car yesterday, travel on foot today. Allow accommodation and departure-point travel as well as the six-minute ropeway ride. Omit Bizan for an early departure.
Included items: Daytime show JPY 1,300 + optional return Bizan JPY 1,500.
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward transport, accommodation–boarding point travel and luggage storage cost extra. Hire, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking are excluded. Choosing the Yoshida Residence interior adds JPY 510.
Without Bizan, the subtotal is JPY 1,300. Add JPY 510 for the optional Yoshida Residence interior. Budget separately for hire and parking using your booking quote.
Official fee tableKaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesYoshida Residence fees and hoursParking fees and access
Checks before departure and on the day, and FAQs
Will a morning bus let me see whirlpools?
Morning alone does not guarantee whirlpools. Choose a suitable time from your date's tide table, then check outward and return park buses together. Make sure arrival is before Uzunomichi's last admission.
October weekday timetableHoliday timetableTide table for your visit dateCheck fees and closures
Does the Wakimachi subtotal include a hire car?
No. Two-night B's JPY 2,800 covers the daytime show and optional return Bizan trip. Omitting Bizan gives JPY 1,300. Hire, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking cost extra; add JPY 510 per adult for the residence interior.
Official fee tableKaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesYoshida Residence fees and hours
Official sources and dates checked
- Kaikan performance and ropeway fares and services ·
- Check fees and closures ·
- Directions to the entrance ·
- Tide table for your visit date ·
- Parking fees and access ·
- Ailand Udatsu location and operations ·
- Yoshida Residence fees and hours ·
- Passenger-car and tour-bus parking areas ·
- October weekday timetable ·
- Holiday timetable ·
- Fares and payment information ·
- Official fee table ·