Tokushima in five days: which order for eastern and western stays?
Start with three nights in Tokushima, then Iya, for performances, views and Naruto Strait first. For the valley first, choose two nights in Iya then two in Tokushima. Western travel uses a hire car; Naruto uses return buses. If visiting the bridge on the final day from Iya, check there is time to return the car in Tokushima and catch your departure.
Choose an itinerary for 5 days / 4 nights
A — Three eastern nights, then one western night
Start with dance, mountain views and the strait, then spend a night in the valley. After three nights in Tokushima, travel via Wakimachi to Iya. The final day combines the bridge and car return; move or omit the bridge for an early departure.
A — Three eastern nights, then one western night →5 days / 4 nightsB — Western sights first, finishing in the east
For the gorge and vine bridge first, stay two nights in Iya, then travel via Wakimachi for two nights in Tokushima. Return the car before taking buses to Naruto. The first day's gorge viewpoint does not include a cruise.
B — Western sights first, finishing in the east →A — Three eastern nights, then one western night
Start with dance, mountain views and the strait, then spend a night in the valley. After three nights in Tokushima, travel via Wakimachi to Iya. The final day combines the bridge and car return; move or omit the bridge for an early departure.
Day 1 · Performance and a city stay
Stay three nights near Tokushima Station for performances, views and Naruto Strait. Hire a car on day four, travel via Wakimachi and spend one night in Oboke or Iya. Return the car in Tokushima on the final day. Move or omit Kazurabashi for an early 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 on Level 2. Shows start at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00, last 40 minutes and cost JPY 1,300 per adult. For a late arrival, the 20:00 show costs JPY 1,600. Do not plan regular sessions on closure days or during 11–15 August.
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 buses 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 · Bizan, then the same accommodation
Walk from station-area accommodation to Awa Odori Kaikan, then go to the lower ropeway station on Level 5.
- 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 and Tokushima accommodation
After enjoying the views, take the ropeway down. Eat in the city and spend your third night at the same accommodation. If you saw a daytime show on day one, another evening performance today is excluded from standard costs.
Day 4 · Via Wakimachi to the west
Visit Wakimachi, then spend one night in Oboke or Iya. Check driving time using the accommodation address and meet check-in and dinner deadlines. If late, shorten Wakimachi and prioritise reaching your accommodation. For an early departure tomorrow, compare skipping Wakimachi and visiting Kazurabashi before your stay. Choose this only if pickup, bridge hours, check-in and dinner times fit; otherwise omit the bridge.
- Tokushima accommodation and booked car pickup point → Ailand Udatsu car park
After pickup, set navigation for Ailand Udatsu's passenger-car park. The official hour and five minutes from Tokushima city excludes accommodation-to-pickup travel, car paperwork and traffic delays. The facility opens 09:00–17:30 and closes 27 December–1 January; passenger-car capacity is 39 spaces. Check parking fees and availability for your date separately.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsPassenger-car and tour-bus parking areas
- Ailand Udatsu car park → Wakimachi Udatsu Townscape
Park, then walk towards the connected Yoshida Residence to explore the historic streets. Find an open shop for lunch. The standard plan is a street walk; the residence interior is optional at JPY 510 per adult, last admission 16:30.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsYoshida Residence fees and hours
- Wakimachi Udatsu streets and Ailand Udatsu car park → Your booked accommodation in Oboke or Iya
Walk back to the car park and drive to the actual address of your booked western accommodation. Places near Oboke Station and Kazurabashi are in different locations, so there is no single driving time from Wakimachi. Check the route and time after choosing your accommodation address.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsPassenger-car and tour-bus parking areas
Day 5 · Bridge visit, then car return in Tokushima
Cross Kazurabashi, then return to Tokushima to return the car and depart. Leave time after refuelling and return to reach your station or airport-bus boarding point. For a morning departure, move the bridge to an earlier day or omit it.
- Western accommodation → Yumebutai car park and Iya Kazurabashi entrance
Standard car parking costs JPY 500 per vehicle, separate from bridge admission, and cannot be reserved. Walk through the Yumebutai facilities towards the bridge after parking. Check the car park–bridge walk and driving time from accommodation separately.
- Iya Kazurabashi entrance → Bridge and Yumebutai car park
Buy a ticket and cross. Admission is JPY 550 per person for junior high school students and older. Hours are 08:00–18:00 in April–June, 07:30–18:30 in July–August and 08:00–17:00 in September–March. Bad weather may change operations. Return to your car park afterwards.
- Yumebutai car park → Tokushima car return point and actual departure boarding point
Return to the car park and drive to your contracted Tokushima return point. After refuelling and returning the car, travel to your departure station or airport-bus stand. Do not include a final-day bridge visit before a morning departure.
Today starts at western accommodation, visits the bridge and returns to Tokushima. If it does not fit the car-return deadline and actual departure, move the bridge to yesterday or omit it.
Included items: Daytime show JPY 1,300 + Uzunomichi JPY 510 + Bizan JPY 1,500 + Kazurabashi JPY 550 + return Naruto buses JPY 1,740.
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. The optional Yoshida Residence interior adds JPY 510. Yumebutai parking is a separate JPY 500 per vehicle.
Yumebutai parking is a separate JPY 500 per vehicle. Add JPY 510 per adult for the optional residence interior. Omitting the bridge removes JPY 550 admission from the subtotal; not using its car park also avoids JPY 500 per vehicle. Moving the visit to another day and visiting once leaves admission unchanged.
Official fee tableKaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesCheck fees and closuresFares and payment informationFees and seasonal hoursYoshida Residence fees and hoursParking fees and access
B — Western sights first, finishing in the east
For the gorge and vine bridge first, stay two nights in Iya, then travel via Wakimachi for two nights in Tokushima. Return the car before taking buses to Naruto. The first day's gorge viewpoint does not include a cruise.
Day 1 · Oboke Gorge, then western accommodation
For a relaxed valley stay, spend two nights in Oboke or Iya followed by two in Tokushima. Hire a car in Tokushima on day one, stop at the Oboke visitor facilities on Route 32 and continue to your accommodation. You still need to meet check-in and dinner deadlines; go directly there if arriving late.
Visit Kazurabashi on day two, then travel via Wakimachi and return the car in Tokushima on day three. Use buses to Naruto on day four and choose either a performance or Bizan on the final day.
Accommodation near Oboke Station and Kazurabashi is spread out; check driving time using the actual address. This itinerary uses a hire car. Without one, plan the order separately around buses, accommodation transfers and JR connections.
- Ikawa-Ikeda IC and Route 32 → Oboke visitor facilities car park
Drive to the Oboke visitor facilities, following Route 32 towards Kochi from Ikawa-Ikeda IC. The address is 1553-1 Kamimyo, Yamashirocho, Miyoshi; standard car capacity is 52 spaces. Check driving time from pickup and to accommodation using each address. Visitor information and shops open 09:00–17:00 and close Tuesdays in December–February, or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday. Rest Area Oboke and Lapis Oboke · 道の駅大歩危
Miyoshi tourism association Oboke visitor information and accessOboke facility hours, closures and visitor information
- Oboke visitor facilities → Gorge views, visitor information and the same car park
Look across Oboke Gorge and the Yoshino River, then check Kazurabashi access and local road information at the visitor information corner. Browse local products, return to your car and travel to booked western accommodation. The standard plan includes free information and shop areas and gorge views, excluding the paid yokai and stone museum and cruise. For the museum, check current fees and last admission on site, then decide whether it fits your accommodation arrival deadline.
Miyoshi tourism association Oboke visitor information and accessOboke facility hours, closures and visitor informationOfficial Shikoku roadside station gorge views and facilities
Day 2 · Kazurabashi, then the same accommodation
Explore the pedestrian vine bridge and return to the same car park.
- Western accommodation → Yumebutai car park and Iya Kazurabashi entrance
Standard car parking costs JPY 500 per vehicle, separate from bridge admission, and cannot be reserved. Walk through the Yumebutai facilities towards the bridge after parking. Check the car park–bridge walk and driving time from accommodation separately.
- Iya Kazurabashi entrance → Bridge and Yumebutai car park
Buy a ticket and cross. Admission is JPY 550 per person for junior high school students and older. Hours are 08:00–18:00 in April–June, 07:30–18:30 in July–August and 08:00–17:00 in September–March. Bad weather may change operations. Return to your car park afterwards.
- Yumebutai car park → Western accommodation
Return along the same route to Yumebutai car park and drive to your accommodation. Allow driving time separately from the car park–bridge walk. The official five-minute walk is from the bus stop, not the car park.
Day 3 · Via Wakimachi to Tokushima accommodation
Walk Wakimachi's streets and look at historic houses with udatsu walls. Decide separately whether to enter the Yoshida Residence.
- Western accommodation → Wakimachi Udatsu Townscape
Park, walk towards the Yoshida Residence and explore the streets, then eat at an open shop. The standard plan is a street walk; the residence interior is optional at JPY 510 per adult, last admission 16:30. Ailand Udatsu opens 09:00–17:30, closes 27 December–1 January and has 39 passenger-car spaces. From western accommodation, use its address to find the Wakimachi route and check parking fees and availability. The official hour and five minutes from Tokushima city is not the duration of this west-to-Wakimachi section.
Ailand Udatsu location and operationsYoshida Residence fees and hoursPassenger-car and tour-bus parking areas
- Wakimachi Udatsu Townscape → Tokushima accommodation
Return to the car park and drive to the Tokushima return point. Return before your booked deadline, then travel to city accommodation for two nights. When choosing accommodation, check whether you can walk from the return point or need other transport.
Travel via Wakimachi and return the car in Tokushima. Check parking, driving, return procedures and travel to city accommodation using actual addresses and your contract.
Day 4 · Return scheduled buses to Naruto
Look down over the Naruto Strait from Uzunomichi's walkway. Choose return Naruto Park buses around the tide times.
- Tokushima accommodation and Tokushima Station → 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 viewing facilities
Walk about five minutes from the stop, buy the JPY 510 adult ticket and view the strait. Check your date's tide table and seasonal last admission first: 17:30 in March–September or 16:30 in October–February. Then choose your buses.
Check fees and closuresDirections to the entranceTide table for your visit date
- Uzunomichi and Naruto Park bus stop → Tokushima Station and 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.
Day 5 · One city attraction before departure
Choose either the Awa Odori show or Bizan views to suit departure time. Allow time afterwards to return to accommodation and your departure boarding point.
- Tokushima accommodation → Awa Odori Kaikan theatre or Bizan upper station
If you can reach the theatre before a daytime show starts at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 or 16:00, choose one performance on Level 2. Adult admission is JPY 1,300 for 40 minutes; regular sessions are unavailable on closure days and during 11–15 August. For views instead, take the return Bizan Ropeway from Level 5. Adult fares are JPY 1,500, the ride takes about six minutes and usual services start at 09:00. Choose only one to suit your departure; the subtotal below includes just that choice.
Kaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fee table
- Chosen attraction and Tokushima accommodation → Your actual departure boarding point
Work backwards from departure, allowing for show or ropeway waits, travel via accommodation and time before boarding.
Included items: Kazurabashi JPY 550 + Uzunomichi JPY 510 + return Naruto buses JPY 1,740 + either final-day daytime show JPY 1,300 or 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. The optional Yoshida Residence interior adds JPY 510. Yumebutai parking is a separate JPY 500 per vehicle.
Yumebutai parking is a separate JPY 500 per vehicle; the optional residence interior adds JPY 510 per adult. Day one uses only free Oboke areas, excluding the paid museum and cruise. Choose either the show or Bizan on the final day.
Official fee tableKaikan performance and ropeway fares and servicesCheck fees and closuresFares and payment informationFees and seasonal hoursYoshida Residence fees and hoursParking fees and accessOboke facility hours, closures and visitor informationOfficial Shikoku roadside station gorge views and facilities
Checks before departure and on the day, and FAQs
Does the west-first Oboke/Iya itinerary include a cruise?
Day one visits Oboke visitor information facilities and gorge viewpoints without the paid cruise. To add it, check operations and timing separately and add JPY 1,800 per adult. Three-night B includes the cruise.
Oboke facility hours, closures and visitor informationOfficial Shikoku roadside station gorge views and facilitiesCruise operator's fares and boarding guide
Does the final-day subtotal include both the show and Bizan?
Four-night B's JPY 4,100 selects the daytime show; JPY 4,300 selects return Bizan. Neither covers both. Choose one according to departure time, then collect luggage and reach your actual boarding point.
Official fee tableKaikan performance and ropeway fares and services
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 ·
- Fees and seasonal hours ·
- Parking fees and access ·
- Cruise operator's fares and boarding guide ·
- 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 ·
- Miyoshi tourism association Oboke visitor information and access ·
- Oboke facility hours, closures and visitor information ·
- Official Shikoku roadside station gorge views and facilities ·
- JR Shikoku October 2026 pass revision notice ·