Tokushima in 3 days: Naruto or Wakimachi?
For city performances, views and the strait, visit Naruto by return buses from your Tokushima hotel. For historic streets, choose the rental car return trip to Wakimachi. Wakimachi’s admission subtotal excludes hire, refuelling and parking.
Choose a 3 days / 2 nights itinerary
A: two nights in Tokushima with a Naruto day trip
Stay in Tokushima for a performance day and a Naruto Strait day. Take return buses to Naruto, then visit Bizan on the final day.
A: two nights in Tokushima with a Naruto day trip →3 days / 2 nightsB: two nights in Tokushima with a day in Wakimachi
For historic streets rather than the strait, take a rental car to Wakimachi on day two. Stay two nights in Tokushima, with a performance on day one and optional Bizan on the final day if departure times allow. Vehicle costs are separate from the admission subtotal.
B: two nights in Tokushima with a day in Wakimachi →A: two nights in Tokushima with a Naruto day trip
Stay in Tokushima for a performance day and a Naruto Strait day. Take return buses to Naruto, then visit Bizan on the final day.
Day 1: Tokushima city
Stay two nights at the same hotel near Tokushima Station. Choose a day-one performance to suit your arrival, and include final-day Bizan only if you have time before departure.
- JR Tokushima Station → Your booked Tokushima hotel
From Tokushima Station, go to your booked hotel.
- Tokushima hotel → Awa Odori Kaikan entrance
Walk to Awa Odori Kaikan. The theatre is on the second floor of the same building.
- Awa Odori Kaikan entrance → Second-floor theatre
Watch one daytime performance in the second-floor theatre. Regular shows start at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 and last 40 minutes. Allow time for your hotel stop and ticket purchases after arriving at the station. If you miss the daytime shows, compare the 20:00 performance at ¥1,600 per adult, ¥300 more. This schedule does not apply on regular closed days or during the 11–15 August suspension.
Kaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fare table
- Awa Odori Kaikan → Dinner near the station or Kaikan, then the same hotel
After the show, choose an open restaurant near the Kaikan or station for dinner, then return to the same hotel. For an evening show, check restaurant last orders too.
Day 2: Naruto Strait return trip
Look down over Naruto Strait from Uzu no Michi’s walkway. Choose outward and return buses to Naruto Park around the tide times.
- Tokushima hotel and stop 16 outside Tokushima Station → Naruto Park bus stop
From stop 16 outside Tokushima Station, take a Naruto Park-bound bus and get off at the park. Adult fares are ¥870 one way or ¥1,740 return. Choose both buses around your date’s tide chart and Uzu no Michi’s last admission. Allow extra time to walk from your hotel to the stop and wait for the bus.
- Naruto Park bus stop → Uzu no Michi entrance and strait walkway
Walk about 5 minutes from the stop to the entrance and buy a ¥510 adult ticket. Explore the walkway beneath the bridge. Whirlpools may not be visible at some times, so choose buses around the tide chart for your date. Last admission is 16:30 from October to February and 17:30 from March to September.
Directions to the entranceCheck admission and closuresTide chart for your visit date
- Uzu no Michi and Naruto Park stop → Tokushima Station and the same hotel
After the visit, take a Tokushima Station-bound bus from Naruto Park stop and return to the same hotel. For lunch in the park, plan around your return bus. If no shop is open, eat near the station. Choose your return service before sightseeing.
October weekday timetableHoliday timetableCheck admission and closures
Day 3: Bizan views and departure
Walk from your hotel near Tokushima Station to Awa Odori Kaikan, then go to the fifth-floor lower ropeway station. Enjoy Bizan’s views and take the same ropeway down.
- Fifth-floor lower station at Awa Odori Kaikan → Bizan summit station
Buy a return ticket at Awa Odori Kaikan’s fifth-floor lower Bizan Ropeway station and ride to the summit. The adult return costs ¥1,500 and the ride takes about 6 minutes. Services usually start at 09:00. Allow extra time for tickets, queues and summit walks. Recheck seasonal finishing times, maintenance and bad-weather suspensions for your date.
Kaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fare table
- Bizan summit station → Lower ropeway station
After enjoying the views, take the same ropeway down.
- Lower station and Tokushima hotel → Your actual departure boarding point
As well as the roughly 6-minute ropeway ride, allow time to reach your hotel and departure boarding point. Shorten the Bizan visit for an early departure.
Included items: Daytime performance ¥1,300 + Uzu no Michi ¥510 + Bizan ¥1,500 + Tokushima Station–park return buses ¥1,740
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward travel, transport between your hotel and boarding points, and luggage storage cost extra.
Add ¥300 for the evening performance or subtract ¥1,500 if omitting Bizan. Bus tickets do not include attraction admission.
Official fare tableKaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesCheck admission and closuresFares and payment
B: two nights in Tokushima with a day in Wakimachi
For historic streets rather than the strait, take a rental car to Wakimachi on day two. Stay two nights in Tokushima, with a performance on day one and optional Bizan on the final day if departure times allow. Vehicle 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 collection and return branch near your hotel, and check return deadlines and refuelling conditions. Hire, insurance, fuel and tolls are separate from the admission subtotal.
- JR Tokushima Station → Your booked Tokushima hotel
From Tokushima Station, go to your booked hotel.
- Tokushima hotel → Awa Odori Kaikan entrance
Walk to Awa Odori Kaikan. The theatre is on the second floor of the same building.
- Awa Odori Kaikan entrance → Second-floor theatre
Watch one daytime performance in the second-floor theatre. Shows start at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00 and last 40 minutes. For a late arrival, compare the 20:00 show, with adult admission rising from ¥1,300 to ¥1,600. Omit the day-one performance on Kaikan closed days or during the 11–15 August suspension of regular shows.
Kaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fare table
- Awa Odori Kaikan → Dinner near the station or Kaikan, then the same hotel
After the show, choose an open restaurant near the Kaikan or station for dinner, then return to the same hotel. For an evening show, check restaurant last orders too.
Day 2: the journey to Wakimachi
Walk Wakimachi’s streets to see historic houses with udatsu walls. A visit inside the Yoshida Residence is optional.
- Tokushima hotel → Island Udatsu ordinary-car parking area
Drive to the Island Udatsu ordinary-car parking area. Official tourism estimates are about 1 hour 5 minutes from Tokushima city or 7 minutes from Wakimachi IC. Allow extra time for car collection and parking. The 39-space ordinary-car area is separate from tourist-coach parking. Ask the facility about fees and conditions for your date.
Island Udatsu location and opening hoursOrdinary-car and tourist-coach parking areas
- Island Udatsu ordinary-car parking area → Wakimachi Udatsu Street
After parking, walk towards the Yoshida Residence connected to Island Udatsu and enter the historic street. The basic itinerary is a walk through lanes and past house exteriors, so no separate street admission is added. For the Yoshida Residence interior, adult admission costs ¥510; it opens 09:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. Choose an open place for lunch. Island Udatsu’s visitor facilities open 09:00–17:30 and close from 27 December to 1 January. These hours do not apply to every shop on the street.
Island Udatsu location and opening hoursYoshida Residence admission and hours
- Wakimachi Udatsu Street → Tokushima hotel
Return along the same route to the car park, then drive to your booked return branch in Tokushima. Refuel and return the car by the deadline, then go back to your hotel. The one-way estimate of about 1 hour 5 minutes is a general road reference; allow extra time for traffic and refuelling. Without a rental car, choose the Naruto bus itinerary. The Wakimachi driving itinerary cannot simply be followed by bus on the same schedule.
Island Udatsu location and opening hoursOctober weekday timetableHoliday timetableFares and payment
Day 3: Bizan views and departure
Walk from your hotel near Tokushima Station to Awa Odori Kaikan, then go to the fifth-floor lower ropeway station. Enjoy Bizan’s views and take the same ropeway down.
- Fifth-floor lower station at Awa Odori Kaikan → Bizan summit station
Buy a return ticket at Awa Odori Kaikan’s fifth-floor lower Bizan Ropeway station and ride to the summit. The adult return costs ¥1,500 and the ride takes about 6 minutes. Services usually start at 09:00. Allow extra time for tickets, queues and summit walks. Recheck seasonal finishing times, maintenance and bad-weather suspensions for your date.
Kaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesOfficial fare table
- Bizan summit station → Lower ropeway station
After enjoying the views, take the same ropeway down.
- Lower station and Tokushima hotel → Your actual departure boarding point
The car was returned yesterday, so travel on foot today. Allow time for your hotel and departure boarding point in addition to the roughly 6-minute ropeway ride. For an early departure, omit Bizan.
Included items: Daytime performance ¥1,300 + optional Bizan return ¥1,500
Extra costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, airport or onward travel, transport between your hotel and boarding points, and luggage storage cost extra. Car hire, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking are excluded. Add ¥510 if visiting the Yoshida Residence interior.
Without Bizan, the subtotal is ¥1,300. Add ¥510 for the optional Yoshida Residence interior. Calculate car hire and parking separately from your booking quote.
Official fare tableKaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesYoshida Residence admission and hoursParking fees and visitor information
Checks before departure and FAQs
Will I see whirlpools if I take a morning bus?
A morning visit alone does not guarantee whirlpools. Check favourable viewing times in your date’s tide chart, then choose outward buses and return services from the park together in the operator’s timetable. Check that you can arrive before Uzu no Michi’s last admission too.
October weekday timetableHoliday timetableTide chart for your visit dateCheck admission and closures
Does the Wakimachi admission subtotal include car hire?
No. The ¥2,800 for 3-day itinerary B covers a daytime performance and optional Bizan return. Without Bizan it is ¥1,300. Car hire, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking cost extra. Add ¥510 per adult for the Yoshida Residence interior.
Official fare tableKaikan performances and ropeway fares and servicesYoshida Residence admission and hours
Official sources and check dates
- Kaikan performances and ropeway fares and services ·
- Check admission and closures ·
- Directions to the entrance ·
- Tide chart for your visit date ·
- Parking fees and visitor information ·
- Island Udatsu location and opening hours ·
- Yoshida Residence admission and hours ·
- Ordinary-car and tourist-coach parking areas ·
- October weekday timetable ·
- Holiday timetable ·
- Fares and payment ·
- Official fare table ·