Naruto

Naruto (鳴門市) is a city at the northeastern tip of Tokushima Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, facing the narrow Naruto Strait that separates Shikoku from Awaji Island. The city takes its name and fame from the strait, where the meeting of strong tidal currents creates the famous Naruto whirlpools — among the largest tidal whirlpools in the world and one of the headline natural spectacles of western Japan.

Naruto's location at the strait has long made it a gateway between Shikoku and the Kansai region of Honshu. Today the great Onaruto Bridge soars over the whirlpools, carrying the expressway link that connects Shikoku to Awaji Island and onward to Kobe. The city also holds an important place in the Shikoku spiritual landscape: Ryozenji, the first of the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, lies within Naruto, making the city the starting point for pilgrims setting out on the circuit.

The climate is mild and typical of the Seto Inland Sea region, with warm, humid summers and cool, dry winters. The whirlpools, however, follow the tides rather than the calendar — their strength varies through each day and across the lunar month, peaking around the spring tides — so timing a visit to the tidal schedule matters more than the season. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times for the city overall.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Tokushima Airport, north of Tokushima city, with daily flights to Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo. For international connections, Kansai International Airport in Osaka is the main gateway, reached from the Tokushima area by limousine bus. From either airport, continue to Naruto by train or road.

By Train

Naruto is served by the JR Naruto Line, which branches off the main line and connects toward Tokushima city; the central station is Naruto Station. The whirlpool sites at the strait, however, are some distance from the station and are reached by bus or taxi.

By Car / Road

Naruto sits at the Shikoku end of the Onaruto Bridge, which carries the expressway link from Awaji Island and Kobe, making the city very accessible by road from the Kansai region. Buses from Kansai bound for Tokushima pass through this corridor. A car is convenient for reaching the whirlpool viewpoints, which are spread along the strait.

Naruto's attractions are spread out, so a car or local bus is the practical way to get around; the whirlpool viewpoints, Ryozenji and the city centre are not within comfortable walking distance of one another. Local buses connect the station with the strait area, and taxis are available. There is no metro or tram. Tipping is not customary in Japan.

• Naruto whirlpools (鳴門の渦潮) — The city's signature sight, where powerful tidal currents in the Naruto Strait create swirling whirlpools, best seen around peak tide; check the tidal timetable before visiting.
• Onaruto Bridge and Uzu no Michi — The great suspension bridge over the strait, with a walkway beneath the bridge deck that lets visitors look straight down at the whirlpools through glass floor panels.
• Ryozenji (霊山寺) — Temple number 1 of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, the traditional starting point for pilgrims, within the city.
• Otsuka Museum of Art — A very large art museum in Naruto displaying full-size ceramic reproductions of famous Western masterworks.

The defining experience in Naruto is viewing the whirlpools — either from the Uzu no Michi glass-floored walkway beneath the Onaruto Bridge, or from one of the sightseeing cruise boats that take visitors out into the strait for a close-up of the swirling water. Timing the visit to the tidal schedule is essential, as the whirlpools are far more dramatic around peak tide. Naruto is also the place to begin the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage at Ryozenji, where pilgrims traditionally buy their white robes and equipment. The Otsuka Museum of Art makes an absorbing indoor half-day.

Naruto's cuisine is built on the seafood of the strait, whose strong currents are said to produce especially firm, flavourful fish; sea bream (tai) caught in the Naruto Strait is a notable local speciality, along with wakame seaweed. Naruto kintoki sweet potato appears in both savoury and sweet dishes. Restaurants are found near the station and the whirlpool tourist areas. Vegetarian and halal options are limited; travellers with dietary needs should ask ahead.

Tokushima Prefecture flavours its sake and shochu with the local sudachi citrus, and these are available in Naruto's restaurants and izakaya. Cafés are found near the station and tourist areas. Tap water is safe to drink throughout Japan.

• Budget: Simple guesthouses and minshuku, including pilgrim-oriented lodgings near Ryozenji, offer inexpensive rooms.
• Mid-range: Business hotels are found near Naruto Station and the city centre.
• Upscale / heritage: Hot-spring resort hotels near the strait offer onsen baths and views over the Naruto whirlpools area.

Naruto is associated with Naruto kintoki, a prized variety of sweet potato grown in the area, sold fresh and as sweets and snacks. Local seafood products and Tokushima specialities such as indigo-dyed goods are also available. Shops cluster around the station and the whirlpool tourist areas. Prices are fixed; bargaining is not customary in Japan.

• Tokushima (about 1 hour) — The prefectural capital and transport hub of eastern Shikoku.
• Awaji Island (across the Onaruto Bridge) — The large island stepping-stone toward Kobe and Kansai.
• Kobe (about 1.5 hours via Awaji Island) — A major Kansai port city.
• Awa Pilgrimage temples — Temples 1 through 17 of the Shikoku circuit lie in the Naruto–Tokushima area.
• Mima (via Tokushima) — A small inland city known for historic streetscapes.