Tokushima ramen徳島ラーメン
A rich, dark pork-bone and soy broth topped with sweet-simmered pork and often a raw egg.
Shikoku
Tokushima Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
Eastern Shikoku, home of the Awa Odori dance festival. Visitors come for the Naruto whirlpools, the deep Iya Valley with its vine bridges, and Temple 1 of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage.
Open Tokushima on the map40 places on the map · 19 local favourites
Local tips
- TipThe whirlpools are strongest around spring tides; check the tide table before taking a boat or walking the Uzu-no-michi walkway.
- Heads upIya Valley roads are narrow and winding with few buses; drive carefully or plan around limited bus services.
- Heads upDuring Awa Odori in mid-August, Tokushima city accommodation fills up far in advance; book early or stay nearby.
- DoJoin in: some Awa Odori groups (niwaka-ren) let visitors dance along after a quick lesson.
- TipOboke Gorge’s sightseeing boats are an easy way to see the Iya area’s river scenery, especially in autumn.
What to eat
Sudachiすだち
A small, sharp green citrus squeezed over grilled fish, noodles and almost everything else.
Iya soba祖谷そば
Thick, rustic buckwheat noodles from the Iya mountains, served in a simple broth.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Tsukigatani Onsen
月ヶ谷温泉 Hot SpringsVillage hot spring beside the river in Kamikatsu, with baths looking out at the green valley. Pair it with Rise & Win brewery down the road.
● Mostly localsNagao Orifu (Awa Shijira Weaving)
長尾織布 ShoppingExperiencesFamily weaving mill in Tokushima city making Awa shijira, a crinkly cotton cloth dyed with indigo. Watch the old looms and buy fabric goods direct.
● Mostly localsTodoroki Falls
轟の滝 Nature & SceneryPowerful waterfall in the southern mountains of Kaiyo, crashing into a narrow rocky chasm behind Todoroki shrine. Part of a chain of falls along the valley.
● Mostly localsMiyoshikiku Sake Brewery
三芳菊酒造 Local FoodSmall brewery in the old Ikeda town known for unconventional, fruity sakes with bold retro labels. Stop in for tastings and bottles you won't see outside Shikoku.
● Mostly localsAwa no Dochu Earth Pillars
阿波の土柱 Nature & SceneryRare earth pillars eroded into jagged spires on a hillside in Awa city, one of few such formations in the world. A short trail loops around them.
● Mostly localsAwa Washi Hall
阿波和紙伝統産業会館 ExperiencesWorking papermaking centre in Yoshinogawa where you can watch craftsmen and make your own sheet of Awa washi. The shop sells beautiful dyed papers.
● Mostly localsTarai Udon Niimiya
たらいうどん 新見屋 Local FoodTarai udon is thick udon served in a big wooden tub with a dipping sauce made from river fish. This country restaurant in Awa's Donari area is one of the classic places…
● Mostly localsAkitamachi
秋田町 NightlifeTokushima city's main drinking district, a few blocks of izakaya, snack bars and ramen shops. Try the local sudachi citrus squeezed on everything.
● Mostly localsOtani-yaki Yano Toen
大谷焼 矢野陶苑 ShoppingExperiencesPottery kiln in Otani, famed for enormous jars thrown on a wheel turned by a potter lying on the floor. Browse the shop or try a hand-building class.
● Mostly localsShosan-ji
焼山寺 Temples & GoshuinchoNature & SceneryTemple 12, high in the mountains among giant old cedars. Pilgrims call the trail here the hardest on the route; driving up still feels remote.
● Mostly localsOhama Beach, Hiwasa
大浜海岸 Nature & ScenerySandy beach in the fishing town of Hiwasa where loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest in early summer. The small turtle museum next to it explains the story.
● Mostly localsNaruto German House
鳴門市ドイツ館 Sights & HistoryMuseum at the site of the Bando POW camp, where German prisoners gave Japan's first full performance of Beethoven's Ninth. A surprisingly warm story of cultural exchange.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.