Tokushima Awaodori Airport provides thorough services to ensure a comfortable start to your journey. The General Information Center on the first floor offers guidance on tourist destinations and access to Tokushima City. Here, you can also rent wheelchairs and strollers.
The luggage delivery service is particularly convenient for international travelers who can leave their luggage at the information center to be delivered to their accommodation within Tokushima Prefecture on the same day. This allows them to start sightseeing immediately with light luggage.
As no trains are connected to the airport, you will need to travel to Tokushima by bus or taxi. However, you can use the airport shuttle bus for a smooth ride. It takes approximately 30 minutes to get to JR Tokushima Station in the city center.

Tokushima City and its surrounding area offer impressive natural sights along with places where you can experience local traditions.

Naruto Park (Naruto whirlpools): The power of one of the world's three greatest tidal currents
One of Tokushima’s must-see sights is the Naruto Whirlpools. The tidal currents in the Naruto Strait are counted among the “Three Great Tidal Currents of the World,” alongside the Strait of Messina in Italy and the Seymour Narrows in Canada. During spring tides, the whirlpools can reach 20 to 30 meters in diameter, making them the largest in the world.

You can enjoy the whirlpools up close in two different ways.

Uzu no Michi (Marine Promenade): A walkway beneath the Onaruto Bridge where you can look straight down at the whirlpools through glass sections.

Whirlpool Sightseeing Boat: Board the Whirlpool Sightseeing Boat from Naruto Park Kameura Sightseeing Port to admire the powerful whirlpools from the sea.
Naruto Park is accessible via the Tokushima Bus departing from JR Tokushima Station bound for Naruto Park.

Located in central Tokushima, Awa Dance Hall and Mt. Bizan are classic sightseeing spots where you can enjoy both culture and scenic views.

Awa Dance Hall: You can view Tokushima's traditional art, the Awa Dance, year-round, so there is no need to worry if you miss the festival in August. Inside the hall, you will find souvenir shops and a museum to learn about the history of the traditional dance.

Mt. Bizan: Take the Bizan Ropeway right next to the Awa Dance Hall to the summit, where you can admire magnificent panoramic views of Tokushima, all the way to Naruto and the Kii Peninsula.

Both spots are accessible within a 10-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station.
Awa Dance Hall

Tokushima's biggest event is the Awa Dance Festival held every summer. During this period, the city is packed with tourists from both Japan and abroad.

Tokushima's popular Awa Odori Dance Festival (August)
The Awa Dance Festival is held in Tokushima for four days every year (August 12th to August 15th). During this period, the city is crowded with over one million tourists from Japan and abroad.
We recommend booking transportation and accommodations well in advance if visiting during this period. The festival is a great opportunity to experience the bustle of the city firsthand, but it is essential to plan your trip carefully. Paid seats are also available for those wishing to avoid the crowds.

Tokushima Prefecture offers cost-effective and convenient transportation passes to encourage international travelers to explore both the prefecture and the wider Shikoku region.

Travel around Tokushima Prefecture with the TOKUSHIMA BUS PASS
This unlimited ride pass, designed exclusively for overseas tourists, allows cost-effective use of city buses throughout Tokushima Prefecture. It offers unlimited rides for two days on all routes and sections operated by Tokushima Bus and Tokushima City Bus (express bus routes on highways excluded). Priced at 2,000 yen (tax included) for adults and 1,000 yen (tax included) for children, the pass can be purchased at the airport tourist information center, Tokushima Bus offices, and Tokushima City Bus ticket counters. It is also valid for city transfers via airport buses.

Take the ferry to Tokushima Prefecture with the Nankai Tokushima Free Pass
This convenient pass is designed for international travelers arriving from Kansai International Airport or visiting from the Osaka area. It allows round-trip travel between Kansai and Tokushima using Nankai Railway and the Nankai Ferry, and also includes unlimited rides on Tokushima Bus and Tokushima City Bus for five days.

The Nankai Ferry connects Wakayama Port in Wakayama City with Tokushima Port in Tokushima City, with a travel time of about 2 hours 15 minutes. From Kansai International Airport, you can reach Wakayama Port in about 60 minutes by Nankai Railway.

The pass is available through overseas travel agencies and the Nankai Railway website. You can exchange your voucher at ticket counters such as Nankai Railway’s Kansai-airport Station. For details, please check the official website.

ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass
This wide-area rail pass from JR Shikoku is designed for international travelers who want to explore Shikoku extensively. Within the selected validity period (2 to 7 days), you can enjoy unlimited travel on JR Shikoku lines, including limited express trains, as well as the Tosa Kuroshio Railway.

A major advantage of this pass is that it also covers several key private railways within Shikoku, along with selected ferries and buses, making it easy to travel across the entire region. For purchase details and eligibility conditions, please refer to the official website.

Tokushima brings together many of Shikoku’s most memorable experiences, from the world-famous Naruto Whirlpools to the Awa Odori Kaikan, where you can enjoy Awa Odori performances year-round, and Mt. Bizan with its sweeping city views. During the summer Awa Odori season, the entire city comes alive with excitement.

With convenient bus passes and wide-area rail passes for international visitors, you can travel not only around Tokushima City but also across Shikoku with ease and good value. For travelers seeking passion, history, and striking scenery, Tokushima is an ideal base for exploring the region.