Tokushima



Tokushima (徳島) is the capital of the prefecture and main transport hub of eastern Shikoku. It has only a few famous attractions, but its palm-lined boulevards are pleasant enough to pass through on your way to more interesting places.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By plane


Buses run to the station from Kobe Airport every hour at 55 minutes past (2½ hours, ¥3200). Airport Limousine buses operate from the nearest international gateway, Kansai International Airport in Osaka (2 hr 45 min, ¥4000 &mdash; cheaper if you purchase a round trip ticket).

By train
From Okayama, take a Marine Liner rapid train to Takamatsu, then transfer to the Uzushio limited express for the run to Tokushima (2 hours, ¥4420). Two daily Uzushio trains run directly from Okayama, with no change of trains required (¥5050). If you are coming from Kansai or the east (i.e. Nagoya or Tokyo) then changing to a bus at Shin-Kobe will result in an easier trip to Tokushima - a wise investment for Japan Rail Pass holders, even if the pass doesn't cover the bus. (See By bus below)

The JR Tokushima Line runs toward Ikeda (2 hours), for connections south towards the Iya Valley.

By bus
If arriving from Kansai via Awaji Island, you're pretty much guaranteed to end up in Tokushima. JR Bus operates many services to Tokushima: Awa Express bus service leaves from Kobe and Kobe Airport (2 hours from Shin-Kobe station, ¥3200, 15 daily round-trips), Osaka (2 hr 45 min, ¥3600, 23 daily round-trips), Kyoto (3 hours, ¥4100, 7 daily round-trips), and on weekends and holidays, Nara (4 hours, ¥3900, 2 round-trips). Keihan Railways has its own highway bus that travels to and from Kyoto and Hirakata.

The overnight Dream Tokushima bus runs from Tokyo and Shinjuku (10 hours, ¥10,000 each way).

Get around
The city center is small enough to cover on foot, but bikes can be rented next to JR Tokushima Station (tel +081 088-652-6661, 9AM-5PM) at ¥500 per day.

See
The 88 Temple Pilgrimage passes through Tokushima, with temples 14 through 17 &mdash; Jōrakuji (常楽寺), Kokubunji (国分寺), Kan'onji (観音寺) and Idoji (井戸寺) &mdash; all located within city limits. Ryōzenji (霊山寺), the starting point of the pilgrimage, is just north of Tokushima in the city of Naruto.



Do

 * The Awa Odori (阿波おどり) festival, held August 12-15 annually, is by far Tokushima's largest claim to fame. With a history of over 400 years, people dance in the streets according to the complex choreography. As the proverb says, "The dancing fool and the watching fool are both fools, so why not dance!"

Buy
Tokushima became a major city in part because of indigo, which is used locally to dye beautiful patterns in products from handkerchiefs and scarves to cushions and large door-curtains. Otani-yaki pottery, with its natural muted colors and rustic-looking shapes, is another popular souvenir, as is handmade paper.

Eat
Tokushima is famous for its wonderful strawberries and sudachi, a small round green citrus fruit with a lime-like flavour. In the summer, sugata sushi is available, wherein a whole small fish is stuffed with sushi rice. Another popular local treat is narutokintoki, a kind of sweet potato.

There are some nice places to eat on the 5th floor of Clement Plaza, which is above the train station, and also in the department stores nearby.



Drink
The aforementioned sudachi fruit is used to flavor local shochu and sake. Most of the bars are clustered around the ACTY 21 building.

Go next

 * Naruto - Check out the tidal whirlpools, but confirm the times before you go &mdash; they can only be seen at certain times.
 * Hiwasa and surrounding area - See the beautiful and wild Anan coast in southern Tokushima prefecture. Area around Hiwasa (2 hours, about ¥1000 from Tokushima) is especially beautiful.
 * Mima - a small city to the west of Tokushima city, about one hour by train on the Tokushima line. The city is mostly known for several historic locations, as well as campsites, and outdoor/nature activities (hiking, kayaking, fishing, etc.).
 * Anan
 * Komatsushima
 * Awa
 * Tsurugi
 * Miyoshi
 * Awaji Island