Naruto Whirlpools
Naruto Whirlpools 鳴門の渦潮
Jake Davies
The Naruto Whirlpools, considered among the greatest in the world
Some of the greatest whirlpools in the world can be found in the Naruto Strait, the narrow channel of water between Shikoku and Awaji Island.
The Naruto Strait is one of only a few entrances from the Pacific Ocean into the Inland Sea that lies between the main Japanese islands of Shikoku and Honshu.
With the change of tides, water rushes either in or out of the channel at speeds that can reach twenty kilometers an hour making the Naruto Strait the 4th fastest current in the world.
Several companies operate tour boats for viewing the whirlpools up close
In the middle of the strait is a much deeper channel, and here the water flows much faster than in the shallows nearer the coast, and it is this disparity that causes the whirlpools.
When the water is rushing into the Inland Sea the whirlpools flow clockwise on the Awaji Island side of the channel, and counter-clockwise on the Tokushima side, both being reversed when the water is rushing out into the Pacific.
The complex interplay between the gravitational pull of both the moon and the sun means that the whirlpools vary in size and intensity depending on both the time of day and the time of year.
With two low tides and two high tides each 24 hours, that means that four times a day the whirlpools are at their greatest. Approximately twice a month are what is called Spring Tides, and at these times the currents are somewhat faster, also summer is a little faster than winter.
It is possible therefore to predict when are the best times for viewing the whirlpools, but if you are have a fixed schedule and have no choice about when to visit the Tourist Information Office and tour boat operators post the best times for the day.
Onaruto Bridge
Whirlpool Boat Tours
Three companies offer boat tours to view the whirlpools up close, two operating out of Naruto in Tokushima, and one out of Awaji Island, but another option is to view them from more than 40 meters directly above on the Uzu no Michi Observation Deck below the Onaruto Suspension Bridge.
The whirlpools at Naruto seen from directly above
Onaruto Bridge
Connecting Awaji Island to Shikoku, the Onaruto Bridge has a central span of 876 meters and carries the expressway that links Tokushima with Hyogo Prefecture.
From the Naruto side of the bridge an enclosed walkway heads out underneath the bridge towards the main pillars where the observation deck with windows in the floor is located. The way is accessible for visitors with baby strollers or wheelchairs.
Uzu No Michi
Fukuike-65, Narutocho Tosadomariura, Naruto-shi, Tokushima 772-0053
Tel: 0886 83 6262
Open 9 am to 6 pm. (Golden Week and summer vacation 8 am to 7 pm, Winter 9 am to 5 pm)
Entry 510 yen.
Entrance to the Uzu no Michi walkway and observation deck
Naruto Side
The two boat companies on the Naruto side are Uzushio Kisen (www.uzushio-kisen.com) and Uzushio Kankosen which has one tour boat with underwater viewing windows and a larger one with higher decks (www.uzusio.com).
From Awaji Island the boats are much larger and the tours longer as they also visit other areas on the tour (uzusio.business.site in Japanese).
In the immediate vicinity is Naruto Park which has several viewpoints for viewing the bridge and straits as well as a small museum about the bridge. Nearby is the Otsuka Art Museum.
More than 40 meters above the water below, the walkway leads out to the whirlpool observation deck
Naruto Accommodation
Nearby Tokushima has a host of hotels for all kinds of budgets. Naruto Kaigetsu is a luxury hotel right next to Onaruto Bridge in the park. Hotel Sunroute in downtown Tokushima is a more budget option, and right next to the station. A little further away is Hotel Avanti, offering super cheap, small rooms, so great for budget travelers.
See here for a full listing of hotels in Tokushima.
There are a couple of Tourist Information Centers in Naruto.
Naruto Tourist Association
31-36 Higashihama, Minamihama, Muya-cho
Naruto-shi, Tokushima
Tel: 088 684 1731 or at the office at the entrance to Uzu No Michi.
Access - Getting To Naruto Whirlpools
Access is by local bus from JR Naruto Station on the Naruto Line in about 25 minutes, or from JR Tokushima Station in 80 minutes.
Expressway buses from Kobe or Osaka also stop nearby as does the bus from Tokushima Awa Airport.
Book Hotel Accommodation in Naruto
Travel Books on Japan
The Naruto Whirlpools in Naruto Strait between Awaji and Shikoku are considered some of the greatest whirlpools in the world.
