Naruto whirlpools – Tokushima things to do
Separating Tokushima from Awaji Island the land of onions and stunning scenery lies the Naruto strait. The Naruto strait is a channel of water that asides having an extremely cool name “believe it!” it also has a very fun feature that you can see up close. The distance between the two landmasses is only 1.3kms, there is a bridge connecting the two, but the waters are turbulent. This is the location of the famous Naruto whirlpools. The strait is narrow and the water rushing through is moving very quickly, about 13-15kmph speeds which only increase during spring, one of the best times to view them. The fast-moving water creates vortices and whirlpools; the Naruto whirlpools are the fastest waters in Japan and fourth in the world. There are only a handful of places on earth that experience whirlpools, first place goes to Norway where its whirlpools hit speeds of 37kmph.
The whirlpools have become a hotspot, and there are many ways to view them. There are several boats which take visitors around and sometimes even into the whirlpools, most depart from Awaji Island, but some depart from Tokushima. There is also a walkway on Onaruto Bridge offering viewing platforms over the most turbulent section. Smaller boats can take visitors into the whirlpools however you need to book in advance as space is limited. I saw the whirlpools from a boat which departed from Awaji, it was packed with people hoping to glimpse the swirling waters. I was lucky to see big whirlpools; however, you will need to check your chances of seeing them prior to selecting your time slot. There is a board at the harbor and on the website showing the likelihood of whirlpools. This scale goes from a happy face to sad.
Later in the day chances of seeing large whirlpools decrease as tides go out, meaning there is pressure on the waters running through. Spring is the best time for bigger whirlpools which last throughout most of the day. So, plan your visit carefully. The tourist boat from Awaji was packed so be aware that during the spring and busier times where whirlpools are guaranteed it will be crowded.
For those wondering if the Naruto whirlpools inspired Naruto the manga, the answer is a resounding yes. In the anime the titular is called Naruto Uzumaki, in Japanese whirlpool translates into Uzumaki. In the beginning of the story a bridge is built to connect the land of the waves theorized to be the Onaruto bridge which was built recently. The bridge provided more access to Tokushima which use to be powerhouse in agriculture and economics. Because of this and other factors Tokushima’s population has remained stable over the past hundred years despite other prefectures on the island experiencing declines in population.
I had a lot of fun, and I am glad I ventured out to see them, the scenery in this area is beautiful! The bridge stretching across the strait makes for stunning images. Even if you are unfortunate not to see whirlpools the experience alone would still be fun, especially if you are staying on Awaji. The whirlpools are cool to see, and I can imagine taking the smaller boat onto them would be a thrilling experience. I recommend adding the Naruto whirlpools to an itinerary with a bit more time as getting to the ferry takes up a lot of time. The ferry port is out of the way of public transport. There are ferries from Tokushima, but for those exploring Awaji land of the onions, this is a nice addition to travel plans.
All in all, this is another must see for Japan, whirlpools are very rare. The whirlpools existed for a very long time and they inspired many people; there are old wood print images and paintings which depict them. Tokushima has a rich history shaped by the nature surrounding it, along with its famous Indigo dyes the whirlpools are a staple of Tokushima’s traditions and culture. A fun fact suggests that the whirlpools where in larger and more ferocious in the past. To those who didn’t understand the science behind them it is easy to see how they played an important role in superstition and religion. When you are visiting be sure to check out a phenomenon which shaped traditions and is a rare occurrence in nature you will not be disappointed.
