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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Awa
阿波市
Skip Awa unless you are walking the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage: four temples in one town, plus a geological oddity. Half a day covers it; no need to stay overnight.
Awa is a small city in north-central Tokushima, on the Yoshino River. Its main draw is a cluster of four temples on the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage (numbers 7–10) and the Awa Sand Pillars, a rare erosion formation. Most travellers pass through on the pilgrimage route or as a stop between Tokushima city and Kagawa prefecture. The town has limited dining and lodging; a half-day visit is enough.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 阿波市
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Jan–Feb (cold, some snow)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–9,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥9,000–15,000 excl. bed · High ¥15,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | ¥300–500 |
| Noodle soup (ramen or udon) | ¥700–1,000 |
| Beer: can at a convenience store | ¥250–350 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥1,800–2,200 |
| Bus from Tokushima to Awa | ¥1,000 (check) |
| Temple entry (donation) | ¥300–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TKS · Tokushima Awaodori Airport
- About 45 min by car or bus; limited flights from Tokyo (Haneda) and Fukuoka.
- KIX · Kansai International Airport
- About 2.5 h by bus or train via Tokushima.
Typical fares
- Tokushima → Awa, bus
- about ¥1,000, about 40 min (check)
- Taxi Awa Station → Sand Pillars
- ¥1,500–2,000
- Train Awa → Mima
- about ¥300, 15 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable for the temples and sand pillars. Local buses are infrequent; a rental car or taxi is more practical for covering the four temples and the sand pillars in a half day.
See and do
Known for
- Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage temples 7–10
- Awa Sand Pillars
- Yoshino River scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mima | Train from Awa Station, about 15 min | About 30 min |
| Naruto, Tokushima | Train via Tokushima, about 1 h 15 min | About 1.5 h |
| Miyoshi, Tokushima | Train via Tokushima, about 1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Near Awa Station
- A few small guesthouses and minshuku; limited options, book ahead.
- Mima
- About 15 min west by train; more accommodation choices.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatou gozaimasu |
| Where is temple number 7? | 十楽寺はどこですか？juurakuji wa doko desu ka |
| How much is the bus to Tokushima? | 徳島行きのバスはいくらですか？tokushima yuki no basu wa ikura desu ka |
| I would like a room for one night | 一泊お願いしますippaku onegai shimasu |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Temple hours vary; check the official pilgrimage website for seasonal hours.
- The Awa Sand Pillars are on a hillside with uneven paths; wear sturdy shoes.
- No English signage at most temples; download a map or use a pilgrimage app.
Awa is a quiet rural town with low crime. The main risks are uneven terrain at the sand pillars and limited English signage; carry a map or use a pilgrimage app.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Awa yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage temples 7–10
- Awa Sand Pillars
- Yoshino River scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Awa city official website: www.city.awa.lg.jp/
- Awa Tourist Association (Japanese): www.awa-kankou.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Awa, revision 4873764 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4873764
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Awa阿波市
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
The US consulate in Osaka covers Tokushima; most other countries have embassies in Tokyo or consulates in Osaka.
Awa is a small town; carry cash as credit cards are not widely accepted.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/awa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.