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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Naruto
鳴門市
Spend a half‑day for the whirlpools and two nearby temples; add a night if you want to bike the bridge or explore the German House.
Naruto sits at the northeastern tip of Tokushima, famous for the Naruto Whirlpools and as the start of the 88‑temple pilgrimage. The main sights fit into a few hours, but a night lets you bike the bridge, visit the German House and enjoy local sweet‑potato treats.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 鳴門市
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct (tides and weather optimal)
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat, humidity)
- Stay
- 1 night
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 ¥5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ 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
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Naruto Whirlpools boat tour | ¥2,000–3,000 |
| Otsuka Art Museum entry | ¥3,150 adults, ¥2,100 students |
| German House entry | Free |
| Local sweet‑potato snack | ¥300–¥500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UKB · Kobe Airport
- Four daily JR buses, ~2 h 45 min, ¥2,950
Typical fares
- Kobe Airport → Kōsoku Naruto (Awa Express)
- about ¥2,950, 2 h 45 min (check)
- Bicycle rental (1 day)
- ¥500
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
City loop bus (09:00‑11:30, 14:00‑16:30) to main sights; bicycle rental ¥500/day, 2‑hour ride to Naruto Bridge; walk 5 min from Kōsoku Naruto bus stop to centre.City loop bus (9:00 AM‑11:30 AM, 2:00 PM‑4:30 PM) to main sights; bicycle rental ¥500/day, 2‑hour ride to Naruto Bridge; walk 5 min from Kōsoku Naruto bus stop to centre.
See and do
Known for
- Naruto Whirlpools
- Ryozenji and Gokurakuji temples
- German House (WWI POW camp museum)
- Otsuka Art Museum
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mima | JR or local bus, about 30 min | ≈1 h |
Sleep
- Naruto City centre
- Convenient to bus stop and attractions; good for one night.
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arigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
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
- Bus schedules vary; check the latest times on the tourism site.
- Whirlpool viewing depends on tide and moon phase; check forecast for new/full moon days.
- German House closed on the 4th Monday of each month and the day after a national holiday.
Naruto is generally safe; watch for traffic on bridge and tide times for whirlpool tours; keep valuables secure in crowded areas.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Naruto yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Naruto Whirlpools
- Ryozenji and Gokurakuji temples
- German House (WWI POW camp museum)
- Otsuka Art Museum
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Naruto city official tourism site: naruto-tourism.jp/en/
- Naruto local tourist association (Japanese): www.naruto-kankou.jp/
- Naruto city Wikipedia (coordinates): www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Naruto (Tokushima), revision 4869857 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4869857
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/naruto-tokushima). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.