Tokushima (prefecture)

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Tokushima prefecture (徳島県 Tokushima-ken; [1]) is on the eastern side of the Japanese island of Shikoku.

Understand

Map of Tokushima prefecture

Tokushima was formerly known as the province of Awa (淡). The nearby island of Awaji, now a part of Hyogo prefecture, literally means "road to Awa".

Cities

Ikeda — jumping-off point for Iya Valley and the gorges of Oboke and Koboke
Tokushima — the prefectural capital, known for its yearly Awa Odori festival but little else
Naruto — the gateway to/from Awaji-shima, the home of the whirlpools (Uzushio), the seat of Tokushima's Shikoku League baseball team (the Indigo Socks), and the starting point of the 88 temple pilgrimage.

Other destinations

Iya Valley — one of Japan's Three Hidden Valleys, known for its vine bridges
Oboke and Koboke — aptly named ravines meaning Dangerous with Big Steps and Dangerous with Small Steps

Talk

Get in

By plane

Pint-sized Tokushima Airport, to the north of Tokushima City, has daily services to Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo. Buses to Tokushima station take 25 minutes and cost ¥430, the schedules are synchronized to flight departures and arrivals.

By train

The JR Kōtoku Line (高徳線) line connects Tokushima to Takamatsu, the largest city on Shikoku and a gateway to the mainland via Okayama.

By bus

Direct buses from Kobe (2h) and other points in Kansai connect to Tokushima via Awaji Island.

Get around

The JR Tokushima Line (徳島線) crosses the length of Tokushima from Tokushima to Ikeda, where it meets the JR Dosan Line between Takamatsu and Kochi.

See

Tokushima's best scenery can be found in the rugged and mountainous western end. Best known are the treacherous ravines of Oboke and Koboke, but nearby Iya Valley's vine bridges are also famous.

Do

Tokushima's biggest yearly event is the Awa Odori dance, held in yearly in August in Tokushima City.

Iya Valley, one of Japan's Top 3 Hidden Valleys, offers many hiking opportunities including Mt. Tsurugi, the second-highest peak in Shikoku.

Eat

NARUTO KINTOKI These are the World's finest sweet potatoes. They are unique thanks to the special sandy soil in which they are grown. Unlike regular sweet potato fields, the sandy soil in Naruto forms a thin crust at the surface which allows the potatoes to grow undisturbed and develop their superb flavor and texture. Naruto Kintoki can be prepared in numerous ways and are also used for brewing Shochu (Japanese Liquor). For those eating it for the first time, I recommend enjoying it plain in order to sense its qualities with no distractions. One way to do so is by wrapping the potato tightly in foil and letting it bake in the oven till it softens. The aroma alone is worth experiencing, and the taste will make you melt.