Naruto City: Features, Popular Tourist Attractions, Gourmet

Naruto City in Tokushima Prefecture faces the Naruto Strait and serves as the gateway to Shikoku, renowned for its dramatic whirlpools and breathtaking coastal scenery.

The Naruto Whirlpools are among the world’s three largest tidal currents, forming massive spirals over 20 meters wide during spring and autumn tides. You can safely witness this natural spectacle from sightseeing boats or the “Uzu no Michi” walkway above the sea.

The city also features numerous cultural and historical attractions, such as Ryozen-ji Temple—the starting point of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage—the Naruto German House, which highlights the history of German POWs and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and the Otsuka Museum of Art, where nature and art converge.

Local specialties like Naruto sea bream and Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes offer unique culinary experiences that reflect the region’s identity.

With convenient access via the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, Naruto City is ideal for both day trips and extended sightseeing around the region.