Naruto Travel: Access, Transportation and Orientation

How to travel between Naruto and Tokyo

By air

JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Tokushima Airport. Flight duration is 75 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 30,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 11,000 to 22,000 yen.

From Tokushima Airport, buses operate to Naruto Station (15 minutes, 260 yen, 1-2 buses per hour), with most buses continuing on to Naruto Park (35 minutes, 460 yen, 1 bus per hour). Buses depart the airport from bus stop number two.

By night bus

Tokubus and Keihin Bus operate daily night buses between Tokyo (Shinagawa Bus Terminal, Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal and Shibuya Mark City) and Tokushima Station, stopping off at the Kosoku Naruto bus stop along the way (10,000 yen one way, 18,000 yen round trip). Local buses connect Kosoku Naruto bus stop with Naruto Park (10 minutes, 270 yen, one bus per hour) and Naruto Station (5 minutes, 110 yen, 4 buses per hour).

By train and bus via Osaka

Take the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka Station (2.5 hours, frequent departures) and transfer to the JR Kyoto Line to Osaka Station (4 minutes). The one way trip costs around 13,500 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass when using Hikari trains.

From Osaka Station, several highway bus companies operate to Tokushima Station, which stop at Naruto Park (in the direction of Tokushima only) and the Kosoku Naruto bus stop along the way (2 hours, 3150 yen). Local buses connect Kosoku Naruto bus stop with Naruto Park (10 minutes, 270 yen, one bus per hour) and Naruto Station (5 minutes, 110 yen, 4 buses per hour).

Highway buses are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but pass holders can save around 700 yen by taking JR trains to Maiko Station (45 minutes from Osaka) and boarding the highway bus there (one hour, 2300 yen to Naruto Park or 2450 yen to Kosoku Naruto) instead at Osaka Station.

By train

It is possible to travel between Tokyo and Naruto entirely by JR trains although the trip takes about eight hours and should only be considered by Japan Rail Pass holders.

From Tokyo Station take a Hikari train on the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (4 hours, 1 direct hikari train per hour), and transfer to the JR Marine Liner to Takamatsu (1 hour, 2 trains per hour). Alternatively, take the Sunrise Seto night train from Tokyo to Takamatsu (10 hours, 1 train per day).

From Takamatsu take the "Uzushio" Limited Express to Ikenotani or Shozui Station (1 hour, 1 train per hour), and change to the JR Naruto Line to Naruto Station (20 minutes, 1 train per hour). From Naruto Station regular city buses serve Naruto Park (20 minutes, 300 yen, 1 to 2 buses per hour).

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.

Naruto is a spread out city with all of its main attractions located outside of the city center. Naruto Park and the whirlpools are about six kilometers north of central Naruto, while the German related sights and Ryozenji Temple are about ten kilometers west of the city center.

Visitors arriving by train will get off at JR Naruto Station, the terminal station in the city center, from where it is a 20 minute bus ride north to Naruto Park, where the whirlpools can be observed.

For those arriving by highway bus, note highway buses do not serve central Naruto, but instead only stop along the expressway. The main stop along the expressway is Naruto Kosoku bus stop, where travelers can transfer to local buses to the city center (Naruto Station) and Naruto Park.

A second stop along the expressway, Naruto Koen-guchi bus stop, is located at Naruto Park, however it is only served by highway buses coming from Osaka, but not in the opposite direction. In the opposite direction, travelers have to board the highway buses at Naruto Kosoku bus stop.

Tokushima Airport is a 15 minute bus ride south of Naruto Station. Most of the airport buses continue on from Naruto Station to Naruto Park.

Although all of Naruto's attractions can be reached by public transportation, connections are not very frequent and a rental car is a convenient alternative. Rental car outlets can be found in Tokushima City and at Tokushima Airport.