Naruto Whirlpools, best season?

What is the best season to visit the naruto whirlpools?

Around full moon and new moon. Especially during spring tides.

Here is a schedule:
http://www.uzusio.com/shio4-6.html
The times indicate the peak. Red numbers indicate strong tides.

wat bus to take from JR Naruto station ? Got timetable ? Thanks

Hi, I saw the Naruto whirlppols today, and you catch the bus directly outside the station, the guards there can give you a timetable. We were a little disappointed in the whirlpools but were happy overall with the experience. If I were you depending on when you go, if it is not in the peak times, I defintiely would not use the boat but just go out onto the bridge to see them. It costs 500yen.

wat bus to take from JR Naruto station? Got timetable?

There is one or two buses per hour from JR Naruto Station to Naruto Koen (Naruto Park). The buses are operated by Naruto City:
http://www.city.naruto.tokushima.jp/contents/co/bus/timetabl...

The second column (鳴門駅前) refers to Naruto Station
The last column (鳴門公園) refers to Naruto Park.

We were a little disappointed in the whirlpools but were happy overall with the experience.

The tides were not strong at all, yesterday. Therefore, I am afraid, the whirlpools must have been relatively small (and not even recognizable as such).

I have checked the bus timetable that you have provided. By the time I take 828am will only reach the park at 0846am . But the high tide occurs at 0820am .. Will I still be able to see a spectacular whirlpools ?

How much time do I need to walk from the naruto park to view the whirlpool ? Thanks

Thanks for the advice everyone!

I have checked the bus timetable that you have provided. By the time I take 828am will only reach the park at 0846am . But the high tide occurs at 0820am .. Will I still be able to see a spectacular whirlpools ?

Assuming that you are going on a morning with strong tides, then you should be able to see the the pools should still be spectacular an hour after the peak.

How much time do I need to walk from the naruto park to view the whirlpool ?

I recommend to take a boat tour. It is by far the most exciting way to see the whirl pools. You can also see them from an observation deck in the park or from the bridge, but there you are far away from the action. Still, the bridge is better than the observation point in the park.

How do I get to the bridge ? I know it is 500yen, but details on getting to the bridge not clear.

Read that taking a bus from Takayama is also an option . Which way is faster or better ? Any timetable ?

Thanks

The high tide timings for the day.. I cannot make it on time even I take the earliest train from JR Tokushima. Still able to see the whirlpools during the low tide which is in the afternoon time ?

I heard from somewhere, the whirlpools will still be nice 1 hr before and after the high and low tide . True ?

Thanks

The best time to see the whirlpools is BETWEEN high tide and low tide, i.e. when the water masses are moving most quickly.

I heard from somewhere, the whirlpools will still be nice 1 hr before and after the high and low tide . True ?

Yes +/- one hour from the peak should be okay. Of course assuming you go on a day with much activity. On days with little activity, even the peak hours are not very spectacular.

Uji san..

What do u mean by the day with little activity ??

Your term BEWTEEN means if high tide is at 0820hrs low tide at 1500hrs on that day means anytime from 0820hrs to 1500 hrs huh ??

sorry for asking again. thanks

What do u mean by the day with little activity ??

A day, when there are only small or no whirlpools.

The following page shows when the whirlpools are best seen (indicated red):
http://www.uzusio.com/shio4-6.html

Your term BEWTEEN means if high tide is at 0820hrs low tide at 1500hrs on that day means anytime from 0820hrs to 1500 hrs huh ??

It is somewhere in between. See the calendar above.

Quote from wiki" JR Bus operates Naruto Express buses from Osaka and Kobe, with six daily round-trips to and from each. Osaka buses leave from Osaka Station and run to Naruto in three hours (3150) with a pickup stop at Namba station. "

Does it means I can use JR pass to take the bus from JR Naruto station to JR Namba station ?

If yes , any website for the bus timetable ?

Thanks so much !

No! The Japan Rail Pass is NOT valid on most JR highway buses, including the one between Naruto and Osaka.

oh ok. Can u tell me the timetable and the charges of the the highway bus that I can take after seeing whirlpool? I need to travel to JR Namba station to go Dotonbori Hotel.

Thanks !

maybe you can tell me the highway bus to kobe then I will take the train to osaka, because I am holding JR pass.

Thanks

If you have a Japan Rail Pass, the most inexpensive way (except taking trains via a huge detour) would be to take the bus as far as "Kosoku Maiko" (高速舞子) bus stop and transfer to JR trains there.

The closest bus stop to the whirlpools is "Naruto Koen Guchi" (鳴門公園口), however, unfortunately that bus stop is only served by buses coming from Kobe/Osaka. Buses in direction of Kobe/Osaka do not stop there. If you want to take a bus in direction of Kobe/Osaka, you have to take the local bus to Naruto Station (徳島駅) and board there.

Here are the timetables:
http://www.honshi-bus.co.jp/jikoku.htm

Uji san..

U wrote this "Naruto Station (徳島駅)" Thought 徳島駅 is JR Tokushima station ? Me confused already.

Yes I am holding JR Pass.

HOw do I get to "Kosoku Maiko" (高速舞子)from Naruto Koen Guchi" (鳴門公園口)? I only have this link "http://www.city.naruto.tokushima.jp/contents/co/bus/timetabl..."

Kosoku Maiko" (高速舞子)is near which JR station ?

Thanks Uji san!

You are right. I made a mistake. 徳島駅, of course, refers to Tokushima Station, and the highway buses on the Osaka/Kobe routes do not stop at Naruto Station!

Instead, I recommend to take the following bus:
http://www.honshi-bus.co.jp/daiyanaruto.htm

It departs directly from Naruto Koen to Osaka, stopping at 高速舞子 along the way.

In the Naruto Park area, it stops at 鳴門観光汽船前, which is one of the two boat terminals of whirlpool sightseeing boats:
http://www.uzusio.com/access.html

And it also stops at 大塚国際美術館前, which is the stop in front of the Otsuka Museum of Art.

Kosoku Maiko" (高速舞子)is near which JR station ?

Yes, it is about a 6 minute walk:
http://www.honshi-bus.co.jp/noribamaikomap.htm