Naruto - Tokushima bus schedules/details

Hello!

We are going to Shikoku and I'm checking bus timetables for Naruto/Tokushima.

I saw this one coming from Tokushima Station to Naruto Park:
http://www.tokubus.co.jp/rosen/timetable/naruto2.pdf

And this one coming from Naruto Station to Naruto Park:
http://www.city.naruto.tokushima.jp/contents/fd/narutokouen/gazou/koue...

-- So my questions:

The bus line/company is different, but the bus stop is the same place, is it correct?

We plan to check-out the whirlpools from Uzu-no-michi. I assume the entrance is very near the "Naruto Koen" bus stop? Is it near Naruto Park?

Any recommended places to eat around Naruto? Preferable the park area or the station area...

-- In Tokushima, my questions:

Is Awa Odori Kaikan near Tokushima Station? How to get there? Can I walk there?

Other recommended sightseeing places in Tokushima? Their English website mentions little info... Any recommended places to eat around Tokushima?

Thanks for the help!

The bus line/company is different, but the bus stop is the same place, is it correct?

No, these two timetables are for the same bus company. The first one is out-of-date and covers the Tokushima-Naruto-Naruto Park route. The second is up-to-date and only covers the Naruto-Naruto Park section.

We plan to check-out the whirlpools from Uzu-no-michi. I assume the entrance is very near the "Naruto Koen" bus stop? Is it near Naruto Park?

Yes, it is:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7852.html

Is Awa Odori Kaikan near Tokushima Station? How to get there? Can I walk there?

Yes, here you go:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7802.html

Hi Uji,

Thanks for the clarifications...

Also does it mean there is no more direct bus from Naruto to Tokushima? So my only option is JR train?

It would be a pity if you just visit Uzo no Michi to see the whirlpools. The view from the glass floors way up high from the bridge could not be compared with the close encounter experience from the boat trip. BTW, though most of Uzo no Michi is enclosed, part of it walking out is exposed and is quite windy, be prepared!

On the upper left-hand corner of the following pdf file there is a map of the park area showing the bus stops as well. It is quite walk-able from one end of the park to the other. Near the entrance of Uzo no Michi is a short slightly downhill walk to Senjojiki Observatory area where you can have a close look at the Onaruto Bridge from the base. There are some souvenir shops and a few eating places there as well if you want to grab a bite. But more worthwhile and though involve a walk uphill is the Tea Garden Observatory which offers a splendid view of Onaruto Bridge from above. There is only 1 souvenir shop/cafｨｦ there and was closed when we were there in Oct.
http://www.uzunomichi.jp/image/e-pamp.pdf

Here are our trip photos of the 2 viewpoints
https://picasaweb.google.com/WilliamCWP512/Shikoku#5533334414741288290 (Senjojiki Observatory)
https://picasaweb.google.com/WilliamCWP512/Shikoku#5533333172643407346 (Tea Garden Observatory)

A famous dish in Naruto is the popular local fish ���~ which you can taste in the eating places in Senjojiki Observatory. We were too busy sightseeing and did not try but we read that a place called ､�､鮠ﾒ is pretty good. A friend who is a food expert recommends the following high-end restaurant in Naruto where you can dine and enjoy panoramic scenery at the same time.
http://www.kokin-aoyagi.jp/html/index.html
http://www.kokin-aoyagi.jp/html/h_room.html

From the following Tokushima town map, you can see Awa Odori Kaikan is more or less straight down the main road from the JR station across the river. From there you can take a ropeway to go up to Mt. Bizan.
http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/event/guide/pdf/guide01_02.pdf

Halfway from the JR station near the riverbank you can see an interesting looking building on your left.
http://picasaweb.google.com/WilliamCWP512/Shikoku#5533578541926459874

In town you can get on a 30 min Hyotanjima river cruise boat, free of charge but a 100 yen insurance fee. There is more description on the bottom page of the town map above.
http://picasaweb.google.com/WilliamCWP512/Shikoku#5533578527400674290

Also worth a slight detour is a walk to the Awa Odori Karakuri Clock Tower, an animated Awa dance clock on top of a bus stop
http://picasaweb.google.com/WilliamCWP512/Shikoku#5533578533523605570

Another highlight in Tokushima Prefecture (a must IMO) is a side trip to Iya Valley and Oboke Gorge.
http://www.oboke-iya.jp/
http://www.miyoshinavi.jp/

Don't know what happens in the last post. I'll try again here.

The fish dish in Naruto is 鯛魚 and the eating place is わら家

Also does it mean there is no more direct bus from Naruto to Tokushima?

No. There are still buses from Tokushima (about one per hour), as well. Only now I discovered that they are actually also listed on the timetable that you linked (the white area at the very top and bottom of the timetables).

Thanks William and Uji!

Your information has been very helpful.

Last question, we are considering to take the boat tour to see the whirlpools in Naruto instead of just the bridge, since this website recommends it more :)

Just wondering if the bus schedule I mentioned above stops anywhere near the 2 boat terminals? It seems quite a distance if we will get off "Naruto Koen" stop still and walk back...

We prefer Uzushio Kisen since it is nearer Naruto Park and we can walk there after the tour. But their English website is not so helpful with directions, and I could not (easily) find bus information in their Japanese website...

Thanks again!

The bus stop (Kameura-guchi in the pdf file I post earlier) is just by the side of the front bridge pillar in the following photos. If you take a closer look, you can see the small bus stop stand right next to the elevated road sign. It's only a couple of min walk down to the boat pier.
http://www.uzushio-kisen.com/guide/guide7.html

You don't need to come back up the same way to go to the park area. Just walk uphill for about 10 min on the other side of the boat ticket office and you will arrive at a tunnel that leads to Uzo no Michi.