Tokushima City in Shikoku is known as the ‘City of Water,’ with numerous rivers, including the Yoshino River, weaving through its urban landscape. Above all, it’s a city where the passionate spirit of Awa Odori, a world-renowned traditional performing art, truly comes alive.
For first-time visitors to Tokushima City, we’ve carefully selected and introduce classic, must-visit tourist spots. Beyond just facility introductions, we provide authentic information to help you enjoy Tokushima more deeply, including why locals love these places, the best times to visit, and their historical backgrounds.
From an experience where you can ‘become a fool’ (in a good way!), to scenic aerial walks and enchanting riverside evenings, let’s embark on a journey to fully savor Tokushima’s charms!
Awa Odori Kaikan
📍 Address: 2-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, 770-0904, Japan
The ‘Awa Odori Kaikan,’ located at the foot of Mt. Bizan, is the first place you’ll want to visit as a base for Tokushima sightseeing. This entertainment-packed facility allows you to experience the authentic passion of Awa Odori year-round, even outside of the festival period (held every August).
The main highlight is the daily live performance show held in the ‘Awa Odori Hall’ on the 2nd floor. During the daytime, exclusive dance groups perform, while in the evening, famous local groups appear on a rotating schedule, showcasing powerful dances right before your eyes. When the live music of instruments like the shamisen, taiko drums, and kane (gongs)—known as ‘narimono’—reverberates, your heart can’t help but start dancing.
The true charm of this show is that it’s not just for watching. After learning the hand and foot movements and unique rhythms from the dancers, audience members are invited onto the stage for a participatory experience. As the saying goes, ‘Some dance a fool, some watch a fool’—the best way to enjoy it is to shed your inhibitions and dance with abandon! There’s also a delightful surprise: certificates of commendation are given to outstanding dancers.
Furthermore, on the 3rd floor, the ‘Awa Odori Museum’ offers a deep dive into the dance’s evolution and history from the Taisho era to the present day, as well as the roles of various instruments. The 1st floor houses ‘Aruyode Tokushima,’ a souvenir shop abundant with Tokushima’s specialty products, and the 5th floor directly connects to the boarding point for the ‘Awagin Bizan Ropeway’ (introduced next), making it an unparalleled hub for sightseeing convenience.
Awagin Bizan Ropeway
📍 Address: 2-20-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, 770-0904, Japan
Starting from the 5th floor of Awa Odori Kaikan, the ‘Awagin Bizan Ropeway’ connects to the summit of Mt. Bizan, Tokushima City’s symbol. You can enjoy a comfortable approximately 6-minute aerial stroll up to the summit, which stands at about 290m above sea level.
This ropeway actually underwent a major gondola renewal in the spring of 2025, the first in 25 years. Reborn from the traditional cylindrical shape into a rectangular one, the floor area per person has expanded, and the larger, more transparent windows offer a significantly clearer view. As the gondola ascends, you can gaze out over Tokushima’s cityscape, the Yoshino River, and if the weather permits, even Awaji Island and the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama.
The view from the observation deck in ‘Bizan Park’ at the summit is simply breathtaking. Known as one of Shikoku’s premier scenic spots, it’s especially recommended during sunset and nighttime. The city lights twinkling like jewels offer a romantic and entirely different expression compared to the fresh daytime scenery.
Around the summit, attractions such as a pagoda and a statue of Wenceslau de Moraes are dotted about. It’s also renowned as a cherry blossom viewing spot in spring and is cherished by locals as a place of relaxation. Ropeway operating hours vary by season, with some offering night services, so it’s best to check the timetable in advance to catch the sunset or nighttime views.
Tokushima Central Park
📍 Address: 1-1 Jonai, Tokushima-cho, Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, 770-0851, Japan
Spreading out directly behind (north of) JR Tokushima Station, ‘Tokushima Central Park’ is a vast oasis developed on the former site of Tokushima Castle, the residence of the Hachisuka clan, lords of the Tokushima Domain. The castle was built in 1585 by Hachisuka Iemasa, who was granted Awa Province after Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s pacification of Shikoku, and served as the political and cultural center of the Tokushima Domain for about 280 years.
While the castle’s main keep and principal buildings no longer remain, what you absolutely must pay attention to when walking through the castle ruins are the ‘stone walls.’ Tokushima Castle’s stone walls extensively use ‘Awa Blue Stone’ (green schist), a local specialty quarried from Mt. Bizan and other areas. The magnificent stacking of these bluish, beautiful stones creates a unique landscape rarely seen at other Japanese castles. Furthermore, on the south side of the park, the splendid ‘Washi-no-mon Gate,’ restored to commemorate the city’s 100th anniversary, stands tall, conveying the castle’s former grandeur.
Within the park, the ‘Tokushima Castle Museum’ is integrated, displaying historical materials of the Tokushima Domain and documents of the Hachisuka clan, who once served as a powerful naval force. What you absolutely must not miss is the ‘Former Tokushima Castle Omote Goten Garden’ (Front Palace Garden), adjacent to the museum. This scenic spot is said to have been designed by Ueda Soko, a renowned warrior and tea master, and features a splendid composition integrating both karesansui (dry landscape) and chisen-kaiyushiki (pond-strolling) garden styles. Here too, Awa Blue Stones are effectively arranged, allowing you to immerse yourself in a world of rugged yet beautiful stonework, including a massive natural stone bridge approximately 10m long.
In spring, it’s also a popular cherry blossom viewing spot, and in the mornings and evenings, locals can be seen enjoying jogging and dog walking. For tourists, it’s an ideal strolling spot to experience history and nature right in the city center.
Shinmachigawa & Awagami Waterfront Park
📍 Address: 2-23 Minamiuchimachi, Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, 770-0846, Japan
Tokushima’s city center is known as ‘Hyotan-jima’ (Gourd Island) because its topography, surrounded by numerous rivers, resembles the shape of a gourd when viewed from above. The ‘Shinmachigawa & Awagami Waterfront Park,’ developed along the Shinmachi River, is where you can most intimately experience the charm of this ‘City of Water’—Tokushima.
Based at this park, you absolutely must experience the ‘Hyotan-jima Cruise.’ Operated by NPOs and other organizations, this sightseeing boat takes you on a circular tour of about 6km around the city’s rivers, passing under numerous bridges and offering beautiful views of Mt. Bizan, the ‘Kencho Pier’ yacht harbor, and more. You can board for a reasonable fee, and the view of Tokushima’s cityscape from the river, with the wind in your hair, offers a completely different perspective than walking on land.
If you’re strolling around the waterfront park, the time after sunset is especially recommended. Tokushima is also known as the ‘City of Light’ due to its thriving LED industry, and at night, bridges over the Shinmachi River like ‘Fureai Bridge’ are splendidly lit up by numerous LEDs. The lights reflect on the river surface, creating a romantic and fantastical landscape.
The boardwalk along the river is equipped with benches and gazebos, perfect for relaxing in the pleasant evening breeze. On weekends and during events, a marche (market) is held, allowing you to experience an even livelier atmosphere. After enjoying some delicious Tokushima ramen, take a leisurely stroll along the river to walk it off… we highly recommend experiencing this local way of life.
