Tokushima徳島 Tokushima Is One of the Four Prefectures That Make up the Island of Shikoku – One of the Lesser Travelled Islands by International Visitors
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Tokushima徳島 Tokushima is one of the four prefectures that make up the island of Shikoku – one of the lesser travelled islands by international visitors. Here’s just a glimpse of what it offers. Until a series of bridges linked Shikoku with the main island of Honshu, it was harder to access, but now Tokushima can be reached in two and a half hours by road from Osaka. a It perhaps took a little more concerted of the O-Naruto Bridge which connects effort to visit in earlier days, but that Tokushima with Awaji Island and then on didn’t stop pilgrims. Shikoku is famous for to the main island of Honshu. The glass a pilgrimage route of 88 temples that is still floor of the walkway is 45 metres above followed to this day. Not everyone will the sea affording a spectacular view. have the same religious devotion, but it Uzu-no-michi is only accessible from the certainly would give anyone time to think Tokushima end of the bridge. as the entire route is more than 1300 km Tokushima is known throughout Japan as long. Parts of it take in Tokushima’s the home of the Awaodori, a dance that is beautiful coast (c). The first 23 temples more than 400 years old. From 12 to 15 (and the 66th) of the pilgrimage route are August, Tokushima city pulses with music found in Tokushima. The very first is – shamisen, taiko drum, flutes and gongs Ryozenji Temple (g). – and troupes of dancers as they move The prefectural capital refers to itself as a through the streets (a). The dance is so city on the waterfront; you could also say famous that there is a hall called Awaodori ‘of the water’ as 138 rivers run through the Kaikan where visitors to the city can | city area. Tokushima city (e) lies at the experience the Awarodori all year round. mouth of the Yoshino River which is the Less well known is another culturally largest in Shikoku. significant performance: the Awa Ningyo It’s sea water that provides one of Joruri puppet theatre (d). b Tokushima’s best known attractions – the Another rare craft can be found spanning dramatic whirlpools of Naruto Strait (b). the Iya River at a height of 14 metres The whirlpools’ scale makes them above the water. The Kazura suspension internationally significant. They can swirl bridge (f) is made of vines and is remade as quickly as 20km an hour and their every three years. It is designated as a diameter can exceed 20 metres. The nationally significant folk craft. whirlpools occur when opposing currents Perhaps such bridges made some people meet off in the Naruto Strait. One comes brave to the point of recklessness in the from the Seto Inland Sea which is the body past? Also in the remote Iya valley is the of water to the north of Shikoku and the Peeing Boy statue (h) which stands on other from the Kii Channel which is to the a rock 200 metres above the most c east of Shikoku. The water level difference dangerous spot of the valley. Apparently when these currents meet can be as much travellers would show as 1.5 metres. The large whirlpools form their bravery there by from spring to autumn and are at their urinating over the edge. largest at high or low tide each day. Whether bravery or In addition to boats and lookouts, you can reckless stupidity, the see the whirlpools from overhead. The tale has resulted in Tokushima Prefectural Uzu-no-michi (Path quite a cute statue. of the Whirlpool) was completed in 2000. d Tokushima tourism site This is a walkway attached to the girders www.awanavi.jp/english/ h e f g PHOTO CREDITS: c © NishiYasufumi / © JNTO; © Tourismh Shikoku / © JNTO; all others © Tokushima Prefecture / © JNTO Japanpage REPORTS eight JapanAUTUMN REPORTS (2) 2013 Japan REPORTS Japan REPORTS Japan REPORTS Japan REPORTS .