Be sure to read the Special Notes further down this page for important requirements and restriction.

Designed for the first time visitor or seasoned traveler, this full-day excursion lets you discover the city at your own pace. You'll have approx. 5 hours free time to explore the city, shop for mementos, visit museums or galleries, and when and where you have lunch, so be sure to have plenty of Yen to cover your expenses. Then, at the end of the day, you'll rejoin your coach at the time specified by your driver/guide and return to your waiting ship. 
 
With so much to see and do in Tokushima where do you begin? May we suggest Mount Bizan? Rising over 900 feet from the heart of the city, Tokushima's iconic mountain, named for the shape of a woman's eyebrow, is a popular spot for climbing, hiking and mountaineering. At the base of the mountain you'll find Awa Odori Kaikan, a museum that displays artifacts connected to the city's annual Awa Odori dance festival; in fact, the foot of Mount Bizan is a part of the Shikoku Pilgrimage Route, a 745-mile-long path that winds its way around the island. A trip to the top will reward you with spectacular views. And on a clear day you can even see as far out to Awaji Island and distant Wakayama Prefecture on the shores of mainland Japan.  
 
Tokushima is home to five of the 88 temples associated with Kobo Daishi, the founder of Shingon Buddhism including Ryozen-ji Temple, the first on the route;  Tairyu-ji Temple, #21 and Byodo-ji Temple, which is #22. Though each are scattered throughout the prefecture, it's worth the trip.  
 
Another must-see sight is the famous Naruto Whirlpool, a natural phenomenon where the tide swirls violently on the surface as water is forced through the narrow straits between Shikoku and Awaji-shima. A glass floor set 145 feet over the ocean boasts 360-degree views of the swirling waters, which at 66 feet in diameter, are said to be the largest in the world and can reach speeds of up to 12 miles per hour during the high tides of spring and autumn.  
 
For a look at Tokushima's earliest beginnings as a castle town be sure to check out the ruins of Tokushima Castle inside Chuo Park, which sits near the JR Tokushima Station. Stone walls, a newly reconstructed gate, and a few reconstructed bridges hint at its former glory. Originally built in 1585 by the Hachisuka clan, the castle stood until 1875 when the new Meiji government ordered that all castles in Japan be demolished. The adjoining museum contains a model replica of the original castle and heirlooms of the Hachisuka family, including beautiful lacquerware, samurai armor and the only surviving example of a feudal lord's boat. 
 
When it's time to call it a day, you'll travel back to our ship with a heart and camera filled with wild and wonderful memories.