Where to Stay in Tokushima: The Best Areas for Awa Odori, Naruto, Iya and the South Coast

Quick answer: For most visitors, stay near JR Tokushima Station: it’s where the airport bus, trains and highway buses arrive, it’s walking distance to the Awa Odori venues, and most hotels are here. Stay in Naruto for the whirlpools and the Otsuka Museum of Art, in Oboke / Iya for a hot-spring night in the mountains, and on the south coast (Minami, Kaiyo) for surfing and quiet beaches. For Awa Odori (12–15 August), book as early as you can — city hotels sell out months ahead.

I live in Tokushima, so I know these areas well as a local. Tokushima Prefecture is bigger than it looks on the map, and where you sleep makes a big difference to how much time you spend driving. Here’s how I’d choose.

The areas at a glance

Tokushima Station area

This is where I’d send most first-time visitors.

• Transport hub: the airport bus (about 30 minutes, ¥800), JR trains and highway buses from Osaka and Kobe all arrive here.
• Walkable: the Awa Odori Kaikan, Mt. Bizan ropeway, the river cruise and the castle ruins are all within about 10 minutes on foot. See One Day in Tokushima City.
• Food and nightlife: restaurants around the station and in Akita-machi.
• Hotels: mostly business and chain hotels, some connected to or right next to the station.

Good base for: day trips to Naruto (about 40 minutes) and, by car, the first temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Naruto

Naruto is at the north-east tip of Tokushima, where the Onaruto Bridge crosses to Awaji Island. The resort hotels are mostly on Oge Island, around Naruto Park, close to the whirlpool viewpoints and the Otsuka Museum of Art.

• Best for: seeing the whirlpools at the best tide time, and a full day at the Otsuka Museum.
• Getting around: easiest by car. Some highway buses from Osaka and Kobe stop at Naruto.
• Also good for: arriving from Kansai by car — it’s the first stop after crossing the bridges.

See Naruto Whirlpools and Otsuka Museum of Art.

Oboke and the Iya Valley

For a night in the mountains, stay in the Oboke / Iya area in western Tokushima. This is hot-spring country, and some of the inns are memorable in themselves:

• Hotel Iya Onsen has its own cable car down a steep cliff to an open-air bath at the bottom of the gorge.
• Hotel Kazurabashi has a cable car up to a hilltop open-air bath, about 5 minutes’ drive from the Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge.
• In Ochiai village, restored thatched farmhouses are rented out to visitors, and Chiiori is a 300-year-old farmhouse you can rent as a whole house.

Why stay here: the valley is far from everywhere — about 1.5–2 hours from Tokushima city — and the mountain roads are slow, so a night here saves a lot of driving. See Iya Valley and Oboke and Deep Iya by Car.

The south coast: Minami and Kaiyo

Southern Tokushima is the quietest part of the prefecture: fishing towns, beaches and some of Shikoku’s best surfing around Kaifu in Kaiyo town. Stay here if you’re surfing, driving the coast towards Kochi, or just want to be somewhere very peaceful. See Hiwasa for the turtles and Yakuoji temple.

• Getting around: a car is much easier. The JR line along the coast has few trains.

Staying for Awa Odori

The Awa Odori festival runs 12–15 August (with an eve-of-festival show on 11 August). It’s the busiest time of the year, and hotels in Tokushima city sell out months in advance.

• Book as soon as your dates are fixed — ideally many months ahead.
• Alternative bases: Naruto (about 40 minutes by train), Takamatsu (about 1 hour), or even Osaka (about 2.5 hours by highway bus) if the city is full. Check the last trains and buses home, as the dancing goes on late.

See Awa Odori: Tickets and How to Watch.

FAQ

Where should I stay in Tokushima for the first time?
Near JR Tokushima Station. It’s the transport hub, and the main city sights are within walking distance.

Should I stay in Naruto or Tokushima city?
Naruto if your trip is mainly the whirlpools and the Otsuka Museum and you have a car. Tokushima city if you’re using public transport or want restaurants nearby.

Is it worth staying in the Iya Valley?
Yes, if you’re visiting Iya. It’s far from the city, and staying overnight saves hours of mountain driving.

When do Awa Odori hotels sell out?
Months in advance. Book as early as you can.

Transport and festival dates checked on the official airport, hotel and Awa Odori websites on 25 October 2026.

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.