Hyogo · Minami-Awaji / FukuraNo.201★★Open in map →
Naruto Strait whirlpools
The Naruto Strait, between Awaji Island and Tokushima, generates some of the world's largest tidal whirlpools — up to 20 metres across during spring tides. The Uzushio Cruise sails from Fukura Port to the edge of the current.
Where the Seto Inland Sea and the Pacific Ocean meet at the Naruto Strait, tidal differences of up to 1.5 metres drive enormous volumes of water through a narrow channel. The resulting whirlpools — some reaching 20 metres in diameter — are among the largest formed by tidal action anywhere in the world. The Uzushio Cruise, operated from Fukura Port on the southern tip of Awaji Island, takes passengers directly alongside the current in the strait. The ride lasts about 60 minutes. Whirlpools are strongest during spring tides, which fall roughly twice a month around the new and full moon; the official website publishes a tide calendar showing the expected size each day.
Why it stays quiet
Most foreign visitors approach the Naruto whirlpools from the Tokushima side (Uzunomichi walkway on Onaruto Bridge). The Fukura boat cruise gives a sea-level view that is both closer and more dramatic, and is far less commonly covered in English-language tourist guides.
Background & history
The Naruto whirlpools have been recorded in Japanese literature and art for well over a thousand years, appearing in classical poetry as a byword for the wild energy of the sea. The area around Fukura on Awaji Island's southern coast has long been the main departure point for viewing the phenomenon from the water. Today the Uzushio Cruise operates two historical replica ships — the Kanrin-maru and the Nihon-maru — named after famous vessels in Japan's naval history.
What to look for — in walking order
- Fukura Port departure
- boarding point inside Michi-no-Eki Fukura roadside station
- Naruto Strait at sea level
- the narrow channel between Awaji Island and Tokushima, where the current runs fastest
- Active whirlpools
- size varies with the tidal cycle; largest during spring tides, smallest at neap tides
- Onaruto Bridge from below
- the suspension bridge spanning the strait, seen from the boat
How to enjoy it
Check the tide calendar on the official website (uzu-shio.com) before booking — departures during a spring tide give the largest whirlpools. The cruise runs about 60 minutes and the boat gets close enough to the current for a clear view from the deck. Book in advance during Golden Week and autumn weekends, as the boats fill up quickly. The Michi-no-Eki Fukura roadside station next to the port has food stalls and rest areas.
How to actually get there
- Sannomiya Bus Terminal → Fukura Bus Terminal (Awaji Kotsu / Honshi Bus express, ~90 min).
- Walk ~2–3 min to Michi-no-Eki Fukura and buy cruise tickets at the ticket window.
- Board the Uzushio Cruise (Kanrin-maru or Nihon-maru) for the ~60-min whirlpool cruise.
- Sannomiya → Fukura by express bus
- From Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal (Santica B1F, a short walk from Sannomiya Station exits), take the Awaji Kotsu or Honshi Bus express service bound for Fukura. Journey time is about 90 minutes. Buses run roughly 1–2 times per hour through the day. Get off at Fukura Bus Terminal; the port is about a 2–3 minute walk.
- Return bus from Fukura to Sannomiya
- Take the same express bus back from Fukura Bus Terminal to Sannomiya. Buses run through the evening. No advance booking is needed for the bus, but check the timetable at the terminal on arrival so you know your last connection.
Before you go
- Cash
- Bus fare from Sannomiya to Fukura is approximately 1,870 yen each way (check current fares with the bus operator). Cruise tickets cost around 2,200 yen for adults and 1,100 yen for children (check the official website for current prices). IC cards are accepted on buses; cruise tickets are bought on-site.
- Closing days
- The cruise runs year-round but may be suspended during storms or rough seas. During Golden Week (late April to early May) and autumn weekends, long queues are common — book online in advance if possible.
- Another way
- The Uzunomichi walkway on Onaruto Bridge (Tokushima side) offers an aerial view of the whirlpools through glass panels in the floor — a very different perspective from the boat, and reachable by bus from Naruto City.
- After you get off
- From Fukura Bus Terminal, walk about 2–3 minutes southwest to the Michi-no-Eki Fukura roadside station, where the cruise ticket office and boarding point are located.