Main
>
About Japan
>
Tokushima

Tokushima

Geography

Tokushima Prefecture is located in the northeastern part of Shikoku Island, the smallest of the main islands of the Japanese archipelago. Thanks also to the Kuroshio Current, the climate here is subtropical, with mild, snowless winters. The capital of the prefecture is the city of Tokushima.

History

Man has lived on Shikoku since ancient times, since the Paleolithic era. Jomon-era sites and Kofun-era burial mounds are also common here. Awaji Island (Awajishima), as well as a number of other islands, are mentioned in the classical Japanese chronicles “Kojiki”, in the part that tells about the creation of Japan.

Culture, attractions
and entertainment

The capital of the prefecture, the city of the same name, Tokushima, is best known for its famous Awa Odori dance festival, which is held every year from August 12 to 15 and attracts many both Japanese and foreign tourists. The history of this colorful festival goes back more than four hundred years. The low Bizan hill is a symbol of the city; it offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area, and at the top there is an observatory. Adjacent to Tokushima is the small town of Naruto, where the famous Buddhist temple Ryozen-ji is located, which is the first of the 88 temples in Shikoku, which, according to Buddhist canons, should be made a pilgrimage. Naruto Park also houses the Otsuka Museum, the largest in Japan. It features life-size reproductions of many Western fine art masterpieces. However, Naruto is primarily famous for its famous whirlpools that arise in the strait between the Inland Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean. Whirlpools appear here almost all year round and can reach up to 20 meters in diameter. The nature of their occurrence is the circulation of huge flows of water between the Inland Sea and the ocean. They can be observed both from the Onaruto Bridge, from a special observatory with a transparent floor, and from on board excursion ships. Awajishima, a small island lying in the Inland Sea, is famous for being mentioned in the Japanese Kojiki chronicles under the name “Onokoroshima”. It was he who, according to legend, was the first Japanese island to be visited by the divine spouses Izanagi and Izanami. Here, on the island of Awajishima, is the ancient temple of Izanagi: Shinto myths say that it was here that Izanagi and Izanami performed a ritual marriage ceremony and began the process of divine creation of the rest of the islands of Japan. There are also many Kofun era mounds located here. Another sacred island is Shodoshima, the second largest in the Inland Sea. Its name means “small bean island,” and it is believed to have been one of the first islands in Japan, created by Izanagi and Izanami. It is also a famous seaside resort in Japan, with many beaches and ryuokans - traditional Japanese inns - with hot thermal springs. In addition, due to the picturesque landscapes of the island, feature films are often filmed here. Tokushima can be reached by plane in less than an hour and a half from Tokyo Haneda Airport.
Top
Вход для агентств
Регистрация
Забыли свой пароль?