Let's go see the whirlpools of Naruto!
The world's largest whirlpools occur in the Naruto Strait. A whirlpool is a phenomenon in which the current of sea water collides with obstacles such as rocks and islands and creates a whirlpool. The Naruto Strait is a narrow strait about 1.3 km wide between Tokushima Prefecture and Hyogo Prefecture, and the difference in water levels between the Pacific Ocean and the Seto Inland Sea and the effects of the tides create strong tidal currents. When the tidal current collides with Awaji Island and the pillars of Onaruto Bridge, a huge whirlpool with a diameter of 30m appears.
Naruto's whirlpools are at their peak during spring and autumn spring tides, but can be seen all year round. However, the best time to see it is limited because it only occurs when the tide changes from high tide to low tide. Therefore, it is important to check the tide charts in advance. Tide charts can be found on the Uzushio Observation Boat and on the website of the Naruto City Uzushio Tourism Association.
There are several ways to see the whirlpools of Naruto, but the most powerful way is to take a whirlpool viewing boat. There are two types of whirlpool viewing boats that come close to the top of the whirlpools. One is the Wonder Naruto, which you can easily ride without a reservation, and is a cruise of about 30 minutes. The other is the "Aqua Eddie", which requires a reservation and allows you to see the whirlpools underwater, and is a 50-minute cruise. Both are moving experiences.
If you want to see the whirlpools from a higher position, we recommend the Onaruto Bridge Promenade "Uzu no Michi". Ohnaruto Bridge is a suspension bridge with a total length of 1.6 km that connects Tokushima Prefecture and Awaji Island, and there is a promenade under it. The promenade is 450m long and 45m high. From the promenade, you can see the scenery of the whirlpools and the strait. The glass-enclosed observatory is especially thrilling as you can see the whirlpools from your feet.
Naruto Whirlpools is a tourist spot where you can feel the wonder and beauty of nature.
Here is a website where you can obtain detailed information about Naruto's whirlpools.