Naruto Whirlpools: Is it Worth It? Guide + Photos
Last Updated on April 20, 2026 by Kay
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Thinking about visiting the Naruto Whirlpools in Japan?
The Naruto Whirlpools, known as uzushio in Japanese, are a natural wonder to be experienced. They’re among the largest whirlpools in the world, sometimes reaching a diameter of 20 meters, but they’re surprisingly tricky to time. You need to do some planning and research before you go so that you have the best experience, which I found out from my repeated (somewhat) failures.
In this article, I’ll share my family’s experiences visiting the Naruto Whirlpools several times so that you’re better prepared than I was when I first visited.
Table of Contents
The Best Time to See the Naruto Whirlpools
The Naruto whirlpools are formed by powerful tidal currents between two bodies of water in the Naruto Strait: the Seto Inland Sea and the Kii Channel.
The size of the whirlpools varies according to the time of year and time of day.
The best time to see the Naruto Whirlpools is in spring, specifically late March and early April. It’s a very short window and varies day by day. After that, it’s autumn.
When you get to the Naruto Whirlpools, you’ll see signs near sightseeing spots like Uzu no Michi with the best viewing times on them.
To find out when’s the best time before you go (recommended), visit the Naruto Whirlpool Official Website and look for the times written in red text. This will be the biggest uzu or whirlpool as the currents are the fastest at this time.
But don’t fret if you’re coming at another time of year. You’ll still be able to see the whirlpools, but perhaps just not as big. Although, to be honest, we saw the whirlpool on one of the supposedly biggest days in spring, and the size wasn’t that much different compared to when we saw it in winter.
There are two times of day when the whirlpool will be at its largest, which are high tide and low tide. There is a slight difference between the whirlpools at high tide and low tide. Both can be impressive, but the tidal current flows in opposite directions, so the whirlpools tend to form in different parts of the Naruto Strait.
Large whirlpools (in red) can be seen two hours before and after the peak current time (high tide/low tide).
Medium whirlpools (blue) can be seen 1.5 hours before and after the peak time.
Small whirlpools (black) can be seen 1 hour before and after the peak time.
The “viewing window” does not mean you will see obvious whirlpools the entire time. It is only a rough guide centered around the strongest current, so the sea can still look relatively calm at the beginning or end of the window.
For the biggest whirlpools, aim to visit around the peak current time, whether that is high tide or low tide. They do not appear at full strength for the entire viewing window, but build up, peak, and then gradually fade. For example, if the peak current is at 13:00 and marked in red, you might be able to see the whirlpools from 11:00 to 15:00, with the most impressive whirlpools forming around 13:00.
The whirlpools are very timely, so they pretty much vanish after their time window ends.
Where to See the Naruto Whirlpools: Our Experience
The Naruto Whirlpools are located in Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku. Although this may seem super far, it’s surprisingly somewhat close to Osaka (which is why my family visits by car often) and Kobe. If you’re coming from Osaka or Kobe, you need to pass through Awajishima, a very beautiful island that’s home to theme parks such as:
You can view the Naruto Whirlpools from several locations, so I’ll share our experience at each one.
Naruto Whirlpool Cruise
If you want to see the whirlpools up close, a boat or cruise is your best option. If you don’t want to cross the bridge, I suggest doing the Naruto Whirlpool Cruise that departs from Awaji Island. Here is what it looks like as it goes up close to the whirlpools:
I recommend this boat during high season when the whirlpools are at their largest because it’s very spacious, so you’ll be able to easily get photos without someone standing in front of you. I think you get a better view of the whirlpools, too, since you’re higher up, especially if you’re on the second-floor deck. Best of all, you can book this cruise in advance.
If you’re going to the Naruto Whirlpools from Osaka, there’s also a very affordable tour that will take you straight from central Osaka to Awaji Island and the Naruto Whirlpools Cruise, which is super convenient.
Personally, we always cross the Onaruto Bridge by car and board the Uzushio Kisen high-speed boat. We have used this boat twice already because we like the speed and size. (Note that they only accept cash payments. Adults are 2000 yen, elementary-school-age children and up are 1000 yen, and preschoolers and under are free.)
Here’s what the entrance looks like:
This boat is faster since it’s a speedboat and its dock is located closer to the whirlpools, which are more toward Tokushima than Awaji Island. Since it’s smaller than the cruise ships, you also feel more immersed when you view the whirlpools, and sometimes you’re even in them!
Granted, since you’re so up close to the whirlpools, it can be hard to get a “perfect” photo of them.
Keep in mind that the whirlpools disappear in under a minute, sometimes in mere seconds, so you have to be fast if you want good photos.
As you can see in the image below, I failed multiple times trying to capture a good photo.
This is why I decided to just take a video, which was a much better decision.
I also recommend having your smartphone attached to a lanyard that you wear around your neck because there were many times that I thought my phone would fly out of my hands during the high whirlpool season. This isn’t surprising given that these whirlpools reach 13 mph!
🌊Fun (?) fact: My neighbor is from Tokushima, and back in the day, her grandfather’s boat got stuck in one of these whirlpools! Thankfully, his neighbors helped him out.
Notably, you can also get right up close to the spot where the Kii Channel meets the Seto Naikai sea, which I think is very cool. The color of the water is different, which is stunning.
Note that this boat is first-come, first-served; you cannot book it in advance. But it runs every 30 minutes, and I haven’t seen people line up for it, likely because it’s across the bridge.
There is a chance that if you don’t get on the boat early enough, other people will be crowding the deck. But I found that they move around, so it’s not a big deal. Also, you can see the whirlpools from inside the boat as well, which is perfect for those who would prefer to sit down.
Onaruto Suspension Bridge (Uzu no Michi)
The aforementioned Onaruto Bridge, which connects Awajishima and Tokushima, is a great place to see the Naruto Whirlpools, specifically the Uzu no Michi Observatory. You have to pay a fee, but at 510 yen, it’s very affordable and helps maintain the bridge. You can pay for the entrance ticket once you’re there using cash or card, or purchase it in advance online.
And yes, this is the bridge people drive across! The observation points for the whirlpool are located under the bridge, so you’ll hear cars driving above you.
If you’re driving, note that there are three parking lots near the observatory:
These are all paid parking lots, so make sure you have cash with you to pay the 500 yen fee.
The parking lot closest to the observatory (Parking Lot 1) fills up fast during peak season (spring), so if you notice a line going up that isn’t moving very much, I suggest just going to the third parking lot. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the entrance of the observatory but it’s quite easy, and you get to enjoy some great viewpoints along the way (which I’ll share later on).
There’s a bit of a walk from the entrance of the Uzu no Michi walkway to the Uzunomichi Observatory, where you can see the whirlpools. While you’re walking through the passageway, focus on the right side and make your way to the very end for the best view (in my opinion).
There are glass observation panels in the floor but despite the many times I’ve been, I have never seen a whirlpool through them. However, it is fun seeing the sea beneath your feet.
Keep in mind that it can be quite windy and cold in this observatory since the floors and walls are made with sturdy metal grating.
Here is what the Naruto Whirlpool looked like from the very edge of the observation point during peak season and current time:
Other Observation Points
Apart from the Uzunomichi Observatory, there are a few observation points where you can see the whirlpools.
Eskahill Naruto is paid, and personally, I don’t think it’s worth it because you can see a similar (or better) view from the other free observation points.
Naruto Mountain Lookout (Mt Naruto Observatory) requires you to hike a little. I enjoyed the hike but I think it would be difficult for those with mobility issues or young children. The 360-degree view is very beautiful from the top, though.
Senjojiki is right by lots of restaurants and I think it offers a gorgeous view with no hiking involved. Unfortunately, we missed seeing the peak whirlpool time from here.
If you go to the restaurant Shiokaze (潮風), you can see the whirlpools from your dining table! However, it often has a line, and since there aren’t many tables, you might be waiting for a while (and missing peak whirlpool viewing).
Ochaen Observation Deck is my favorite free spot to see the whirlpools. It’s very quiet, convenient with no uphill walks involved, and its location allows you to see the whirlpools the best.
The image below is from about twenty minutes after the current window ended, so the whirlpools are tiny and barely visible.
There is also a really cool picture here showing a piece of art done by Utagawa Hiroshige of the whirlpools back in 1857.
Note that all of these observation points are within walking distance of each other, so you can check them all out and see which one is best for you!
What Else to Do in Naruto
If you have some spare time on your hands, consider visiting the Eddy Onaruto Bridge Memorial Hall. You can get a discount if you show your ticket for the Uzunomichi Observatory (there are also combo tickets).
The Eddy Onaruto Bridge Memorial Hall is absolutely not a must-visit location, but we did enjoy learning about the area, the bridge, and trying their VR Goggles to get different views of the Naruto Whirlpools.
It was also fun for my daughter, especially the room with the interactive projections. We went there to kill time with zero expectations, but left feeling pleasantly surprised.
There is an observation deck here, too, if you want to see another view of the Naruto Strait and whirlpools.
Another place you can visit is the Otsuka Museum of Art, which has reproductions of famous artworks. But keep in mind that this place is so massive that you won’t be able to see everything in even an entire day! This is why I recommend staying overnight in the area if you can.
Where to Stay Near the Naruto Whirlpools
If you want convenience with a view of the Onaruto Bridge and to enjoy delicious local food such as seabream (for an additional fee), as well as relax in an onsen, I suggest staying at Narutokaigetsu Hotel. Note that children cannot stay at this hotel.
A tiny bit further out, you can stay at Resort Hotel Moana Coast (also adults only), which is gorgeous and has an open-air hot tub. And if you have kiddos, consider staying on the Awaji Island-side at Plaza Awajishima.
Naruto Whirlpools with Kids
My daughter loves seeing the whirlpools. Her favorite way to watch them is from the boat, although she stays inside most of the time. If she does go out to the deck, I make sure to hold onto her tightly, especially since there are no lifejackets.
My daughter somewhat likes seeing the whirlpools from the bridge, especially the spots where you can see through the floor, but she gets bored rather quickly.
So, Are the Naruto Whirlpools Worth It?
I think if you go with the mindset that the whirlpools might not be as impressive as the photos you see on official sites, the Naruto Whirlpools are worth it. They are tricky to time and sometimes Mother Nature is unpredictable, so there is even a chance you might not see many whirlpools at all!
You don’t know what you’ll see until you try, and honestly, the area is so beautiful that I end up going repeatedly.
However, my husband (as well as my neighbor’s husband) has zero interest in the whirlpools. My husband said he’s glad he saw them a few times, but he has no desire to go again. My daughter thought it was cool, but she also has no desire to go again.
But I do. I love the sea, nature, and the wonder of the whirlpools. I could look at them all day!
So I guess in the end, it depends on the person whether or not it’s worth it!