Top Tokushima Prefecture Historical Tours

For a more efficient way to explore Iya Valley, take a private taxi on a 4-hour tour! To start your day, meet your driver at your hotel, or anywhere at your convenience. Potential stops on a four-hour tour include the Manikin Peeing Boy Statue, with stunning views of the steep surrounding mountains, turquoise Iya River and Iya Kazurabashi vine bridge. Note*1: The driver for this tour has a limited level of English. Your driver will communicate with you using a translation app. Please decide your itinerary or send a list of your desired sites to see 1 week before the tour date and send it directly to Japan Guide Agency. Note*2: Tour details has a possibility of change due to seasonal influence, Mt. Tsurugi and Okuiyanijukazurabashi is closed during the winter season, December to March. Note*3: Four hours is NOT enough to visit both of Iya-valley area and Oku-Iya Kazurabashi double vine bridges and Mt. Tsurugi. Please choose which you prioritize.

Delve into the vibrant world of Awa Odori, Japan’s iconic dance, with this guided cultural experience in Tokushima. Explore the history and significance of Awa Odori beyond the summer festival as you visit the Awa Odori Museum, where you'll learn about the dance's evolution through engaging exhibits and live demonstrations of traditional instruments. Cap off your journey with a captivating performance at Awa Odori Hall, allowing you to witness the dance's energy and precision firsthand. This tour offers a rich understanding of Awa Odori as a living tradition, fostering a deeper connection to the local culture. - Discover the roots of Awa Odori through museum exhibits and live demos - Experience a live performance by skilled dancers and musicians - Choose your starting point: Awa Odori Kaikan or JR Tokushima Station - Gain insights into how Awa Odori influences everyday life in Tokushima

Explore Tokushima’s charming indigo town on a Brompton bike. Enjoy riverside cycling, local sweets, a coffee break by the Anabuki River, and try traditional indigo dyeing in this small-group 3-hour tour.

Step back in time and stroll through the historical Udatsu District in a traditional kimono, where the charm of the Edo to Meiji eras remains alive. Be transformed with professional kimono dressing and immerse yourself in the ambiance of old Japan. A local guide will explain the town's rich history, the meaning of “udatsu,” and the skills of local artisans. Perfect for couples, friends, or girls’ trips – a relaxing and memorable 3 - hour experience. In case of rain, the outdoor walking tour will be replaced with a kimono dressing class indoors. Please note that kimono strolls will not be conducted in rainy weather. Additionally, depending on the season (typically from June to October), yukata provided instead of kimono.

Few opportunities exist for foreigner visitors or even Japanese people to handle traditional puppets and learn about their structure and manipulation and see behind the scene views. Participants will have access to a range of traditional Japanese puppets with a guide who has more than 30 years experience performing in the puppet theater who can speak both English and Japanese and answer questions about the culture and history of the puppet theater.

Tokushima offers a fascinating blend of tradition and nature. Start at Awa Odori Kaikan to experience the world-famous 400-year-old dance festival through live performances and interactive exhibits. From the same building, take the Mt. Bizan Ropeway for a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and the Yoshino River. A short walk leads to Tokushima Castle Ruins, where impressive stone foundations and the beautiful Omote-goten Garden reflect the city’s samurai heritage. Be sure to visit the Tokushima Castle Museum on-site to see authentic artifacts and samurai armor. End your tour with a relaxing stroll through Shinmachigawa Mizugiwa Park, a charming riverside promenade. This walking tour captures the essence of Tokushima’s culture and scenic beauty, all within easy reach of the station and port.

This private and customizable tour for Tokushima is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace. Discover Tokushima at your own pace on this fully customizable 8-hour half day private tour with an English-speaking (or other language) tour guide. Create a dream tour that’s perfect for your interests and preferences. After booking, you'll receive a form with various themes, facilitating easy selection based on your interests. Whether it's culture, history, cuisine, nature, or special events, you can highlight your preferences and must-see spots, streamlining our planning process

Wakimachi, Mima City, located in the middle basin of the Yoshino River, a major river in Shikoku, is a river port town that prospered through the cultivation of indigo, known as "Japan blue," and the distribution of indigo dye, "sukumo," throughout Japan. The residences of the indigo merchants, as typified by Wakimachi, have "udatsu" firewalls as a symbol of their wealth. This potter's tour will give visitors a sense of the history of water transportation along such a long river, the history and legacy of the fight against flooding along the raging Yoshino River, the indigo dyeing technique, and the lifestyle and culture of people who have lived together with indigo. You can enjoy pottering with a navigator who tells you the story of the region and the spaces where people live that you cannot visit by car.