Awa Odori can be enjoyed all year round. Discover the charms of Tokushima that you should know about now

Awa Odori Kaikan, where you can experience the long-awaited Awa Odori dance all year round

Awa Dance Hall

Awa Odori is a traditional performing art that represents Tokushima and has a history of over 400 years. It is also known overseas by names such as "AWA ODORI" and "AWA DANCE."

The most exciting event among them is the Tokushima City Awa Odori, which is held every year for four days starting from August 12th. During the Obon period, more than one million people visit from both within Japan and overseas, and the city is transformed into a completely different world, dominated by the hustle and bustle of the festival.

If you're thinking, "I'd really like to experience the real Awa Odori at least once..." then you don't have to wait anxiously until the Obon festival. In Tokushima City, there is a tourist facility called the Awa Odori Kaikan where you can enjoy the Awa Odori dance all year round.

The Awa Odori Hall, located at the foot of Mt. Bizan, the symbol of Tokushima City, opened in 1990 with the aim of spreading the appeal of Awa Odori. From April to December 2018, the hall welcomed approximately 275,000 visitors!

There are Awa Odori performances by experienced dancers, a museum where you can learn about history and culture, a Media Square where workshops and experiential events are held, and the Bizan Ropeway Base Station, which takes you to the top of Mt. Bizan.

The highlight of the Awa Odori Kaikan is undoubtedly the Awa Odori performances held in the Awa Odori Hall on the second floor.

The "Daytime Dance" is performed four times a day by an exclusive group (*group = group) of the "Awa Odori Kaikan." The dancers, as well as the musicians playing gongs, drums, shamisen, flutes, and other instruments, are all veterans with experience in famous groups, and they put on a spectacular stage.

The program begins with a thorough introduction to the history and evolution of Awa Odori. There is also an explanation of the musical instruments, so even beginners needn't worry. In addition, for foreign tourists, explanations in English, Chinese, and Korean are projected onto the back screen of the stage. This has also been praised for being very easy to understand.

After the introduction of Awa Odori, the lecture on how to dance starts. It's not just a matter of sitting in a seat and watching, but a participatory performance where you can enjoy together with the authentic dancers, which is sure to get you excited.

After the performance, the audience will be invited onto the stage. Anyone who catches the dancers' eye here will receive a special gift. It doesn't matter if you're good or bad. Just show your passion for Awa Odori.

The Night Dance is performed by 33 famous groups affiliated with the Awa Odori Promotion Association and the Tokushima Prefecture Awa Odori Association. They represent Tokushima with their unique style and outstanding skills, and take turns performing on stage each day. Each group is different in terms of the way they dance, the instruments they use, the costumes, and the atmosphere, so it's fun to search for your favorite famous group.

The Awa Odori Kaikan website provides detailed information about each group, as well as videos of actual performances. We recommend checking out the website before heading out to see the group you want to see. No matter which famous group is performing, the performance will end with an exciting turn of events, with everyone turning into "dancing fools" on stage.

A powerful love power spot next to the god of learning

Himemiya Shrine

Bizan Tenjin Shrine, located next to the Awa Odori Hall, enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of academics, and many students visit to pray for success in their exams. Within the shrine grounds, there is also Himemiya Shrine, which is known nationwide as a power spot for love.

A huge, strangely shaped rock that is said to have been there since the Jomon period is enshrined here, and according to the history book, "this exquisitely shaped natural stone is one of the most famous strange and shady stones in the country, and is known for its miraculous powers." It is said to be particularly effective in bringing about good luck in matchmaking, safe childbirth, fertility, and marital harmony.

At Himemiya Shrine, hearts are adorned on the torii gates, offering boxes, and stone paving. Here, you can try out the popular "Hime Mikuji" (princess fortune-telling slips) with their cute designs. In addition to the usual fortunes, don't forget to check out the unique items such as "Your Princess Degree" and "Your Destined Man". It's sure to be a lot of fun showing your results to friends.

Each goshuin is written with care and attention, and the design of the accompanying seal changes every month. It is said that some women come from Aichi Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture every month to get the stamp.

When we visited in December, the shrine had a "holly" design on it. There is also a special version design where you can have the goshuin of both Bizan Tenjin Shrine and Himemiya Shrine written on two double-page spreads in your goshuin book, so it's a must-see for goshuin collectors. Himemiya Shrine has long been affectionately known as "Himemiya-san" by locals. Be sure to visit.

Tokushima's new symbol, a park at night enveloped in fantastic LED lights

Shinmachi River Waterfront Park

Tokushima City, located at the mouth of the Yoshino River, the longest river in Shikoku, where it flows into the Kii Channel, is also a water city with 138 rivers, large and small, flowing through it.

Shinmachigawa Waterfront Park, a symbol of the "exciting water city of Tokushima," is a must-visit night spot in Tokushima City.

There are several bridges over the Shinmachi River, and the public art piece "Rainbow Raccoon" was created on one of them, the Fureai Bridge.

This work was created as part of the Tokushima LED Art Festival 2010, and is based on the motif of Kincho Tanuki, the main character of the Awa Tanuki Gassen folktale that has been passed down in Tokushima since ancient times.

The light pictograms move little by little and are reflected on the surface of the Shinmachi River, creating a fantastical atmosphere like something out of a fairy tale world.

The work "SORA and MIZU" installed at Ryogoku Bridge was also created for the Tokushima LED Art Festival 2010.

The sensors detect changes in temperature, the noise of the city, vibrations caused by passing vehicles, and even cosmic rays from the far reaches of space. These are then converted into various light colors and movements. The glow of the LEDs changes over time, so you'll never get bored, no matter how long you look at it.

Awa Yokocho: Enjoy Tokushima's rich cuisine at six restaurants in one go

Awa Yokocho

After enjoying Tokushima city from morning to night, you'll want to try a variety of local dishes along with some delicious alcohol. If that's the case, why not try Awa Yokocho, a spot that will lift your spirits from the outside, created by a team of architects from Tokushima?

Awa Yokocho, which opened in October 2018 in the Takajomachi area, which is home to many famous restaurants and izakayas, has a huge floor area of approximately 250 square meters and is home to six restaurants serving unique cuisine.

By the end of November, the number of visitors had already topped 10,000, and the event is popular not only with locals but also with tourists from Japan and abroad visiting Tokushima.

The floor is home to six restaurants: Naruto Tai Specialty Restaurant Ohirune, Tokushima Italian restaurant Egaoninaru, Tokushima original Japanese cuisine and tempura restaurant Wasawasa, Yakitori restaurant Toriryori Mugen, Charcoal Grilled Hormone Roast, and Sichuan Chinese restaurant Xiangxiang Kitchen.

The desire and enthusiasm to spread Tokushima's food culture is the standard for opening a store, and each store offers a menu that is full of enthusiasm.

Customers can freely choose where to sit regardless of the store, and orders are placed at each of the six stores using a tablet device at hand.

All menus are available in English and Chinese, so tourists from overseas can enjoy the flavors of Tokushima with ease.

There are about 100 dishes on the menu at any one time, including creative Japanese, Italian, and Chinese cuisine. Sometimes, restaurants collaborate with each other to create new dishes. You might discover a new flavor you've never tried before.

Please enjoy to your heart's content a variety of wonderful dishes made with Awa beef, Awaodori chicken, fresh seafood such as Naruto sea bream, and a wide variety of vegetables.

Awa Yokocho holds seasonal events such as Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, and also holds some kind of event once a month.

Another major feature of Awa Yokocho is the close distance between the chefs and the people sitting next to you. Samples of the "today's appetizer" are served across the counter, and before you know it, you'll be having a lively conversation with the person sitting next to you. You can discover new ways to enjoy yourself every time you visit.

You'll be sure to be satisfied even if you visit almost every night during your stay in Tokushima. This popular restaurant allows you to enjoy the best of Tokushima ingredients prepared in a variety of ways.

What do you think? This time we introduced four spots in the center of Tokushima City.

Tokushima City, blessed with a warm climate throughout the year, is ranked 6th out of 47 prefectural capitals nationwide in terms of hours of sunshine, and is said to have the highest average minimum temperature among the prefectural capitals of the four Shikoku prefectures.

You can enjoy the Awa Odori Hall, Himemiya Shrine, Shinmachigawa Waterside Park, and Awa Yokocho whenever you visit. Please come to Tokushima, the city of exciting water.