鳴門海峡と渦潮
Awaji is linked to Shikoku by the Naruto Strait – it’s named after the town of Naruto, which lies just on the other side of the water from Awaji. Since 1985, the strait has been spanned by a suspension bridge carrying one of the main expressways linking Shikoku to the rest of Japan. The Naruto Strait is beautiful, and the bridge forms an impressive backdrop to the scenery. The area’s fame, however, comes from something rather special: tidal currents.
Roughly every 6 hours, the tide changes, and a huge volume of water transits through the Naruto Strait. In advance of the high tide, water flows into the Inland Sea from the Pacific Ocean, while 6 hours later, excess water from the Inland Sea flows back out through the strait as low tide sets in. This tidal current is one of the fastest anywhere in the world (number 3, if you’re counting), and is arguably Awaji’s best known sight. The current sometimes gives rise to whirlpools, which are a famous symbol of the strait.
Though the views of the current from Awaji are great, the whirlpools are a little difficult to spot from the island itself. For better views, you can jump on board a boat in Fukura that will take you into the middle of the strait; or you can head across the bridge to Naruto. From there, it’s possible to walk along the bridge to a viewing area located above the whirlpools. You can’t walk on the bridge from the Awaji side. If you don’t like Fukura’s boats, there are sailings from Naruto as well.
The exact time of the tidal currents vary from day to day. Depending on the cycle of the moon and the time of the year, the current can last for anything from 2-4 hours. There are websites which detail the best viewing times (see below).
On Awaji, a long, narrow cape stretches out towards Shikoku, and the tip of this cape is the main viewing area for tourists. There are facilities there, including ample free parking, toilets, shops, and several great viewpoints over the strait. The area gets very busy around peak viewing times, especially on summer weekends and holidays – this is the only attraction on Awaji with a truly national profile.
There is no regular public transport to the cape, though a few free shuttle buses exist to facilitate local tourism. These run to/from central Fukura, visiting a few other tourist centers in the region. For more details, inquire at the tourist office in Fukura.
Those wanting to head to Naruto itself will have to drive across the bridge, which is tolled. Cyclists and pedestrians aren’t allowed to cross the bridge (a truck/bus scheme exists to allow cyclists to transport their bicycles across the bridge, but only on weekends and holidays). For visitors without vehicles, there are a few buses a day which originate in Awaji and travel across the bridge.
To check up on tide times, see this website:
http://www.uzunomichi.jp/english/category/0002107.php
For more information on visiting the strait from Naruto, see here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7852.html
For more pictures, click here.
Awaji Island 