Tokushima Prefecture's Absolute Essentials

Tokushima Prefecture is defined by the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, starting with Ryozen-ji and continuing through numerous Shingon Buddhist sites like the mountain-top Shosan-ji. In Tokushima City, the Awa Odori Kaikan preserves the region’s 400-year-old dance tradition, while the Ōtsuka Museum of Art houses over 1,000 ceramic reproductions of Western masterpieces. Nature highlights include the steep Oboke Gorge and the riverside parks of the capital. This selection covers historical religious sites, cultural institutions, and significant transit hubs across the prefecture.

Tokushima Prefecture's Absolute Essentials — Harita

阿波おどり会館 / CC BY 2.5

A

Awa Odori Kaikan

The Awa Odori Hall is a museum in the city of Tokushima where visitors can learn about Awa Odori, watch displays of the dance and sample…

EMS-62 / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Ōtsuka Museum of Art

The Ōtsuka Museum of Art in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture is an art museum founded in 1998 and is one of the largest exhibition spaces in…

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Ryozen-ji Temple

Ryōzen-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan best known as the first temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

D

23 Yakuo-ji

Yakuo-ji or Yakuō-ji is a Koyasan Shingon temple in Minami, Kaifu District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Dokudami / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

21 Tairyu-ji

Tairyūji or Tairyū-ji is a Koyasan Shingon temple in Anan city, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Temple # 21 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

F

Shinmachi Riverside Park

A riverside park along the Shinmachi River featuring a wooden boardwalk and night-time LED lighting. It serves as a central hub for the city’s water-based events and local festivals.

Reggaeman / CC-BY-SA-3.0

G

Tokushima Central Park

Built on the former site of Tokushima Castle, this park contains the original stone walls, the reconstructed Washimon Gate, and a museum dedicated to the history of the Hachisuka clan.

暇・カキコ / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Oboke

Ōboke Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

iloverjoa / CC BY 3.0

I

Tokushima Airport

Tokushima Awaodori Airport is a joint civil-military public airport in Matsushige, Tokushima, Japan, near the city of Tokushima.

Puchi-masashi / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

道の駅貞光ゆうゆう館

A roadside rest area on Route 192 featuring a 33-meter-high observation tower, local agricultural products, and a restaurant serving regional specialties from Tsurugi Town.

Dokudami / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

02 Gokurakuji

Gokuraku-ji is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

08 Kumadani-ji

Kumadani-ji is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Awa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Dokudami / CC BY-SA 3.0

M

09 Horin-ji

Hōrin-ji is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Awa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

N

14 Jōraku-ji

Joraku-ji is a Koyasan Shingon temple in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Temple # 14 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

O

06 Anrakuji

Anraku-ji is a Buddhist temple of the Kōyasan Shingon-shū in Kamiita, Tokushima, Japan.

Dokudami / CC BY-SA 4.0

P

05 Jizoji

Jizō-ji is an Omuro Shingon temple in Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Dokudami / CC BY-SA 3.0

Q

07 Juraku-ji

Jūraku-ji is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Awa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

R

03 Konsen-ji

Konsen-ji is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Itano, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

S

15 Kokubun-ji

Temple #15 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. It is a Soto Zen temple housing a Momoyama-period rock garden designated as a National Scenic Beauty spot.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

T

10 Kirihataji

Kirihata-ji is a Kōya-san Shingon temple in Awa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

U

16 Kan'on-ji

Temple #16 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. This Shingon temple is known for its main hall reconstruction from the Edo period and its historical connection to local folklore.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

V

18 Onzan-ji

Onzan-ji is a Koyasan Shingon temple in Komatsushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

W

19 Tatsue-ji

Tatsue-ji is a Koyasan Shingon temple in Komatsushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is Temple # 19 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

X

22 Byodo-ji

Byodo-ji is a Koyasan Shingon temple in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. Temple # 22 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage.

史永健 / CC-BY-SA

Y

17 Idoji

Temple #17 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. It features a sacred well called Omokage-no-Ido, which is said to have been dug by Kobo Daishi to provide water for local villagers.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Z

Shosan-ji

Temple #12 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Situated at 700 meters on Mount Shosan, it is one of the most physically demanding 'mountain-climbing' temples on the route.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

11 Fujii-dera

Fujii-dera is a Zen Buddhist temple in Japan. It is the 11th site of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

KishujiRapid / CC BY-SA 4.0

20 Kakurin-ji

Temple #20 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Located on a mountain ridge, it features statues of cranes guarding the main hall and is surrounded by ancient cedar trees.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bekkaku01 Taizan-ji

Taisan-ji is a Daigo Shingon temple in Kamiita, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bekkaku02 Dougaku-ji

Dōgaku-ji is a Zentsū-ji Shingon temple in Ishii, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bekkaku15 Hashikura-ji

The 15th site of the 20 Bekkaku temples, located on Mount Hashikura. This Shingon temple complex is accessible via ropeway and is dedicated to the guardian deity Konpira.

Reggaeman / CC BY-SA 3.0

Bekkaku03 Jigen-ji

The 3rd site of the 20 Bekkaku temples. It is famous for its limestone cave, where pilgrims can participate in 'ana-zenjo' cave meditation training.

Sunport1216 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Aratano

Aratano Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Sunport1216 / CC BY-SA 4.0

Awa-Nakashima

Awa-Nakashima Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.