Fukuoka to Tokushima

[Rich303]

Hello!

I've now booked my flight and will be traveling to Fukuoka in october.
The whirlpools in Naruto,Tokushima I want to visit can been at this time of year - my only problem seems to be getting there from Fukuoka.

The best option I've found is the train from Hakata to Okayama, then over the bridge and continue along to Naruto.
Maybe an internal flight would be better? (but expensive)

It seems that this is a difficult place to reach. I really want to see the whirlpools, but I'm wondering if it is worth all the effort, as I only want to make this a day trip, (or one night's stay at the most)
It's likely that I'll only be in Fukuoka for around 5 days, so I don't want to be spending whole days travelling.

Does anyone know anything about this journey?

Thanks in advance, Richard

 

[shiroma]

福岡↔徳島

Ocean Tokyu Ferry operates overnight service, leaving Kitakyushu Port at 7:10pm and Tokushima arrival at 9:30am. Take taxi to the Shinmoji berth from Moji train station. Tokushima City Bus for Tokushima train station leaves at 9:40am.

The return trip schedule might not be ideal: Tokushima departure 2:30pm, Shinmoji arrival 5am. It is probably better to stay in a hotel in Naruto then take JAC Flight 3562 (departure 8:25am, arrival 10:05am.)

Whirlpool

 

[Rich303]

Thanks very much for your help - the overnight thing seems like a good idea.
I have a couple of months to plan, so this should give something to work with

Cheers, Richard

 

[shiroma]

The best option I've found is the train from Hakata to Okayama, then over the bridge and continue along to Naruto.

Another possibility is, train/bus transfer in Kobe instead of Okayama (Kobe-Tokushima bus route operated by JR West Bus, Tokushima-Okayama one by JR Shikoku Bus.)

The timetable (Southbound/Northbound) says that the first morning bus leaves Kobe area around 7:30am-ish, arriving at the Naruto Park Gate stop at 8:53am (where sightseeing facilities are within walking distance.) Buses run hourly instead of just-three-a-day from Okayama.
The evening last bus leaving Tokushima at 7pm, getting to Kobe around 9pm [Northbound buses do not stop at Naruto Park Gate, do check out the local commuter bus schedules in order to get to the Northbound highway stop which is close to the Naruto train station, a couple of miles South of the whirlpool area.]


Trip plans utilizing it would be:

1) Using Shinkansen bullet train
Hikari Rail Star 486 for instance, Hakata departure at 8:35pm then arriving at Shin-Kobe station at 11:11pm. Staying in a hotel there (this one seems to be the closest to the station) then taking the morning bus at 7:35am.
Back to Shinkobe station at 8:45pm then take Hikari Rail Star 485 at 9:12pm, Hakata arrival at 11:45pm.

2) Sleeper Train
Akatsuki/Naha express leaves Hakata at 10:31pm, arriving at Sannomiya station around 6:30am-ish [exact time TBA due to a major schedule update effective on Oct. 1st.] Take the first bus leaving the station at 7:45am. The last bus comes back to Sannomiya at 8:38pm. Akatsuki/Naha leaves Sannomiya around 9:30pm, Hakata arrival at 5:52am. JR Rail Pass does not cover the sleeper/express fee. Accomodation varies from red-eye seats to the "standard" two-level open-berth, "Solo" coffin room, "Duet" coffin-for-two and "Single Deluxe" rip-off prison cell. No food/beverage served during the ride.


Uzu no Michi
another link

 

[Maciamo]

Seems to be like a long way (about 500km by rail) just to see whirlpools... Especially that there is no guarantee you will actually see them. If you are in Fukuoka, I'd rather recommend you to visit Mount Aso (an active volcano with one of the largest caldera on earth), the hellish hot springs of Beppu or even Miyajima near Hiroshima.