Tokushima's Best: 4 Must-Visit Spots from Heart Signal 5
Tokushima, Japan, a charming city featured in 'Heart Signal 5,' offers authentic experiences. Explore its top 4 attractions, from vibrant dance to panoramic views.
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Tokushima, Japan, a charming city featured in 'Heart Signal 5,' offers authentic experiences. Explore its top 4 attractions, from vibrant dance to panoramic views.
TOKUSHIMA
Must-Visit Spots in Tokushima
Exploring Tokushima: A Heart Signal 5 Filming Location
© Summer | Words & Photos
Guess what? Tokushima was a filming location for Heart Signal 5!
I recently visited myself, and it's a charming small city brimming with Japanese flair and plenty to see.
It's definitely one of those Japanese destinations I'm eager to revisit!
Including the Otsuka Museum, which appeared on Heart Signal, I'll introduce you to the Best 4 must-visit spots in Tokushima.
1. Awa Odori Kaikan
If you're in Tokushima, one place you absolutely can't miss is the Awa Odori Kaikan.
It's a fantastic spot where you can experience two delights: watching a performance of Awa Odori, Tokushima's traditional dance, and then heading up to the observatory for a panoramic view of the city!
Mount Bizan Ropeway Observatory
Mount Bizan Observatory is Tokushima's premier spot for breathtaking night views,
offering a sweeping panorama of the city.
You'll need to take the cable car up from the 5th floor of the Kaikan. It runs approximately every 15 minutes.
As the cable car ascended,
the city views gradually unfolded below,
building up the excitement for what awaited at the observatory.
The view from Tokushima isn't a dazzling metropolis;
rather, it's the tranquil atmosphere unique to a Japanese small town,
with low-rise buildings and rivers.
It was perfect for a relaxed, quiet appreciation of the nightscape.
And on one side of Mount Bizan Observatory,
you'll find the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Ufotable Cafe –
a must-visit if you're an anime fan!
One entire side is a floor-to-ceiling window, so you can sit among the life-sized character standees,
enjoy the view, and sip on some coffee.
Taking photos inside the cafe was prohibited, so I only managed to snap some pictures of the merchandise.
They even had Tokushima-exclusive collaboration goods!
I recommend going up to Mount Bizan Observatory after 6 PM to enjoy the night view,
then heading back down around 7:30 PM to catch the Awa Odori performance.
Awa Odori Performance
✅ Awa Odori Performance Information
Daytime Shows: 11 AM, 2 PM, 3 PM, 4 PM (40 minutes each)
Evening Show: 8 PM (50 minutes)
Price: Adults 1,300 yen, Elementary/Junior High Students 700 yen
I unfortunately messed up my schedule and missed it... 🤣
But my friends told me the performance was surprisingly
dynamic and impressive,
and definitely worth the admission fee.
Apparently, at the end of the show, there's even a chance for audience members to learn the dance themselves,
so everyone can join in the fun.
I was lucky enough, however, to catch an Awa Odori performance during a local festival while I was traveling, and
After seeing the dance firsthand,
I immediately understood why everyone said it was a must-see.
Both the dancers and the spectators
were genuinely enjoying themselves, which was incredibly impressive.
Seeing so many people come together to enjoy themselves through dance
just gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. 🥹
Before your trip to Tokushima, check the local event schedule.
If there's no festival planned,
I absolutely recommend the Awa Odori performance at the Community Hall!
2. Naruto Strait
This is a spot that appeared in the latest Heart Signal 5,
and the Naruto Strait is also famous as a must-visit in Tokushima.
As shown in videos, the Naruto Strait
is famous for the whirlpools that form in the sea.
These whirlpools are said to be created when strong tides and currents collide,
causing the water to rotate.
You can walk along a path with fences on both sides,
enjoying views of the sea.
There are also sections with glass floors, offering
a subtly thrilling experience.
In person, the fierce currents are absolutely overwhelming,
but it's a shame that photos and videos don't quite capture their power.
You can take a cruise ship to get closer to the whirlpools,
but I'm afraid of water, so I couldn't ride it 🤣
But since I was already visiting Tokushima, I really wish I had tried it...
Seeing the whirlpools up close from a boat
vs. seeing them from the observatory
must be a completely different experience, and I regret not doing it now.
There's also an observatory, so I got to enjoy views of the Naruto Strait, the grand bridge,
and the charming landscapes of a small Japanese town.
3. Otsuka Museum of Art
After the Naruto Strait, the Otsuka International Museum of Art
is another famous representative tourist spot in Tokushima.
While it might look like a typical art museum from the outside,
this isn't a place that exhibits original works.
Instead, it's a ceramic panel art museum that reproduces
world-famous masterpieces at their original size.
With works by Raphael, Monet, Van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, and many others,
featuring around 1,000 pieces from 26 countries,
it was definitely worth exploring, as you can see them all in one place.
Next to each piece, you'll find the title and a description,
and with excellent Korean guidance available,
it was great to look around even for someone not well-versed in art.
Typically, art museums require you to view works from a certain distance
to protect them.
However, because the works at the Otsuka Museum are reproductions on ceramic panels,
you can admire them up close
and even touch them with your hands
to experience their texture! Haha.
There are also photo zones where you can mimic the artworks,
and even a photo zone where you can sit on a throne.
With so many diverse sights beyond just the artworks,
I recommend setting aside a generous 2 to 3 hours for your visit.
4. Aeon Mall
Our final must-visit spot in Tokushima was Aeon Mall!
I skipped Don Quijote because it's so familiar to me already..!
Being a smaller city, I initially thought the Aeon Mall would be quite small,
but with diverse stores like a goods shop, souvenir shops, KALDI, Daiso, and more,
there were so many different places to explore.
I honestly lost all track of time wandering around!
At KALDI, I stocked up on coffee, spreads, and jellies.
I also grabbed some souvenir snacks from my Tokushima trip,
and even picked up a bottle of Sudachi-shu, a local specialty liquor!
On one floor, there were about 2-3 anime goods shops.
From Demon Slayer, Detective Conan, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Disney merchandise,
they offered a wide variety of anime titles and merchandise types.
Compared to major cities like Tokyo or Osaka,
there were many affordable items, making it a great place to shop,
and I even spotted some rare figures I'd never seen before!
With gachapon shops and Daiso all in one place,
Aeon Mall was perfect for checking off my entire Japan shopping list!
If you love anime merchandise or just enjoy shopping in general,
make sure to set aside a generous 3-4 hours for your visit.
So, these were my top picks for places to visit in Tokushima,
the filming location for Heart Signal 5.
With very few foreign tourists, including Koreans,
it was the perfect place to truly soak in the unique charm and relaxed atmosphere
of a Japanese small city.
With direct flights available via Eastar Jet and surprisingly low travel costs,
why not consider a trip to Tokushima, Japan? You won't regret it! ⭐´-
🌀 How to Get to Naruto Strait, Review
🍜 Tokushima Ramen Hotspot
📍 Awa Odori Hall
2-chōme-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima, 770-0904 Japan
📍 Naruto Strait
Naruto Strait, Japan
📍 Otsuka Museum of Art
Fukuike-65-1 Narutochō Tosadomariura, Naruto, Tokushima 772-0053 Japan
📍 Aeon Mall Tokushima
4-1 Minamisuehirochō, Tokushima, 770-0865 Japan
Daytime performances at the Awa Odori Kaikan are held at 11 AM, 2 PM, 3 PM, and 4 PM, each lasting 40 minutes. The evening performance is at 8 PM and lasts 50 minutes. Admission fees are ~$8 for adults and ~$4 for elementary and junior high school students.
On one side of the Bizan Ropeway Observatory, there's a Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Ufotable Cafe, which is a must-visit for anime fans. Here, you can enjoy coffee with a view and purchase Tokushima-exclusive collaboration merchandise.
The Otsuka Museum of Art is a ceramic panel art museum that reproduces world masterpieces at their original size, rather than displaying original works. Therefore, you can appreciate the artworks up close and even touch them to feel their texture.
At the Naruto Strait, you can walk along a pathway with iron grates on both sides to view the sea, and there are also sections with glass floors in between. Additionally, you can take a sightseeing boat to get close to the whirlpools and observe them directly.
At Aeon Mall, you can buy coffee, spreads, jellies, and more at Kaldi. You can also find Tokushima travel souvenir sweets and Sudachi-shu, a local specialty liquor. Additionally, there are various anime merchandise shops for titles like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Detective Conan, as well as gacha shops and Daiso.
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