Tokushima

Kagawa, another of the four prefectures of Shikoku, and also on my list of Golden week adventures. 

Again, look to the upper right for Kyoto and Osaka for reference.

Perhaps a few of the people who read this have heard of a little cartoon called Naruto. If in case you haven't, it is no concern that you familiarize yourself with it, though others will argue it is a priority for those interested in Japan. Naruto actually has three meanings. One is that ever so popular character that made a big splash in the world of animation with fox features and yellow hair and an orange jumpsuit. Another is a thing that you will often see being put it ramen. It is a mixture of fish meant(as bad as that sounds, it is a a common food accessory here) that is white with a pink spiral shape in the center of it. It comes in a cylindrical shape which you slice off and eat in ramen. Lastly and most importantly, at least where this post is concerned, is the meaning for whirlpool. 

Tokushima is famous for its whirlpools. 

They have this center for viewing them as well. Underneath a great bridge used as an expressway for cars, they have constructed a sealed in walkway for people to walk out to the center of the bridge and view what was my first, and perhaps the largest one I will ever see, whirlpool. You see at intervals along this bridge there are very thick-paned windows to view the occurrences below, and at the hubbub of it all is an entire room full of of these glass floor panels where many people congregate to best view the whirlpools below. In addition to the glass flooring, one side of the walk is lined purely with glass(or wiring without glass) so the view can fully appreciate the view from the side as well. On the other side are artworks or information about the whirlpools. 

Braver souls than I will venture out into the swirling madness on a ferry boat tour that will actually venture inside the whirlpool and cross it for closer looks. 

Though perhaps I need to clarify what I saw. When I say whirlpool, I was honestly expecting something right out of Pirates of the Carribean 3. This is not the case at all so don't get your hopes up. It is large and wide with what looks like a hell of an under toe, but not so deep. There are actually times at which it is best seen, likely in similar occurrence with the tides, and are posted daily outside the center. I was fortunate enough to see it at a peak time. 

In addition to the tourism the sight provides, it also appears to draw in a lot of fish. From my vantage point above, I saw a good many fishing boats braving the waters for the days catch. Many of them in s slow outward spin and several parked, or landed out around the rick isles. 

An additional obligatory mention for a special matsuri they hold that has a special dance for whichTokushima is very well known.