Takamatsu: Exploration of Iya Valley, Oboke Gorge, and Naruto Whirlpools

Our guide Liu Xiaohua was really informative and even though I don’t speak mandarin at all I could feel her enthusiasm and friendliness through her way of speech! Would definitely recommend this tour even if you don’t speak Japanese or Mandarin as this tour essentially pays for itself through the amount of travel that you get to do in one day plus the ride back to Takamatsu, you really are making profit. Bus driver was very skilled as well, especially important as our drive to the first and second location was high up in the mountains with very narrow roads. 10/10 would recomend and go again

Many thanks to team leader Xiaohua! This was my first time on this tour, and I truly felt the dedication of both the leader and the travel agency. It was incredibly thoughtful and offered amazing value for money! I highly recommend it, especially for travelers who enjoy independent exploration but prefer not to drive. The tour covers three scenic locations without any forced sales pitches. Walking across the Iya Vine Bridge felt like a reminder to slow down, and the nearby waterfall was a truly refreshing experience. The grilled sweetfish and grilled mochi that the team leader privately recommended were also definitely worth trying—I personally thought they were delicious! The boat ride at Oboke Gorge was very comfortable; the boat was stable, and admiring the beauty of the canyon helped me escape the hustle and bustle and clear my mind. For the final attraction, the timing for the Naruto Whirlpools was perfect. Of course, I paid extra to witness the beauty of one of the world's three great whirlpools. The boat ride was very safe, and it brought a beautiful end to this trip (I recommend checking the tide times for the Naruto Whirlpools online beforehand). Thanks again to the team leader and driver! I will definitely join again next time!

At only around HKD 300 per person, it's still considered good value for money. This price only includes admission to "Iya-no-Kazurabashi Bridge." The driver was very thoughtful, taking us through "Michi-no-Eki Takarada-no-Sato Saita" to admire the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The other two activities ("Oboke Gorge Sightseeing Cruise" and "Naruto Whirlpools Sightseeing Cruise") required an additional payment of JPY 3,500 per person. In Tokushima, we were scheduled for the last sightseeing cruise at 16:20, missing the best time to see the "Naruto Whirlpools." The tour guide was very friendly, polite, attentive, and extremely helpful to the group members. This is a highly recommended day tour to join when visiting Takamatsu.

The tour was conducted in Chinese, which I didn’t know beforehand, haha! So I couldn’t really understand any of the explanations since everything was in Chinese. Other than that, I’m still glad I joined this tour because visiting these three destinations on my own would have been quite difficult. Overall, it was a convenient way to see all three places in one day!

Many thanks to tour guide Liu Xiaohua for the kind and meticulous service! This trip was absolutely incredible value for money. The attractions in Shikoku are quite spread out, and arranging transportation independently would take a huge amount of effort. This tour allowed us to visit the three most important attractions in Tokushima in just one day, saving us the hassle of navigating transfers ourselves. All three locations are must-see scenic spots in Shikoku, and they also offered a refreshing escape from the hot summer weather. The entire trip was very comfortable, and the experience was fantastic. Thank you, Tour Guide Xiaohua, for giving me such a wonderful day!

Our Japanese driver was incredibly dedicated, taking us to every stop, especially ensuring we made the 3:45 PM boat to see the largest whirlpool. This itinerary is quite long, about 10 hours from start to finish, but the driver showed no signs of fatigue, which we greatly appreciated. The Chinese-speaking tour guide was very enthusiastic and helped us take photos. However, their Japanese language skills were not very strong, and they also struggled with English, which was a bit of a shame. Nevertheless, the guide safely led us to all the attractions, and we had a great time. All in all, for those who want a single-day experience of the Oboke Gorge boat ride (very comfortable and beautiful), the Iya Valley Vine Bridge (a short but thrilling bridge), and the Naruto Whirlpools in Tokushima (we saw spectacular whirlpools that day, which was amazing), I would still recommend joining this tour. It offers great value for money!

It was excellent. If you can speak even a little Japanese, you can communicate with the guide, and best of all, you can visit three scenic spots that would be difficult to see alone due to transportation, all with round-trip travel from Takamatsu. However, it was a shame not to see the Naruto Whirlpools when the waves were at their peak, so I'll probably go back separately if I get the chance.

The tour guide was enthusiastic and responsible, even coming up with alternative solutions when our flight to Oboke was canceled. These attractions were places I wanted to visit but were difficult to reach by public transport, so joining a group day tour was very convenient. The time management was excellent; I never felt rushed. The natural scenery was beautiful.

Our tour guide, Ms. Liu, provided detailed explanations of Takamatsu's unique attractions and local cuisine during the trip. The trip to Iya Valley Bridge was excellent, and the scenery was beautiful. Since the weather prevented us from taking a boat ride in Oboke Gorge that day, she took us to Naruto Park where we could pay to take a boat to see the whirlpools for about half an hour. She also arranged for us to see the scenery from the Seto Ohashi Bridge, ensuring we had a pleasant day. She recommended many local delicacies and unique restaurants. The vehicle was very clean, and the driver operated it safely. The arrangements for this trip were also very good.

It is super convenient for independent travelers to easily visit three scenic spots in Tokushima in one day. Although we didn't catch the peak tide of the Naruto Whirlpools this time, the overall itinerary was arranged perfectly. The tour guide, Xiaohua, was professional; not only did she lead the tour smoothly and keep the schedule on track, but she also shared many local history stories and recommended food in Takamatsu. The driver was experienced, providing a smooth ride. The overall experience was fantastic and highly recommended!