From Osaka to Tokushima! A day trip to experience the traditional culture of Awa
Did you know that there is a day trip to Awa, Tokushima, which can be easily accessed by express bus from OCAT, Osaka? This article introduces a comprehensive model itinerary that allows you to enjoy not only traditional performing arts, but also indigo dyeing and local cuisine all at once.
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One of the largest bus terminals in western Japan. This is the stop for express buses departing and arriving at all over Japan, as well as buses to Kansai International Airport and Osaka Airport for departures around the world. As OCAT has a bus terminal directly connected to the airport, you can enjoy food from all over the world. There are also many stores where you can do your everyday shopping, making it a popular spot for local residents to relax and unwind, not just while waiting for the bus. On the first basement floor of OCAT, Ponte Square is a large sphere that sparkles in the sunlight. This open-air space with a view of the blue sky is used as a place of relaxation by people of all ages.
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Table of Contents
- Departing from OCAT! A day trip to experience Awa's traditional culture
- 7:35 Depart OCAT for Tokushima by express bus
- 10:30～ Viewing Bunraku puppet theater at Tokushima Prefectural Awa Jyurobe Yashiki
- 12:00～ Lunch with local gourmet food "Tokushima Ramen"
- 13:00～ Visit the "Indigo House" where you can experience indigo dyeing
- 15:00~ Have fun dancing at the Awa Odori Hall!
- 16:45 Take the express bus from JR Tokushima Station to Osaka
- Great access information
- summary
Departing from OCAT! A day trip to experience Awa's traditional culture
Why not experience traditional Japanese culture in Tokushima, which is easily accessible from Namba, Osaka?
If you take the express bus departing from OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal), you can access it on a day trip. Here we will introduce the recommended sightseeing route for a day trip to the Tokushima Awa area starting from Osaka.
*The express bus and local bus timetables listed on the day trip courses are accurate at the time of writing and are subject to change.
What is OCAT?
Osaka City Air Terminal, or OCAT for short, is a large complex building directly connected to JR Namba Station. It is located in an area with easy access to major lines, including the subway, Kintetsu, and Hanshin.
The OCAT building also has a shopping mall and a restaurant area, making it a great place to spend your free time between sightseeing or taking a break while traveling. It's also a great place to buy souvenirs.
More details are summarized in the article below, so if you would like to know more about the area around OCAT and what's inside it, please read the article below.
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OCAT/Osaka City Air Terminal
1-4-1 Minato-cho, Naniwa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 556-0017
Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) is a multi-functional commercial complex located in Minatomachi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka City. It houses the South Osaka City Bus Terminal and a bus terminal for Kansai International Airport, and is directly connected to JR Namba Station. The six-story commercial floor also houses shops, restaurants, and an information center. OCAT is also a frequent venue for music performances, and the outdoor Ponte Square is a place for Osaka's young street dance community to practice and interact.
7:35 Depart OCAT for Tokushima by express bus
We departed from OCAT (Osaka City Air Terminal) at 7:35am on the express bus! We arrived at JR Tokushima Station in about two and a half hours (scheduled for around 10:09am). It was a comfortable ride, perfect for the start of our trip.
10:30～ Viewing Bunraku puppet theater at Tokushima Prefectural Awa Jyurobe Yashiki
Take the Tokushima City Bus "Kawauchi Circulator Bus" (clockwise) from bus stop number 7 at JR Tokushima Station Bus Terminal (approximately 15 minutes, fare 240 yen). When you get off at "Jurobe Yashiki" the facility will be right in front of you!
Tokushima Prefectural Awa Jyurobe Yashiki is a facility where you can enjoy Tokushima's traditional performing art, Awa Ningyo Joruri. It is a reproduction of a village headman's residence from the Edo period, and you can learn about the mechanics of puppets and the history of Joruri. There are regular performances every day, and you can experience an actual stage performance up close.
I watched the regular performance (about 35 minutes) starting at 11:00.
Opening hours: 9:30-17:00 (until 18:00 from July 1st to August 31st)
Closed: December 31st to January 3rd
Admission fee: Adults 410 yen / High school and university students 310 yen / Elementary and junior high school students 200 yen
*Due to facility renovation work, the facility will be closed from Monday, November 17, 2025 to mid-April 2026. It is scheduled to reopen in late April.
12:00～ Lunch with local gourmet food "Tokushima Ramen"
Take the "Kawauchi Circulation (clockwise)" to JR Tokushima Station again (approximately 15 minutes, fare: 240 yen). Be sure to enjoy lunch with Tokushima's specialty, "Tokushima Ramen."
"Tokushima Ramen" is characterized by its rich pork bone soy sauce soup topped with sweet and spicy stewed pork belly and raw egg, and is also known as "sukiyaki-style ramen." It goes great with rice, and is commonly eaten together with rice in the local area.
The soup comes in a variety of types, including brown, yellow, and white, and the taste varies from shop to shop. There are many famous shops around JR Tokushima Station, so it's easy to stop by between sightseeing. This is a local delicacy that lets you experience Tokushima's food culture with just one bowl.
13:00～ Visit the "Indigo House" where you can experience indigo dyeing
Take the Tokushima Bus "Kajiyahara Line" from the bus terminal in front of JR Tokushima Station. The ride takes about 30 minutes and you get off at "Okuno." (Fare: 460 yen) It is about a 10-minute walk from the bus stop.
The Aizumi Town History Museum "Ai no Yakata" is a museum specializing in Awa indigo that makes use of the historic buildings of the Okumura family mansion (13 buildings) built in the late Edo period by indigo merchants.
Inside the museum, there are a wide variety of materials related to indigo, from Awa indigo cultivation to dyeing, traditional tools, documents of indigo merchants, etc. Along with the latest exhibits, you can learn about the history and culture of Awa indigo in a systematic way.
In the experience corner, you can create your own original patterns using authentic indigo liquid from lye fermentation dyeing, tying rubber bands and piping on handkerchiefs, etc. It takes about 20 to 40 minutes, and you can easily participate without making a reservation.
Admission is 300 yen for adults, 200 yen for students, and 150 yen for children. The indigo dyeing experience costs around 1,000 yen depending on the material. There is also a beautiful garden on the premises, making it a great spot to enjoy both the scenery and traditional crafts.
15:00~ Have fun dancing at the Awa Odori Hall!
Return to JR Tokushima Station by Tokushima Bus and walk to the Awa Odori Hall. It's about a 10-minute, 800m walk. After leaving the north exit of the station, go straight towards Shinmachi Bridge and cross the traffic light to arrive.
The Awa Odori Hall in the center of Tokushima City is a cultural facility where you can enjoy the world-famous Awa Odori dance all year round. In the second floor hall, there are performances by the hall's exclusive troupe "Awa no Kaze" (daytime) and famous troupes that change daily (evening). After the performance, the audience can join in the dancing on stage, making it an experience-based experience.
At the Awa Odori Museum on the third floor, you can learn about the history and culture of Awa Odori in a fun way. Costumes, musical instruments, props, and other items are on display, and Awa Odori from the past and present are introduced. There is also a booth where you can experience dancing, so even first-time visitors can easily learn about the charm and changes of Awa Odori.
Admission fees for the Awa Odori Hall vary depending on the facility and performance. For example, if you want to experience the daytime performance (40 minutes, performance + experience corner), the admission fee is 1,300 yen for adults and 700 yen for elementary and junior high school students.
The first floor is a shop selling Tokushima specialties and Awa Odori goods, and the fifth floor is the base station of the Bizan Ropeway, making this a spot where you can enjoy a variety of activities including sightseeing, experiences, shopping, and views.
16:45 Take the express bus from JR Tokushima Station to Osaka
On the way back, we took the express bus departing from JR Tokushima Station at 16:45. We arrived at OCAT Terminal at 19:10. It was a day trip, but it was very fulfilling.
There are restaurants at OCAT where you can have dinner and places to shop, so you can spend the last day of your trip there.
Indigo Mansion
Indigo Mansion
172 Tokumei, Aizumi-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima Prefecture 771-1212
The Indigo Museum is a museum relating to indigo located in Aizumi-cho, Itano-gun, Tokushima Prefecture. A historical museum in Aizumi Town. Selected as Tokushima 88 views. Designated as Awa Historical and Cultural Path.
Awa Dance Hall
Awaodori Kaikan
2-20 Shinmachibashi, Tokushima City, Tokushima 770-0904 Awa Odori Kaik...
Great access information
The express bus timetables listed for the day trip courses are accurate at the time of writing and are subject to change.
Please check the latest timetable.
Osaka⇔Tokushima Route: Flights and timetable [Osaka⇔Tokushima] Timetable
・Details/Purchase
Comfortable even for long journeys! Fully equipped onboard facilities make it stress-free
When traveling long distances, it is important to have a comfortable ride. All express buses are equipped with toilets, so you don't have to worry about needing to use the restroom suddenly. In addition, there is a convenient outlet or USB port (Type-A) for charging your smartphone, and free Wi-Fi is also available, so you can comfortably watch videos or do research while traveling.
*Some vehicles may not be equipped with charging or Wi-Fi facilities.
SETOUCHI ROUND PASS is also recommended for foreign tourists
The "SETOUCHI ROUND PASS" is a special, convenient ticket designed for foreign visitors to Japan that allows you to travel around the Seto Inland Sea area efficiently.
This pass includes a one-way ticket for the express bus connecting Osaka to Tokushima, Takamatsu to Hiroshima, and Hiroshima to Osaka, as well as a ticket for the Uzushio limited express train connecting Takamatsu to Tokushima.
In addition, shopping vouchers are also included at participating Shikoku Kiosk stores, allowing you to enjoy sightseeing and shopping at the same time.
Price: Adults 17,700 yen
summary
Using Osaka OCAT as a base, you can visit wonderful places all over Japan.
In this article, we have introduced a model itinerary for spending a day in the Awa region of Tokushima Prefecture. It offers easy access without transfers, intellectual stimulation, and the satisfaction of local cuisine.
The Tokushima day trip from Osaka OCAT is packed with such "heart-moving experiences."
Why not get up a little earlier than usual and enjoy a unique travel style?
One of the largest bus terminals in western Japan. This is the stop for express buses departing and arriving at all over Japan, as well as buses to Kansai International Airport and Osaka Airport for departures around the world. As OCAT has a bus terminal directly connected to the airport, you can enjoy food from all over the world. There are also many stores where you can do your everyday shopping, making it a popular spot for local residents to relax and unwind, not just while waiting for the bus. On the first basement floor of OCAT, Ponte Square is a large sphere that sparkles in the sunlight. This open-air space with a view of the blue sky is used as a place of relaxation by people of all ages.
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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