Naruto: Getting there and around

How to travel between Naruto and Tokyo

By air

JAL operates multiple flights per day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Tokushima Airport. Flight duration is 70 minutes. The regular one way fare is around 40,000 yen, but discount tickets are usually available for around 10,000 to 18,000 yen. From Tokushima Airport, buses operate to Naruto Station (15 minutes, 280 yen, one bus/hour) and continue on to Naruto Park (40 minutes, 480 yen, one bus/hour).

By night bus

Multiple companies operate daily overnight buses between Tokyo (multiple bus terminals) and Tokushima Station, stopping off at the Kosoku Naruto bus stop along the way (7,500 to 11,500 yen one way depending on company and date of travel). From there, walk five minutes to the Konarutobashi bus stop from where local buses provide connections to Naruto Station (3 minutes, 110 yen, 2-3 buses/hour) and Naruto Park (20 minutes, 290 yen, one bus/hour).

By train and bus via Osaka

Because buses are faster and cheaper than trains for travel between Osaka and Naruto, it makes sense for train travelers from Tokyo to transfer to a bus in Osaka:

1) How to travel between Tokyo and Osaka
2) How to travel between Osaka and Naruto

By train

It is possible to travel between Tokyo and Naruto entirely by JR trains on a time-consuming detour which is of interest to Japan Rail Pass holders:

From Tokyo Station take a Hikari train on the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (4 hours, one direct hikari train/hour) and transfer to the JR Marine Liner to Takamatsu (1 hour, 2 trains/hour). Alternatively, take the Sunrise Seto night train from Tokyo to Takamatsu (10 hours). Then, from Takamatsu take the "Uzushio" limited express to Ikenotani Station (1 hour, one train/hour) and change to the JR Naruto Line to Naruto Station (20 minutes, one train/hour). From Naruto Station regular city buses serve Naruto Park (20 minutes, 320 yen, not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, one bus/hour).

How to travel between Naruto and Kyoto

By bus

Several companies operate highway buses every 1-3 hours between Kyoto Station and Tokushima Station, which stop along the way at Naruto Park (only in the direction of Tokushima) and the Kosoku Naruto bus stop (2.5 hours, 3950 yen one way). From Kosoku Naruto bus stop, walk five minutes to the Konarutobashi bus stop from where local buses provide connections to Naruto Station (3 minutes, 110 yen, 2-3 buses/hour) and Naruto Park (20 minutes, 290 yen, one bus/hour).

By train

It is possible to travel to Naruto entirely by train although the trip takes about five hours and is of interest mainly to Japan Rail Pass holders:

From Kyoto Station take a Hikari train on the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (about 90 minutes, one direct train/hour) and transfer to the JR Marine Liner to Takamatsu (1 hour, 2 trains/hour). From Takamatsu take the JR "Uzushio" limited express to Ikenotani Station (1 hour, 1 train/hour) and change to the JR Naruto Line to Naruto (20 minutes, 1 train/hour). From Naruto Station regular city buses serve Naruto Park (20 minutes, 320 yen, 1 bus/hour).

How to travel between Naruto and Osaka

By bus

Multiple companies operate hourly highway buses between Osaka Station and Tokushima Station, which stop along the way at Naruto Park (only in the direction of Tokushima) and the Kosoku Naruto bus stop (2 hours, 3300 yen one way). From Kosoku Naruto bus stop, walk five minutes to the Konarutobashi bus stop from where local buses provide connections to Naruto Station (3 minutes, 110 yen, 2-3 buses/hour) and Naruto Park (20 minutes, 290 yen, one bus/hour). Online reservations for the highway buses can be made through Willer.

The buses are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass, but pass holders can save around 700 yen by taking JR trains to Maiko Station (45 minutes from Osaka) and boarding the highway bus there (one hour, 2550 yen to Naruto Park or Kosoku Naruto) instead of Osaka Station.

By train

It is possible to travel to Naruto entirely by train although the trip takes about 4.5 hours and is of interest mainly to Japan Rail Pass holders.

From Shin-Osaka Station take a Sakura train on the JR Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (about 45 minutes, 1 train/hour) and transfer to the JR Marine Liner to Takamatsu (1 hour, 2 trains/hour). From Takamatsu take the JR "Uzushio" limited express to Ikenotani (1 hour, 1 train/hour) and change to the JR Naruto Line to Naruto (20 minutes, 1 train/hour). From Naruto Station regular city buses serve Naruto Park (20 minutes, 320 yen, 1 bus/hour).

How to travel between Naruto and Kansai Airport

By bus

Kansai Airport Limousine highway buses travel between Kansai Airport and Tokushima Station, stopping at the Kosoku Naruto bus stop along the way (140 minutes, 3800 yen, departures every 1-2 hours). From there, walk five minutes to the Konarutobashi bus stop from where local buses provide connections to Naruto Station (3 minutes, 110 yen, 2-3 buses/hour) and Naruto Park (20 minutes, 290 yen, one bus/hour).

By train

It is possible to travel to Naruto entirely by train although the trip takes about six hours and is of interest mainly to Japan Rail Pass holders:

From the airport take the JR "Haruka" limited express to Shin-Osaka (50 minutes, 2 trains/hour) and transfer to a Hikari train on the JR Sanyo Shinkansen to Okayama (about 45 minutes, one direct train/hour). From Okayama take the JR Marine Liner to Takamatsu (1 hour, 2 trains/hour), transfer to the JR "Uzushio" limited express to Ikenotani Station (1 hour, 1 train/hour) and transfer once more to the JR Naruto Line to Naruto (20 minutes, 1 train/hour). From Naruto Station regular city buses serve Naruto Park (20 minutes, 320 yen, 1 bus/hour).