In town is Uwajima-jo Castle, one of only 12 castles that have survived the ages intact, although some restoration has occurred. Tokushima-ken, sandwiched between Kagawa and Kochi prefectures, occupies the island's east coast. Tokushima city, an old port town, is the commerce and communication hub of eastern Shikoku. North of Tokushima is Naruto, the terminus of the Naruto O-hashi bridge and the departure point for excursion boats to the wild Naruto Kaikyo straits. Between the two towns is Awa-Otani, a village centered around traditional pottery works.
Pristine villages nestled along the south coast are famous for their fresh seafood.
In Hiwasa, one of these is Ohama Beach, where giant sea turtles waddle ashore to lay their eggs in the warm sand. Nearby is Yakuo-ji Temple, the 23rd of the sacred 88 temples, purported to offer the best talisman for warding off evil spells. South of Hiwasa toward Kaifu, Tokushima's most southern village, are the Semba Sea Cliffs dramatically rising 200 meters above the pounding surf. A rail line leads inland to Anabuki, where the famous Dochu Earthen Pillars have been carved by millions of years of erosion. Farther west is Ikeda, the jumping-off point for Mount Tsurugi and environs, considered to be some of the last wilderness in Japan.