Eska Hill Naruto, Observation deck and escalator in Naruto Park, Japan
Eska Hill Naruto is an observation deck with escalator access in Naruto Park, overlooking the Naruto Strait from a platform about 90 meters above sea level. The escalator, roughly 68 meters long, carries visitors directly from the base of the hill to the viewing point.
The facility opened in 1989, giving visitors a new way to reach a viewpoint over the strait without a steep climb. The addition of the escalator made the spot accessible to a wider range of people.
The ground floor has a shop with regional products from Naruto and Tokushima, and a café serving local noodle dishes. It is a good place to taste what the area is known for without leaving the site.
The site is a short drive from the Naruto-kita IC expressway exit, and parking is available on site. The whirlpools are only visible at specific tidal times, so checking a tide schedule before you go will help you plan your visit.
The whirlpools in the Naruto Strait are among the strongest in the world, forming where the Pacific Ocean and the Seto Inland Sea meet during tidal changes. Watching them from directly above, rather than from sea level, gives a completely different sense of how powerful and fast the water actually moves.
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