Naruto whirlpools, Tidal whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, Japan
The Naruto whirlpools are tidal whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, which separates Awaji Island from Shikoku Island. They form when tidal currents push through the narrow channel between the Pacific Ocean and the Seto Inland Sea.
Sailors and fishermen have recognized the strait as a dangerous passage for many centuries, with references appearing in old Japanese texts. The Onaruto Bridge was completed in 1985, and its lower deck was later opened as a walkway directly above the water.
The swirling water has been a subject of Japanese woodblock prints since the Edo period, most famously depicted by Hiroshige. Today, local shops and restaurants around the strait celebrate the whirlpools through their names, signs, and packaging.
The whirlpools are strongest during spring tides, which happen around new and full moons, so timing a visit around those periods gives the best view. From the bridge walkway, you look down through a glass floor, while boat tours take you much closer to the water.
The walkway under the Onaruto Bridge has a section with a glass floor, so you can look straight down at the spinning water below your feet. The whirlpools can reach about 65 feet (20 meters) in diameter, placing them among the largest tidal whirlpools on earth.
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