Crossing Off 13 and 18 on My Bucket List — PART1 (12/100)

The post box in front of Tokushima Station

Bucket List Item 13: Watch the Awa Odori Festival in person.
Bucket List Item 18: Go on a solo trip.

Earlier this year, I decided to cross off two items on my bucket list at once: seeing the Awa Odori Festival in person and going on a solo trip. I don't remember exactly what first drew me to the Awa Odori, but it was one of those things I just knew I had to see one day. And since I had never set foot in Shikoku, Tokushima felt like the right destination.

Getting to Tokushima from Yamagata wasn't exactly a breeze. I flew from Yamagata Airport to Itami Airport in Osaka, then took a long-distance bus to Tokushima. The travel alone took seven hours in total! But that didn't stop me from making the most of my time there.

After checking into my hotel, I walked to Bizan Shrine to pray for a safe trip. Then, I took the ropeway up to the summit of Mt. Bizan. I'd wanted to visit ever since I watched the movie with the same name, Bizan. (I made sure to do some homework beforehand to get a sense of what Tokushima had to offer.) 

Bizan Shrine

From the summit of Mt. Bizan

After returning to the hotel to cool off a bit (the temperature was about the same as Yamagata, but for some reason, it felt way hotter in Tokushima), I set out in search of some delicious local cuisine. 

I had my eye on a yakitori bar near the hotel — Tokushima has its own local chicken called Awaodori (yes, the same name as the dance, but with different kanji).  Unfortunately, the place was fully booked, so I wandered around for a while, as the sounds of the festival began to fill the streets. Eventually, I stumbled upon a sushi restaurant.  Since Tokushima is also known for its fresh seafood, it seemed like the perfect choice. Plus, I was exhausted from walking around in the heat for so long.

Yum!

The one on the left is tamari soy sauce

Did you know that certain parts of Japan have their own preferred soy sauces? I grew up in the Kanto region, where we usually use the "normal" kind for sashimi. But in Tokushima, they use tamari soy sauce instead. It's thicker, darker, and has a deep, rich flavor from aging over time. This was my first time trying it, and I was surprised at how perfectly it paired with the sashimi. 

After a delicious meal (and a couple of drinks), it was time to turn my full attention to the Awa Odori.

Japanese "street dancing"

I had bought tickets to two of the three outdoor paid theaters, and that night I was scheduled to see a show at the Awagin Nannaicho Theater. Since I still had some time before it started, I wandered through the crowd, stopping to watch whatever performances I came across on the way.

Kids giving it their all is the sweetest thing

I saw people of all ages dancing. All the performers needed were a flute, a bell, a taiko drum, and a shamisen, and suddenly a dance could break out anywhere. It felt almost like Japan's version of street dancing. The atmosphere was incredible. Everyone was smiling, cheering, and simply having a great time.

I also loved seeing all the different kimonos

So pretty!

Then it was time for the main event (at least for me.) I had chosen the Awagin Nannaicho Theater because it's the only venue that hosts the So Odori, or the grand finale, where the entire troupe of around 1,700 performers dance and march together at once.

Very energetic!

The Awa Odori has a history of over 400 years, and the dance has naturally evolved over time. Some Ren (dance groups) stick to the traditional dance, while others put their own spin on it. Every Ren has its own personality, and although they all dance to the same tune, I never once found myself getting bored.

The Zomeki (musicians)

The Dancers

The crowd clapped along, cheered loudly, and called out to the dancers as they passed. You could feel the energy bouncing back and forth between the performers and the audience. I even found myself so moved that I had to fight back tears.

This post is already getting long, so I'll leave it here for now. Stay tuned for day two of my trip to Tokushima!