Hiwasa Sea Turtles and South Awa Drive Course

Starting from the seaside town of Minami, where sea turtles come to lay their eggs, this route drives along the beautiful south Awa coastline. Meet the creatures and enjoy the views in a single day. It makes a relaxed drive that families will enjoy, feeling the Pacific sea breeze as you take your time by the shore.

Course Route

9:30 Start at the Hiwasa Chelonian Museum Caretta At this rare museum devoted to sea turtles, observe them swimming up close in a large tank. From hatchlings to full grown loggerheads, the displays clearly explain their growth and nesting habits. It is a popular spot for children who love animals.

10:30 Walk Ohama Beach Stroll the sands where sea turtles come ashore to nest and take in the white beach and blue sea. Chosen among Japan finest shores, it is a lovely place to walk the water edge and enjoy the sea air.

11:30 Visit Yakuoji Temple Climb the stone steps one by one to pray at the twenty third temple of the Shikoku pilgrimage, famous for warding off misfortune. From the pagoda in the grounds you can look out over the town of Hiwasa and the sea.

12:30 Lunch with local seafood Enjoy dishes made with fresh fish, a treat of this port town. Spiny lobster, abalone, and seasonal local fish let you taste the bounty of the south Awa sea.

14:00 To the Semba Sea Cliffs lookout Drive the coastline of steep cliffs and feel the sea breeze at a lookout facing the Pacific. Cliffs over 200 meters high line the coast, making a fine contrast with the blue sea.

15:30 Toward Mugi and Ebisu Cave Gaze at the seaside scenery of jagged rocks and close the day by the south Awa sea. The clear waters here are also known as a diving spot.

Highlights

At Caretta you can watch sea turtles swimming in a large tank, with rich displays on nesting and their lives. Ohama Beach is counted among Japan finest shores, and loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest roughly from May to August. With luck you may meet a rescued hatchling.

Access and Tips

A car is convenient since the drive links coastal points. Nesting season runs from early summer into summer, and what you can see varies by the time of year. Nesting observation is often by advance reservation to protect the turtles, so it is wise to check with the museum before you go.

A Quick Tip

The sunlight by the sea is strong, so bring a hat and drinks. Lookouts can get windy, so a jacket adds peace of mind. The driving stretches are long, so refuel and take rest stops early at roadside stations.

Practical Travel Notes

• Hiwasa Chelonian Museum Caretta: admission is 1,000 yen for adults (high school age and up), 500 yen for junior high students, 300 yen for elementary students, and 100 yen for young children (age 3 and up). Open 9:00 to 17:00, closed Mondays (the next day if Monday is a holiday) and December 29 to 31. Displays can change with the nesting season and rescue conditions.
• Sea turtle nesting at Ohama Beach is roughly from early summer into summer, and observation may be limited or require advance reservation to protect the turtles. Check with the museum in advance for details.
• Yakuoji is the twenty third temple of the Shikoku eighty eight temple pilgrimage. Visiting the grounds is free, though entry to the pagoda may carry a fee.
• Access is mainly by car. The museum and Yakuoji are within walking distance of Hiwasa Station on the JR Mugi Line, but a car makes it easier to reach the Semba cliffs and Mugi area.
• Fees and hours can change, so please check each facility official information before you go.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Yakuo-ji Temple (Temple 23 of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage): Parking is free of charge, with 350 spaces for ordinary cars and 10 for microbuses and large vehicles (7:00 to 17:00). There is temple lodging, with a dedicated reservation line on 0884-77-1138. General inquiries: 0884-77-0023 (285-1 Teramae, Okugochi, Minami Town, Kaifu District, Tokushima Prefecture)
• Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum Caretta: Located at 369 Hiwasaura, Minami Town, with 40 parking spaces. It is about a 15-minute walk from JR Hiwasa Station. Inquiries: 0884-77-1110
• Michi-no-Eki Hiwasa roadside station: Parking for 57 ordinary cars, 8 large vehicles and 3 accessible spaces. It has a local products hall, a farmers' market and an information corner, and is open all year round. Inquiries: 0884-77-2121
• Official information: Hiwasa Sea Turtle Museum Caretta official website / Yakuo-ji Temple official website (Bekkaku Honzan of the Koyasan Shingon sect) / Shikoku 88 Sacred Temples Association official website / Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Shikoku Regional Development Bureau, roadside station guide for Hiwasa

Note: The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and prices may change, so please check official sources before you set out.