A comfortable trip to Tokushima with children! 9 hotels and ryokan recommended for family trips

Parents who struggle with work, housework, and childcare every day. Why don't you take a leisurely trip with your family once in a while? The best places to travel are Tokushima in Shikoku. Naruto, which can be reached from Honshu by crossing the bridge, Tokushima City, which is famous for "Awa Odori", is a spot on the sea side, and there are also famous places on the mountain side such as Iya onsen. If you want to stay, we recommend an inn with facilities and services that are great for traveling with children, such as children's amenities, rooms with open-air baths, and children's lunches. This time, we will divide Tokushima into three areas and introduce hotels and ryokan that are easy to stay for families.

Naruto City is just across the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Onaruto Bridge from Kobe, so it's easy to get to from Osaka or Kobe. It's also home to the famous tourist spot, Naruto Whirlpools, and the Otsuka Museum of Art, which displays prints collected from around the world. We'll introduce you to hotels in Naruto City that are perfect for a resort stay for families.

AoAwo Naruto Resort is a Southern European-style resort hotel located in Setonaikai National Park, about one minute by car from Naruto Kita IC and about 15 minutes by shuttle bus from JR Naruto Station. The facility features natural onsen, an outdoor pool, tennis courts, a market, and more, making it a fun hotel stay for the whole family. For meal there are five restaurants and cafes offering a variety of unique cuisines, including French, Japanese, charcoal grilled, and local cuisine.

All guest rooms have a spacious ocean view! This "Risota Room" is especially recommended for families. Kids amenities, yukata robes, games to play with your children, and other services that are perfect for families are provided! Baby beds, baby futons, and stroller rentals are also available with advance reservations. Details of services for children are listed on the official website, so be sure to check it out before your trip.

The rock and stone open-air baths "Camellia Bath" and "Cypress Bath" on the first floor offer a panoramic view of the Naruto ocean, while the observation baths "Kusa-ki no Yu" and "Kanto no Yu" on the eighth floor offer a view of the Naruto ocean below. Baby chairs, baby baths, and floats are available, so please bring your baby along. The four baths are on a rotating schedule for men and women, and bathing is available from 5am. Waking up a little early to enjoy onsen bath while watching the sun rise over the ocean is sure to become a memorable part of your trip.

There are various restaurants within the hotel, but we recommend the dinner buffet at Awa Local Cuisine Irodori for families. You can enjoy the flavors of Tokushima's mountains and sea in appetizers, sashimi, grilled dishes, fried dishes, steamed dishes, and shabu-shabu. In the summer, there is a kids' corner with dishes that children will love, such as chicken nuggets and yakisoba. Make sure you work up an appetite before dinner and enjoy Tokushima's gourmet food to your heart's content.

"Naruto Shiozaki onsen Resort Hotel Naruto Kaigetsu" is the hotel closest to the "Naruto Whirlpools". Even children will be impressed by the impressive "Onarato Bridge" that can be seen from the lobby. It is about a 6-minute drive from Naruto Kita IC. It is located about a 15-minute drive from JR Naruto Station, and a shuttle bus can be arranged if you make a reservation the day before. The hotel also has a wide range of facilities, including a large observation bath, a souvenir shop, and a sky pool that is only open in the summer.

This is a 10-tatami Japanese-style room with a spectacular view of the Naruto Strait. It is a spacious and calming room. All Japanese-style rooms have an ocean view. The view of the Onaruto Bridge and whirlpools from the special seating will be an unforgettable memory.

The hot onsen bath is in a great location with a spectacular view of the Naruto Kaikyo Bridge! onsen water is rich in baking soda, and is smooth and viscous, making it known as a "beauty bath." The hot spring also has a sauna, so you can use it to your heart's content along with onsen to refresh your mind and body.

The dinner "Uzusio Kaiseki" is a popular course that allows you to taste the delicacies of the sea and mountains of Naruto and Tokushima, including the exquisite Awa beef, the legendary Awaodori chicken, and the famous Naruto sea bream. There is also an "in in-room dining" plan for dinner, so you can enjoy local cuisine at your own pace with your family. A special dinner can be prepared for children aged 3 and over, so be sure to contact them when making your reservation if necessary.

Resort Hotel Moana Coast is a hotel located about 3 minutes by car from Naruto Kita IC and about 10 minutes by car from JR Naruto Station (free shuttle service available with prior reservation). Although this resort hotel has the concept of a "hideaway for adults," all rooms have an open-air bath or semi-open-air bath, so you can enjoy bath time with your children without worrying about the people around you.

This is a standard twin maisonette in the main building, Moana Coast. This three-story maisonette has an entrance on the first floor, a living room, bedroom and bathroom on the second floor, and an open-air bath with a jet bath on the third floor. It's perfect for a vacation where you want to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and relax with your family. You can have fun with your family as if you were at a villa.

The open-air bath on the third floor has a view of the Seto Inland Sea, giving you a sense of freedom! The view that spreads out before you shows different expressions in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Children will be delighted with the bubbling jet bath! Enjoy a bath time filled with a sense of freedom as much as you like, whenever you like.

Naruto Grand Hotel Kaigetsu is a hotel located about 2 minutes by car from Naruto Kita IC and about 10 minutes by car from JR Naruto Station. A shuttle bus is conveniently available from the station (reservations must be made the day before). A small night market will also be set up during the summer, where you can enjoy five different activities, so have fun with the whole family. This is a Japanese-Western room with a panoramic bath that was renovated in 2023. The windows are large, so you can enjoy the spectacular ocean view from both the room and the bath. The spacious Japanese-style room means babies can play freely, whether they're rolling around or crawling around.

The large observation bath on the 8th floor is not onsen, but it has an indoor bath, a jet bath, a reclining bath, and more, making it perfect for when you want to relieve your daily fatigue. From the open-air bath, you can enjoy a wonderful view that changes with the time of day while bathing. There is also a sauna and a cold bath, so you can refresh your body from the inside.

For dinner, you can enjoy a buffet with about 100 kinds of dishes using ingredients from Tokushima, including Naruto sea bream and Awa beef. Freshly grilled steaks, sushi and sashimi made with fresh seafood, and hot pot dishes with a choice of broth in winter. With a buffet, children can also choose what they like and eat it! Enjoy Tokushima gourmet food to your heart's content with the whole family.

Tokushima City, the capital of Tokushima Prefecture and the largest city in the prefecture, is full of recommended spots for families who want to spend a relaxing time away from the city, such as the Awa Odori Kaikan, a museum where you can enjoy Awa Odori throughout the year, Meiyama, which was selected as one of the 100 best natural places in the Japan, and the Tokushima Zoo and Tokushima Botanical Garden, which take advantage of the rich nature! Be sure to check out local gourmet foods such as Tokushima ramen, okonomiyaki "Dou Tendama" with sweetly boiled Kintoki beans, and sweets made with Wasanbon.

"JR Hotel Clement Tokushima" is directly connected to JR Tokushima Station and is conveniently located about a one-minute walk from the express bus terminal. Check-in is at 2 p.m. and check-out is at noon the following day, so it's perfect for traveling with small children who like to take naps or have trouble waking up in the morning. Make good use of your time at the hotel and enjoy a leisurely tour of Tokushima.

This is a Japanese-style room on the 7th floor that is recommended for families. It consists of two rooms, one 4 tatami mats and the other 10 tatami mats, and the toilet and bathroom are separate. The 10 tatami mat room also has a TV, so you can relax as if you were at home. Babies can crawl and roll around without worry.

Breakfast is a buffet with about 30 kinds of Japanese and Western dishes, from rice and miso soup to egg dishes, ham, bacon, salad, fruit, juice, and coffee. There is also a corner with locally produced foods such as "buckwheat soup," "fish cutlet," and "kintoki potato bread French toast," so please try them with your children. If you stay during the New Year period, you can also enjoy an "osechi breakfast." If you are planning a family trip over the New Year period, we also recommend this♪

Hotel Sunroute Tokushima is about a one-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station, and the bus stop is right in front of the hotel entrance. Check-in is from 3 p.m. until 11 a.m. the following morning, so it's perfect for families who want to keep their children at their own pace. The hotel also has Western, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants, so it's also recommended for travel plans where you want to relax at the hotel after sightseeing in Tokushima.

The guest rooms are decorated with a clean white interior. This is a corner twin room in the main building. There are also deluxe twin rooms that can be converted into triple rooms, and many other rooms to choose from depending on your tastes and occasions! Baby beds and children's pajamas are also available for rent, so it's easy to stay with children.

On the top floor of the hotel, there is a large natural onsen bath! You can bathe in the abundant hot spring onsen that springs from underground. There is also a spacious indoor bath, a jacuzzi and a sauna, so you can refresh yourself from the fatigue of everyday life. It is open from 6am to midnight, so why not take a morning bath with your family?

For breakfast, go to "Banquet est joy" on the second floor of the new building, where you can enjoy a morning buffet with about 30 kinds of Japanese and Western dishes, including Tokushima gourmet. Tokushima gourmet that is easy for children to eat, such as fish cutlet, bamboo chikuwa, and Naruto sea bream furikake, is free for preschoolers and children's rates apply to elementary school students. It is open from 6:30 in the morning, so you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

Daiwa Roynet Hotel Tokushima Ekimae is about a one-minute walk from JR Tokushima Station and close to the limousine bus stop from Tokushima Airport and the express bus stop from the Kansai area, making it easy to access and convenient for travelers with children who tend to carry a lot of luggage. The main entrance is locked from midnight to 6am the following morning, so security is also assured (guests can enter with a card key). There is also a 24-hour convenience store on the first floor, so you can handle any sudden hunger that your children may have.

The guest rooms are decorated in brown tones, creating a relaxing atmosphere. The bathroom and toilet are separate in this Hollywood Twin Room, so you can relax in the bath. If you are staying with a baby, you can also rent a baby cot.

For breakfast, head to Grace Tokushima on the third floor of the hotel and enjoy a varied breakfast buffet. The menu is full of dishes that incorporate ingredients from Tokushima, such as fish cutlets, Tokushima donburi (a bowl of Tokushima ramen), and Naruto Kintoki! There is also a wide selection of salads, sausages, cereals, and Western dishes, so you can choose your favorite dishes and enjoy a rich breakfast that is unique to traveling with your children.

Oboke onsen is home to Oboke Gorge, where you can enjoy the magnificent nature. Surrounded by 1000m-class mountains and the emerald green Iya River, the Iya area is home to spectacular spots created by the magnificent nature, such as Iya Kazurabashi Bridge and Iya Valley, where the Manneken Pis statue stands. We will introduce you to onsen in Iya Onsen.

"Kyoukoku no Yuyado Obokekyo Mannaka" is a onsen inn located in the gorge of the Yoshino River. There is a free shuttle bus from JR Oboke Station, so you can head there without worry (reservations required). It's great that they have facilities and services that are easy for families with children to stay at, such as Japanese-style rooms, private baths, and children's lunches. There are also picture books in the hearth-style bath area, so you can take a break with your children.

You can choose from Japanese-style rooms and Western-style rooms, but if you have a baby or small child, a room with tatami mats is more comfortable. This is a Hollywood Twin, a Japanese-Western style room. Children's yukata, slippers, and toothbrushes are also provided. You can also borrow diaper buckets and bed guards, so you can stay comfortably.

At this inn, you can enjoy two types of hot spring water: a simple sulfur spring in the large public bath, and an artificial mineral hot onsen in the terrace-style open-air bath. The open-air bath is the "Togoal Warm Tight Hot Spring," famous for its skin-beautifying waters, and you can enjoy the hot onsen while looking out at the seasonal scenery of Oboke Gorge below. Baby beds and bath chairs are available in the large public bath, but if you're worried about people looking at you, we also recommend a private bath (fees apply).

Dinner is a colorful dish that focuses on seasonal happiness and healing with rich ingredients, focusing on mountain and river produce, using seasonal ingredients unique to Oboke. "Sobasubeshi" is a local dish of this region with a gentle flavor of bean paste made with plenty of buckwheat flour. There is also a children's lunch with plenty of popular dishes for children. Children's dinner can also be prepared for those in the middle grades of elementary school and above, so it's fun.

Iya no Yado Kazuraya is about a 10-minute walk from Iya Village's most famous scenic spot, Iya no Kazura Bridge, and the power spot, Biwa Falls, so you can leave your luggage at the hotel and head out right away. You can also sit on the veranda overlooking the beautiful gardens and mountains, an experience you won't get in the city. In early summer, fireflies can be seen just a 5-minute walk away. Children will be amazed by the glittering fireflies!

The guest rooms are traditional Japanese-style rooms. They vary in size from 8 to 12 tatami mats, so please choose one based on the number of people in your group. From the windows, you can see the village on the opposite bank and the beautiful mountains. You can see magnificent views whenever you visit, with azaleas in the spring, mountain cherry blossoms, fresh greenery in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and snowy scenery in the winter. Moms and dads who are usually busy with housework can spend some relaxing time with the kids.

This is the inn's pride and joy, the open-air bath with a view. It is a spectacular sight with a magnificent view of Iya. You can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring, autumn leaves in autumn, and a star-filled sky at night, and children will be sure to scream "Wow!"♪ You can also see the natural scenery of the valley from the indoor bath with its large windows. There is also a baby bed in the changing room, so it is safe for those bringing babies.

Dinner is country cuisine unique to Iya, made with plenty of local wild plants, river fish, and seasonal vegetables. Healthy and delicious dishes include konnyaku sashimi, Iya soba noodles, salt-grilled sweetfish, and wild plant tempura. Children's plates are also available for children. Enjoy meal unique to this area with the whole family.

Did you enjoy our feature on hotels and ryokan in Tokushima that are recommended for families? Tokushima is surrounded by rich nature, both sea and mountains, and you can enjoy delicious food and onsen. If you choose an inn that is easy to stay at with children, mom and dad can relax too. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy some quality time with your family.