The trek on the way to the whirlpools was incredibly smooth, and our guide got on the microphone and began to break down the origin of Awaji Island along with all the sights to behold in the surrounding area. For now, the guidance is only available in Japanese,but the guide map is currently available in English, with plans on expanding to an English guidance service in the near future. Some of the highlights you will see on this cruise include the Fukura fishing village, resorts around the area, and two small islands in the middle of the cove. As we basked in the fresh sea breeze, the ship began to make way towards Onaruto Bridge and with it came the Naruto Whirlpools. The setting sun shining down upon the whirlpools almost made for a spotlight-like scene on the main attraction. The Naruto Whirlpools had a fiery shade of red glistening all throughout as they peered in from the distance. This exquisite color along with the view of the Onaruto Bridge in the distance made for a sight that was so beautiful that no amount of superlatives would do justice to the actual scenery on the spot.

Soon after the musical performance was over, we were finally within range of the Naruto Whirlpools. For anyone out there who thinks that the whirlpools are just a small happening, like myself before the cruise, you’ll be in for a big surprise when locking eyes with the whirlpools for the first time. It is said that the Naruto Whirlpools can reach up to 30 meters in diameter on a good day. Along the way to the whirlpools, you’ll also come across two other phenomena, Uzu no hana, or “flowerlike whirlpools”, and Umi no dansa, or “steps in the ocean”. In the Uzu no hana, seawater that is sucked under the strait by the whirlpool hits the seabed and bounces back, which in turn causes the sea level to rise. From an onlooker’s perspective, it can be seen as creating a turbulent and choppy sea on days when the whirlpools are large. In the Umi no dansa, you can see a significant difference in sea level at the point of convergence of the Pacific Ocean side and Seto Inland seaside, with the latter experiencing high tide compared to the low tide experienced near the Pacific. The height difference can amount to 1.5 meters, creating a step-like shape (hence the name), and generates the fastest tidal currents in Japan. The sight of this happening is considerably rare, even on a global scale and is well worth the price of admission alone.
Trust me when I say that these whirlpools are enormous, so much so that pictures and videos can’t showcase their sheer magnitude. While the ship is very safe and secure, we were still able to feel a slight push and pull effect from the whirlpools, further demonstrating to me why they are labeled as extraordinary natural phenomena. What sets this cruise apart from the others is getting the chance to bear witness to the whirlpools in a completely different state compared to its daytime counterpart. We were left in complete awe by their beauty. Getting the opportunity to see the Naruto Whirlpools up close and personal is already a sight to behold, but seeing them under the illuminating lights of the dusk sky completely transforms the whirlpools, turning them into a bright red color that is unbeknownst to the average person. We traversed around the whirlpools for about 20 minutes, allotting us plenty of time to burn the scenery into both our eyes and cameras alike, and were even treated to one of the most beautiful sights to behold, “Magic Hour.” For those who don’t know, “Magic Hour” is a brief period of the day during sunset when the sky is engulfed in a rich orange hue, allowing for some of the most picturesque views you could think of.

While the general seating offered me incredible views of the whirlpools, if you want to experience the cruise in an even more lavish fashion, you can upgrade to the VIP seats for an extra 5,000 yen! Priced at 10,000 yen, the VIP tickets will get you a spot in a luxurious VIP room, with dining options that make the most of the ingredients Awaji Island has to offer. The menu will vary depending on the season, offering different dishes that allow you to taste the fresh and seasonal ingredients such as sauteed Awaji Island chicken and baby sardines with garlic oil. One of the cruise’s main dishes is their signature onion soup, which uses plenty of extract from Awaji Island’s famous onions. Along with the cuisine, they serve various types of alcohol from Awaji as well as soft drinks that are unique to the cruise. Among the wide selection of alcohol available is wine made with grapes from Awaji Island that have been carefully cultivated to enhance the flavor. The cruise also serves specially crafted beer using Kinuhikari rice, which is grown in abundance in the warm and sunny climate of Awaji Island. The beer itself has a hint of sweetness to it, along with an aroma of rice which makes for a refreshing taste. Locally brewed sake from Awaji Island is also on hand, with the brewer said to have pursued the ultimate taste of Japanese sake when crafting this particular drink. Even the soft drinks on this cruise have been carefully prepared, such as their freshly squeezed orange juice that is made without using any kind of sugars or preservatives, not to mention the cruise’s original salt coffee, that gets its unique and delicious taste from roasting coffee beans with coarse salt from Naruto.. You’ll also be greeted by the captain of the ship and the dedicated staff, who will provide a special tour of the wheelhouse that is usually off-limits, as well as take a commemorative photo with the captain.And to top it off, the performers themselves will personally greet you before giving their live musical performance, making your experience all the more memorable. VIP tickets for the SUNSET CRUISE cap off at 14 people per cruise, so make sure to book your spot fast! When purchasing tickets for the SUNSET CRUISE it is highly recommended you do so online, via their website rather than at the ticket booth of the location, just because the event only goes on for such a short and limited period of time.