Awa Odori is the name of Tokushima's very own street dancing festival, a joyful spectacle and a must-see for visitors to this corner of Shikoku.

My experience at Ryozenji temple was over-whelmingIy under-whelming. I arrived on a cold mid-November afternoon with the the expectation that the first Temple in a 1200 km pilgrimage would be quite impressive and inspiring of such a journey. Although beautiful and well maintained it was quite modest compared to some of the grand temples of Nara and Nikko.