Image: Ōtsuka Museum of Art, Naruto
A new direct bus service, UZS BUS, has begun connecting Tokushima Awaodori Airport with Naruto City and southern Awaji Island, offering a no-transfer route to a cluster of sightseeing destinations that includes the Ōtsuka Museum of Art. The service is described on its official website as operating between Tokushima Awaodori Airport, Naruto and Minamiawaji, with the first run listed as starting on July 20, and with schedules, reservations and fares published online for travelers planning onward visits.
The route is being presented as a practical access option for visitors arriving by air, with stops that include Naruto Station, the area around Awoawo Naruto Resort, the Ōtsuka Museum of Art, Awaji Island South Interchange, Rikuno Minato Nishidan, and Fukura. The website also highlights connections to attractions such as the Uzushio Cruise and the roadside station at Uzu-no-Oka, positioning the bus as a link between airport arrivals and the region’s better-known cultural and scenic sites.
For the Ōtsuka Museum of Art, the new service adds a direct transportation channel from the airport area rather than requiring multiple transfers. The route map on the bus site shows travel times between key points, with the museum placed on the Naruto side of the line, and the service information notes that airport-linked timetable operations are coordinated with flights. The site also states that if a bus reaches capacity, passengers should take the next departure, and that some services require advance reservation.
The UZS BUS branding uses character wraps featuring Tokushima’s official mascot, Sudachikun, and Minamiawaji’s official character, Awaji Uzusuke. The website says the name UZS BUS comes from the “U” in Uzushio, the “Z” in Awaji Uzusuke and the “S” in Sudachikun. The site also notes that, for inspection or repairs, substitute vehicles without the wrap may occasionally be used.
Reservation rules are set out in detail on the service page. Some departures require booking, and the website says reservations must be made by 23:59 three days before travel. During peak periods, including Obon, Silver Week and the New Year holidays, reservations are not accepted for certain regularly scheduled services. The site also explains that on some airport departures, only boarding at Tokushima Awaodori Airport can be reserved, while boarding at the Ōtsuka Museum of Art, Awoawo Naruto Resort or Naruto Station cannot be reserved for those scheduled runs.
Fare tables on the website list adult one-way prices by segment, with discounted fares for children and specified reductions for passengers with disabilities when appropriate documentation is presented. Payment methods vary by operating company and include cash, credit card, QR code payment and e-money in some cases. The route is jointly operated by several bus companies, and the official site directs users to its timetable, fare, FAQ and reservation pages for the latest operating information.
