Awa Odori Clock
The figures on this clock tower represent Tokushima’s famous Awa Odori dance. The clock tower sits on top of the Kon’yamachi bus shelter in the downtown area, one of Tokushima’s busiest restaurant and entertainment districts. A local shopkeepers’ federation installed the clock in 1985 and then donated it to the city in 2001.
Every two hours between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., the lifelike dancers come out and perform for around five minutes to a background of lively festival music. They are divided into two groups, male and female. The clock is still in good condition, having been carefully maintained over the years. However, the dancers are delicate mechanisms that require protection from the elements, so they may not appear in wet or windy weather.