Travel Plans
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- A popular zoo and a town of white walls are just part of this family drive through the Tobe and Uchiko area.
![A popular zoo and a town of white walls are just part of this family drive through the Tobe and Uchiko area.]()
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- It takes only 30 minutes by car from Matsuyama to the town of Tobe. After interacting with wild animals at a popular zoo, you head to the historical town of Uchiko for a step back in time that both adults and children will enjoy. This trip ends with a visit to a secluded railway station and a stunning ocean view.
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- Dogo Onsen and Local Sightseeing Luxury Plan
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- Dogo Onsen in the city of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture is Japan's oldest hot spring. Here, you can enjoy the baths from morning till late at night. Immediately in front of the onsen is the covered arcade Dogo Haikara Dori, where you can easily spend a few hours sightseeing and sampling the local food. A visit to Matsuyama Castle goes without saying, but don’t miss the area's many temples. There’s even a place where you can pet animals.
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- Hida walking plan for its culture and beef cuisine
![Hida walking plan for its culture and beef cuisine]()
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- Hida Takayama is a popular tourist spot in Gifu Prefecture. Introducing a plan that can satisfy your appetite with Hida beef gourmet, while also familiarizing yourself with history and culture unique to Hida, such as life in a private Gassho zukuri house (they have a slanting roof, like a pair praying hands) and the traditional architecture. It is also recommended for first-time visitors to Hida.
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Best Events
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Top Things to do
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- Botchan Train
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4.0793 Reviews - Matsuyama-shi Ehime Prefecture
- Based on the steam locomotive that ran for 67 years since the opening of Iyotetsu Railway, this diesel engine train was restored in October of 2001. It is often called the “Botchan train”, as one of the characters in Natsume Soseki’s famous novel “Botchan” rode the old steam locomotives. You can board at the following stops: Dogo Onsen, Okaido, Matsuyama City Station, JR Matsuyama Station, Komachi Station.
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- Imabari Castle
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4.0313 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Torichou 3-1-3 Imabari castle management office
- Imabari Castle was built in 1602 by Takatora Todo, a military commander who did well in the famous Battle of Sekigahara and consequently controlled a large territory in the province of Iyo. The castle sitting on the coast is unique in Japan with its seawater moat and entrance for ships. Most of the buildings were destroyed after the Meiji Restoration with only the inner moat and the stone wall of the castle remaining, but the castle tower and the iron gates were reconstructed after 1980 restoring the castle to its former glory. Inside the castle itself visitors will find many important artifacts on display including armor worn by the feudal lords and pictures and writings, etc.
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- Oyamazumi Shrine
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4.5244 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Omishimachoumiyaura 3327
- Oyamazumi Shrine is the head shrine overseeing the nationwide Yamazumi Shrine and Mishima Shrine dedicated to the god, Oyamatsumi. The shrine is located in Mishima Town, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Since ancient times the shrine has been used as a place of worship for the gods of the mountains, sea and war. It has been visited by naval commanders, Japan’s first Prime Minister, Hirobumi Ito, Isoroku Yamamoto of the former Imperial Navy, as well as leaders from the Maritime Self Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard. As well as the sacred camphor tree said to be 2,600 years old in the grounds of the shrine, visitors can also see a group of ancient trees, the oldest in Japan and designated as a National Natural Treasure. The main shrine building, worship hall and Hokyoin pagoda have been designated as national important cultural properties. There are also many important cultural properties including some national treasures stored and on display in the treasure hall.
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- Ishite-ji Temple
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4.0282 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Ishite 2-9-21
- Located in the Ishite district of Matsuyama City, the Ishite-ji Temple is a Buzan sect Shingon Buddhist temple. The temple’s formal name is Kumano-san Kokuzo-in; it is the 51st temple visited on the Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage. The Ishite-ji Temple is famous for its association with Emon Saburo, a renowned early pilgrim who according to legend was reborn so that he could help restore the temple. The temple was first built in 728 by Ochino Tamazumi, the lord of Iyo Province. Initially, it was a Hosso school Buddhist temple, named the Anyo-ji Temple. However, following a visit by the monk Kukai in 813, it was transformed into a Shingon Buddhist temple. Besides the Niomon gate (a designated National Treasure), the Ishite-ji Temple also has several Important Cultural Properties, including the Hon-do (main hall) and a three-storey pagoda.
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- Bansuisou
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4.0256 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Ichibanchou 3-3-7
- Bansuisou located in the southern foothills of Shiroyama around Matsuyama Castle in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture is an European-style residence with an authentic French design built in 1922 as a second house for Sadakoto Hisamatsu Earl, a descendant of a former landlord in Matsuyama Province. The marvelous building employed a design of the French renaissance style with a Mansard roof and a continuous arching balcony, and was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 2011. It was used as a gorgeous socializing place where celebrities from every walk of life gathered and royal family members who visited the prefecture stopped over. At present, it holds events and exhibitions as Ehime Prefectural Art Museum Annex.
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- Dogo Park
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4.0262 Reviews - Ehime Matsuyama-shi Dogo Park
- This park in Dogokoen, Matsuyama City was developed around the Yuzuki Castle Ruins, a national historic site. The park, which is surrounded by the castle’s outer moat, retains archeological features such as earthwork fortifications and allotment of land. It also features recreations of samurai houses and a history museum that exhibits artifacts unearthed during archeological surveys, among other items. Many people also visit the park in the spring to see its famous cherry blossoms.
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- Dogo Beer Brewery Restaurant
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4.0249 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Dougoyunomachi 20-13
- Located opposite the Dogo Onsen Honkan hot springs hotel, the Dogo Beer Brewery Restaurant is a beerhall where patrons can enjoy Dogo Beer delivered directly from local brewery Minakuchi Shuzo. There are also a wide range of local specialty dishes to enjoy, including senzanki (fried chicken made using the local Iyo chicken breed). Tourists often drop in on their way back from visiting the hot springs, and it is common to see patrons wearing yukata. A wide variety of other meal options are available, including o-zen (trays with several different small dishes of food) and tai-meshi (rice with minced sea-bream); the lunch menu is also very popular.
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- Dogo-Kan hot spring ryokan hotel
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4.5208 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Dougotakouchou 7-26
- Dogo-Kan is a famous hot spring ryokan hotel designed by the architect Kurokawa Kisho. Situated on a small plateau in the hot springs district, it has a fine view over Matsuyama Castle. The main bath area has a comprehensive range of facilities, including water cascades, reclining baths, open-air baths, saunas, etc.; day visitors are welcome. The decor of the hotel interior is based on Edo-period street scenes, and is very impressive.
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- Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime Prefecture
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4.5116 Reviews - Ehime Pref. Iyoguntobechou Kamiharamachi 240
- This prefectural zoo, located within the Ehime Prefectural Sports Complex in Tobe Town, Iyo County, Ehime Prefecture, has the largest site area of any zoo in Western Japan. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views without the hindrance of cages and fences due to the use of natural features around the site. Visitors can see about 180 species and 1,000 animals in the zoo including Peace, the first successfully hand-reared polar bear in Japan, African elephants, and some clever chimpanzees. The zoo also holds events throughout the year including the Night Zoo, where visitors can observe the animals at night.
Areas
What is Ehime?
Stretched across the northwest corner of Shikoku island, Ehime is a nature-rich prefecture boasting beautiful coastlines and a rural center where mountains play host to 26 of the Buddhist temples that make up the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Matsuyama is home to an original post-feudal castle as well as Dogo Onsen, one of the country's oldest natural hot springs. The northern city of Imabari marks the entrance to the Shimano Kaido, a road that crosses six spectacular bridges and several islands, forming a route between Shikoku and mainland Honshu.
Ehime Overviews
Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
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- Warm Cloth
- Feb
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- Warm Cloth
- Mar
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- Jacket
- Apr
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- Long
- May
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- Long
- Jun
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- Long
- Jul
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- Short
- Aug
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- Short
- Sep
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- Short
- Oct
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- Long
- Nov
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- Jacket
- Dec
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- Warm Cloth
Based on the Meteorological Agency "past weather data", created NAVITIME
Getting Around
If you're heading straight from Tokyo to Ehime, flying is certainly the quickest option, with a flight from Tokyo to Matsuyama Airport taking just over an hour. For those with a little more time and a few more stops on their itinerary, the JR Yosan Line will take you directly from the shinkansen stop Okayama Station to Matsuyama Station via Kagawa prefecture. However, the most recommended route is, of course, via the scenic Shimano Kaido, a popular route to cycle from Onomichi to Imabari.
Access
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How to get to Matsuyama Airport
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How to get to Matsuyama(Ehime)