Sightseeing Routes
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Route1
(Matsuyama City Tour Route)
A
leisurely excursion around Matsuyama, the castle city renowned for its
hot springs and literature. (Matsuyama City Tour Route)
Botchan Train - Matsuyama Castle -
Ishite-ji Temple - Botchan Karakuri Clock,
Ashi-yu (hot footbath) and a stroll along the Dogo Shopping Arcade - Dogo
Hot Spring
(Please note that specific closure dates for the New Years period are not included on this page.)
<Features of this route>
Matsuyama, Shikoku's largest city, is not only famous for its castle and the 3,000-year-old Dogo Hot Spring: it is well known as the town where Masaoka Shiki, the father of modern haiku, and the renowned Natsume Soseki, celebrated novelist of Japan and author of Botchan, both stayed for a time. Take a relaxed ride around the charming city of Matsuyama on the recently resurrected Botchan Train (traditional street car).
Botchan Train
Botchan Train (traditional street car), the matchbox-like train that runs around Matsuyama, was reproduced as a diesel locomotive based on the original steam locomotive that operated in Matsuyama from 1888 to 1954. The conductors' uniforms and timber finish used inside the carriages lend a sense of realism and a retro-feel to the train.
Stops at: Matsuyama Shieki City Station, Okaido, Dogo Onsen Ekimae Street Car Station, JR Matsuyama Station, and Komachi.
Operates about once an hour all year round (number of runs and timetable varies for Saturdays, Sundays and as required depending on the season)
Fare: 300yen per ride
Time required: Approximately 30 minutes
Access: Get off at Okaido, 5-minute walk
Matsuyama Castle
Matsuyama Castle, the symbol of Matsuyama-city standing atop a 132-m tall hill, is one of Japan's better-known castles built over a period of 26 years more than 400 years ago. As well as providing a commanding view of the city, the castle tower allows visitors to see out to the distant islands in the Seto Inland Sea and to Mt. Ishizuchi, the tallest mountain in western Japan at 1,982 m. Use the cable car or chairlift (both 500yen for a return ticket) to reach hachi-gome, the eighth Station of the castle mountain at the foot of the castle.
Location: 1 Marunouchi, Matsuyama-city
Open : daily 9:00 am-5:00 pm (tickets on sale until 4:30 pm) but varies depending on the season
Closed: December 29
Admission to the castle tower: 500yen
Time required: Approximately 1 hour
Access: Approximately 15 minutes by the Iyotetsu
Bus bound for Dogo and Yunoyama
from the Stop in front of Ropeway. Get off at the Ishite-ji Bus Stop. (Fare:
200yen)
Ishite-ji Temple
The Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage is famous for the many henro (pilgrims) who come to visit the temples on the pilgrimage circuit. Ishite-ji Temple, temple no. 51 on the circuit and near Dogo Hot Spring, has a number of structures that are designated as National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties, and is busy with crowds of worshippers throughout the year.
Location: 2-9-21 Ishite, Matsuyama-city
Open: Daily all year round.
Temple grounds: anytime; Treasure Hall: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Admission to the Treasure Hall: 200yen; Entry fee to the temple required for tourist groups (Inquiry necessary)
Time required: Approximately 1 hour
Access: Approximately 5 minutes by the Iyotestsu
Bus bound
for Dogo Onsen Ekimae Station from the Ishite-ji Stop.
Get off at Dogo Onsen Ekimae Station. (Fare: 150yen). Alternatively, it's
a 20-minute walk.
Botchan Karakuri Clock, Ashi-yu (footbath) and a stroll along the Dogo Shopping Arcade
In front of Dogo Onsen Ekimae Station there is a square called Hojo-en where an ashi-yu (hot footbath) and the Botchan Karakuri Clock (clock with revolving dolls) are located, and characters from the novel Botchan appear to the tune of a cheerful melody. This is a spot where visitors can take a minute to relax. There are nine ashi-yu located in Dogo's ryokan-gai (concentration of hotels and inns), all of which can be freely used. Souvenirs only available in the Dogo Shopping Arcade can be bought from a host of stores lining the arcade, a lively place with tourists wearing yukata (cotton kimono robe).
Location: Dogo Unomachi, Matsuyama-city
The Karakuri Clock and Ashi-yu operate all year round. Ashi-yu located in Hojo-en (in front of the Station): 6:00 am-11:00 pm; Closing days for stores in the Dogo Shopping Arcade vary by shop.
Use of ashi-yu: Free
Time required: Approximately 1 hour
Access: 5-minute walk
Dogo Hot Spring
The Dogo Hot Spring Main Building, the symbol of Dogo Hot Spring with its history dating back 3,000 years, is a magnificent three-story timber structure built more than 110 years ago and is the first public bathhouse to be designated an Important Cultural Property. It is purported to be one of the models for a public bathhouse that appeared in the animated film ÒSpirited Away". There is also a connection with Natsume Soseki in the form of Botchan's Room, a private room on the 3rd floor.
Location: 5-6 Dogo Unomachi, Matsuyama-city
Open: daily 6:00 am-11:00 pm (tickets on sale until 10:30 pm) but may vary depending on the selected bathing option Closed for 1 day around the end of the year
Admission:
Kami-no-yu (Water of the Gods), 1st floor: 400yen
Kami-no-yu plus use of the lounge area, 2nd floor: 800yen
Tama-no-yu (Water of the Spirits) plus use of the lounge area, 2nd floor: 1,200yen
Tama-no-yu plus private room, 3rd floor: 1,500yen
Time required: 1 hour but may vary depending on the selected bathing option
Matsuyama
Municipal Shiki-Kinen Museum
Literary museum built to commemorate Masaoka Shiki, a master of modern haiku poetry who was born in Matsuyama. The museum exhibits Shiki's calligraphy and other work as well as valuable documents of writers who had personal exchanges with him.
Location: 1-30 Dogo-koen, Matsuyama-city
Open May-October: 9:00 am-6:00 pm (admission until 5:30 pm), November-April: 9:00 am-5:00 pm (admission until 4:30 pm)
Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Admission: 400yen
Time required: Approximately 30-60 minutes
Access: 5-minute walk from Dogo Onsen Ekimae Street Car Station
Tobe-yaki
Pottery Visit
The
distinctive characteristic of Tobe-yaki pottery, with a history of about
230 years, lies in the simple indigo-blue patterns infused into the thick,
white porcelain ware. Find a piece that suits your taste at one of many
pottery houses in Tobe.
Location: Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun
Opening times, when closed and price of admission varies with each pottery
Time required: Approximately 2 hours
Access: Approximately 50 minutes by Iyotestu Bus on the Morimatsu-Tobe Route from Matsuyama Shieki Station (fare: 600yen). Get off at the Tobe-yaki Dento Sangyo Kaikan Mae (Tobe-yaki Pottery Traditional Industry Hall) Stop.
Okaido
and Gintengai Shopping Arcades
The
Okaido and Gintengai shopping arcades form an L-shaped shopping street
lined with fashion boutiques and restaurants and is the best place to
shop in the prefecture. There is a bewildering array of merchandise that
includes apparel, souvenirs and all sorts of fashionable items.
Location: Okaido and Minato-machi, Matsuyama-city
Opening times and when closed varies with each store
Time required: Approximately 1.5 hours
Access: Short walk from Matsuyama Shieki Station to the entrance of Gintengai
Matsuchika
Ramen (Chinese noodle) Station
A
concentration of popular ramen restaurants in Matsuchika Town, the underground
shopping arcade in front of Matsuyama Shieki Station, selling a range
of different styles of ramen from all over Japan. Compare the different
styles from each restaurant: all tasty with their own distinctive soup
and noodles.
Location: 5-1-1 Minato-machi, Matsuyama-city
Open 11:00 am-9:30 pm (closing time may vary if sold out)
Closed: 3rd Wednesday of the month
Prices vary
Time required: Approximately 1 hour
Access: Short walk to the underground arcade from Matsuyama Shieki Station
Nakayama
Soba-uchi (Make your own buckwheat noodles!)
Enjoy
the experience of eating the soba noodles you make yourself in the soba-making
classroom at the Nakayama Craft Village where staff teach guests how
to make soba.
Note: Prior booking essential (5 days in advance for groups). The natural flavored sherbet is also popular.
Location: Ne 271, Nakayama, Nakayama-cho, Iyo-city
When: Twice a day(1st workshop: at 10:00 am; 2nd workshop: sometime between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm)
Closed: 3rd Monday of the month (Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday)
Price: 300yen per person plus 2,000yen for ingredients (enough for 5 servings)
Time required: Approximately 2 hours
Access: Approximately 6 minutes by taxi from JR Iyo Nakayama Station (Approximately 1,200yen)
Matsuyama
Autumn Festival
Rival
mikoshi (portable shrine) violently ramming each other is a feature of
the Matsuyama Autumn Festival and a must-see event. Fighting mikoshi
can be seen on the morning of October 7 in front of Dogo Onsen Ekimae
Street Car Station when the place comes alive with throngs of spectators.
Location: Matsuyama Dogo Unomachi and at various places around town
When: October 7 (morning). Festival itself: October (Central Matsuyama: October 5-7)
Access: Approximately 20 minutes by street car bound for Dogo Onsen from JR Matsuyama Station (fare: 150yen). Get off at Dogo Onsen Ekimae Street Car Station.
The
Fall Foliage along the Ishizuchi Skyline
The
beautiful Mt. Ishizuchi is the tallest mountain in West Japan. The Ishizuchi
Skyline drive is an 18-km route rising 800 m to the foot of the mountain.
The seasonal color of the leaves is especially beautiful, particularly
when the whole mountain is covered with its rich reds and yellows.
Location: Wakayama, Kuma Kogen-cho, Kamiukena-gun, Matsuyama-city
Open 7:00 am-6:00 pm (June-August: 7:00 am-8:00 pm; July 1-10: 4:00 am-8:00 pm)
Admission free
Closed: December-March (impassable)
Time required: Approximately 45 minutes
Access: A little over an hour by Iyotetsu Bus bound for Kuma Eigyosho from Matsuyama Shieki Station (fare: 1,300yen). Get off at the Kuma Eigyosho Stop. Change here for the Iyotetsu Nanyo Bus to Ishizuchi Tsuchigoya (Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes; fare: 1,860yen). Get off at the Ishizuchi Tsuchigoya Stop (terminus of the skyline drive). The bus to Ishizuchi Tsuchigoya operates April 1-7, July 1-10, and July 21-August 31 and on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays from April to November.
