Matsuyama at a glance
1.Welcome to Matsuyama City
Matsuyama City faces the calm and beautiful Seto Inland Sea and is a pleasant area with a mild climate throughout the year. It is a compact city with easy access to the city center and major sightseeing spots in every direction, so it has both the comfort of a city and the tranquility of the countryside.
2.Sights to See
Matsuyama is known as a city of hot springs, castles, and literature, and is rich in cultural heritage sites. In the center of the city, there is the famous Dōgo Onsen, which is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan, and Matsuyama Castle, where a rare and valuable castle tower still remains. Also, in the outskirts, there is Kashima Island, where you can enjoy the beauty of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
The first public bathhouse in Japan to be designated as a national important cultural property. The symbol of Dōgo Onsen.
Matsuyama castle has 1 of only 12 existing historic castle towers in Japan. From the castle tower, you can see the Matsuyama Plain and the Seto Inland Sea.
This is a locomotive popular among tourists for its retro-looking train derived from the novel Botchan written by Natsume Soseki.
This is a small island off of Hojo. From the top of the mountain, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea and have a unique experience feeding the deer.
You can enjoy a panoramic view of the Matsuyama Plain from the beautiful observation tower, which was designed in the image of a European castle.
3.Cuisine to Try
Surrounded by the picturesque sea and mountains, Matsuyama City is blessed with a mild climate, and it is a treasure trove of fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea as well as a wide variety of citrus fruits and other rich ingredients. The city offers a wide variety of gourmet foods, such as fragrant Matsuyama’s local sake and the local soul food, Mitsuhamayaki.
Matsuyama's famous confectionery. The lovely three-colored skewered dumplings appear in the novel Botchan.
A local dish in which a whole sea bream is placed on top and cooked in a clay pot. You can taste the umami of the whole sea bream.
Fresh mandarin orange juice and sweets are abundant only in the citrus kingdom of Ehime.
Soul food with the fragrant aroma of Worcester sauce. Dining around the Mitsuhama area is also recommended.
You can enjoy mellow local sake made from Matsuyama Mii, a high-quality sake rice produced in the Shikoku Mountains.
4.Activities to Do
Matsuyama is home to many fascinating historical buildings, and there are plenty of places around town where you can learn more about the city's culture and history. Why don't you learn more about Matsuyama through some leisure activities that will tickle your intellectual curiosity?
Relax during your trip at the footbath and handbath in Dōgo Onsen. Anyone can use them free of charge.
The Diamond Cross, where the tracks intersect on a flat surface, is a rare spot found in only a few places in Japan.
You can enjoy all the attractions of Dōgo with a rickshaw driver guide.
You can immerse yourself in the handmade craft experience of Tobu ware such as "painting class" and "potter’s wheel class".
Haiku is very popular in Matsuyama. There are haiku post boxes at major tourist facilities, hotels, and inns where anyone can freely post haiku.
5.Places to Stay
There are many lodging facilities in Matsuyama city and neighboring areas, including Dōgo Onsen. From quaint ryokan (traditional Japanese inns) to comfortable hotels, choose a place to stay that suits your purpose and make your trip even more enjoyable.
6.Souvenirs to Buy
Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture offers a wide range of souvenirs such as famous confections, citrus fruits, local sake, and traditional crafts. Be sure to check out the shops where you can choose from a wide range of souvenirs to make lasting memories of your trip.
7.Getting to Matsuyama
There are various ways to get to Matsuyama in Shikoku. From cities such as Hiroshima and Kyoto, you can visit in a matter of minutes. It is also only an hour and a half by plane from Tokyo. It's also a compact city with good access to the city center and major tourist attractions in each direction, so you're sure to enjoy a fulfilling trip.